About Andrew Morgan
As a professional MC and event host, I bring structure, warmth and presence to corporate events. Whether it’s a conference, an awards night or a company celebration, my role is to help speakers to shine and audiences to stay engaged, and to ensure everything flows effortlessly. This instils confidence and certainty in organisers, knowing their event will deliver the goals and benefits as intended.
We asked Andrew Morgan to look back and reflect on his younger self…
Q&As
How would you describe yourself at 18?
Optimistic and a bit nervous about the times ahead. I had just left home in rural Northumberland to study in Nottingham. At 18 your whole life seems to be ahead of you and for me, while I had no specific career in mind, I was excited about what lay ahead and the new people I would meet in different environments.
What inspired you to start your own business?
While in a corporate career, I had a hankering for something different. Job security, which was a big thing in the twentieth century, was becoming a thing of the past and while I knew there were risks attached, the chance to forge my own path seemed an opportunity worth taking. My wife was running her own business at this point, so she was blazing the trail already!
If you could go back knowing what you know now, what three things would you tell yourself to do when you first became a business owner?
- Do a bit of honest research and soul-searching about your personality and characteristics. One’s choice of business needs to be in alignment with your skills and values.
- Learn to say “no” more often than I did. Sometimes the excitement of something new leads to quick involvement in projects, when in reality my time could have been better spent elsewhere.
- Get involved with networking groups or associations quickly. They are a tremendous source of support to fledgling entrepreneurs; it took me about a year before I fully realised this.
What are the biggest lessons you have learnt professionally?
As a solo entrepreneur or a director of a small business, it is important to grow a network of trusted associates and friends within the business community. The huge breadth of knowledge and experience that others have, brings support and boosts your confidence when things don’t go to plan.
How did you deal with a big mistake, and what did you learn from the experience?
I found out in my early days that I was trying to build a business that required a mindset and skills that were not my core strengths. Fortunately, I recognised this and was able to change the direction of the business, by focusing my efforts on delivering first-class events on the actual day, rather than organising events; two very different skill sets within the event business.
What are your ambitions for the future?
My business and personal ambitions are somewhat interlinked. Going back to my original ambitions for starting my own business, I wanted to create a life which would forever evolve and bring new people and experiences into it over the years. This still holds true to me today. So, I intend to continue growing my client base and my capabilities, to gain more joy from my work. I do love to experience different places and communities, both at home and abroad, so I see my business ticking these boxes in the years ahead.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew1morgan
Main image credited to www.kreativebarn.com
