Until now this series has only featured entrepreneurs from the UK but that's about to change. Lenna Millar is based about as far away from British shores as you can get - in New Zealand.
Her tale demonstrates that the entrepreneurial spirit produces the same results wherever you are and it also shows how the internet has made it much easier to run a global business from your home.
Lenna left her previous career and spent two years at home with her computer, searching the internet for ways to earn a living. After a lot of fruitless hunting and an expensive false start she realised that she already possessed a highly marketable skill - her ability to type.
All over the world businesses make audio recordings of speeches, interviews, discussions and training classes. They often need the content transcribed into text, a task that software still struggles to perform. Lenna believed she could tap into this market so she set up Audio Transcription & Secretarial Services Ltd (ATS).
To her surprise, and pleasure, work began to arrive. When her turnover hit NZ$10k within a few months she knew she'd made the right decision.
Lenna has invested about NZ$3k in a transcription kit, a new computer and some advertising. She's still exploring the marketing opportunities available on the internet and has recently discovered what LinkedIn has to offer.
She's optimistic about future prospects. There have already been occasions when the workload has required her to hire assistants and she believes there is much more potential business out there. The internet gives her access to clients worldwide and up to 40% of her work is for customers outside New Zealand.
Lenna's had her fair share of frustrations and mistakes and she's made a point of learning from them. Her biggest challenge was being willing to let go of the local support network and going it alone, and being bold enough to overcome her own inexperience and nervousness.
When asked what her recipe is for success, Lenna's answer is simple: "Patience, perseverance and determination".
If you'd like to know more about Lenna or the services offered by her audio transcription and secretarial business why not visit her website?
If you set up a business in 2008 or 2009 and have a story to share drop me a line via email or make contact with @biz_oh via Twitter.
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