Currently...

After quickly realising the city wasn't for me I decided to take the plunge and create a http://www.adventurebash.com/" rel="nofollow">travel company exclusively for Young Professionals. I now spend most of my time organising the events and networking to create the ultimate holiday!

There are so many of us out there looking for a tasteful, lively travel company designed for people like us! Maybe you're at that 'in between stage'... not wanting the hardcore 18-30's trip, or the quiet holiday surrounded by pensioners or kids.

I wanted to fill that gap and offer the middle ground, with affordable luxury sports holidays combined with a tasteful and lively social scene. Once a month we gather as many young professionals together for the ultimate sports holiday. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a couple, group of friends or solo traveller. If you want to be surrounded by people from the same background, in the same chalets, on the same slopes – join a BASH!

Before I escaped...

The majority of my career has been spent in the military, serving as an Officer within the Airborne Engineers. I have always had a thirst for adventure and excitement and the army seemed like a natural career choice for me. I saw active service in Afghanistan which was an amazing experience and even had the chance to guard the Queen on public duties. The military was like a second family; the trust you have in your colleagues is outstanding and the camaraderie is indescribable. I miss it a lot... sometimes!

I then left to pursue a new challenge of working in the city as a recruitment consultant helping ex-servicemen and women find employment after their time in the forces. It was a satisfying job but I just couldn't hack the commute, the 9-5 and the mundane working environment.

I finally had the guts to follow my dream of building a new, trendy, actions sports travel company, which is what I am doing now at http://www.adventurebash.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.adventurebash.com

My moment of truth...

In the middle of the summer, completely rammed on the tube, with another passenger's sweaty arm pit literally touching my nose - I decided enough was enough! I had only lasted a year in city, but after what I had previously been doing with my life, I just couldn't accept this as my future.

I had saved some money, decided on the direction I wanted to take and then just plucked up the courage to go for it. Why not? Apart from a mortgage I didn't really have any other responsibilities; it was now or never in my opinion.

Planning for it...

I did a lot of market research. I also kept changing my mind every five minutes until I came up with the best plan of action, but that is just part of the entrepreneurial process. Be prepared for it!

I then began to network like crazy, using my savings to build relationships with other people abroad in Europe. Using my holidays from work and flying out to meetings at weekends. I needed to make sure I was confident that the plan would work before I left my job. There were lots of late nights, no social life and balancing a stressful sales/recruitment job with the planning of the business, but I had to give it my best shot.

The worst and best bits...

The constant pressure, planning and pure stress of starting a business is not easy. Your job title is nonexistent and you are literally doing everything at once from sales to finance, design, logistics, admin, and strategy. You have to be able to put on so many different hats. 

I have also found it very hard to switch off! You need to be able to turn off your mind and relax, which I struggle to do. I find that playing sport, going on a run or thrashing it out in the gym helps a lot.

The best bits totally outweigh the worst:

• Working for yourself
• Building a dream
• Having an enjoyable job
• Wanting to get up and go to work
• The people you meet along the way
• The challenge of trying to create a real business.

Best advice...

"It's not a successful climb, unless you have enjoyed the journey." 

Things don't happen overnight! So many of us are far too concerned about reaching the end goal instead of really enjoying the journey of getting there. Life is too short to hurry things up, so accept that things will take their time and have fun getting there!

Get on the phone!

Something I learnt from my recruitment days was growing a set of nuts and getting on the phone and talking to people. It's far too easy to email and be ignored. Build relationships by talking to people. So what if you get the phone slammed down on you - have you really lost anything?

Useful resources and information...

Obviously http://escapethecity.org/" rel="nofollow">Esc has been hugely inspiring.

Other than that I would say talking to people and networking has been one of the best taps for useful information. People love to help others, so asking questions and getting advice from those around you is often missed. Make the most of asking questions.