Anita Sajkiewicz, Managing Director, Nimbus eCommerce
My professional journey started over 20 years ago in Poland, during the deep economic crisis. Although I had a decent education, it was difficult for me to find a job that would allow me to develop. As a result, I got married quite young, and by the age of 30, I already had two lovely sons.
My life was very busy and hectic, and I didn't give up on myself. I decided to fulfil my dream and become a chartered accountant. In 2006 I made a life-changing decision and emigrated to Ireland. With two young children and little money in my pocket, I was determined to chase my dream. It was the toughest decision I ever made, but I never regretted it. It was the most valuable time in my career.
I completed my ACCA qualification in 2015. It was a tough journey. Working full time and looking after a family made it very challenging; on top of that, my husband passed away suddenly, and I was left alone with two youngsters. But I made it through!
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
My favourite social media platform is LinkedIn. I am not a big fan of social media in general because I prefer to interact with people in the real world. Besides, scrolling through social media feeds can consume a lot of your time which could be spent better elsewhere. However, LinkedIn is different. It is not as noisy and fast-paced as other platforms.
Also, this is a place where many people share their interesting views and inspiring stories. This is a place where you can have meaningful interactions with like-minded professionals. You can grow your network quite easily and connect with many interesting people, and this wouldn't be possible without a professional platform like LinkedIn.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
In April 2019, after spending more than 20 years in the corporate world, I started my own company, Nimbus eCommerce. My firm is listed as a licensed practice by a prestigious accounting body in the UK - the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). In addition, we are Certified Silver Partners and Advisors for XERO cloud accounting software.
We specialise in providing migration, integration and accounting services for eCommerce businesses trading on Shopify and Amazon. We are partners with cloud applications providers: A2X, Dear Inventory Systems, Pleo, Hubdoc, Float and many others. In addition, we specialise in helping Amazon and Shopify sellers based in the UK and Ireland.
In particular, we are passionate about working with innovative and open-minded eCommerce businesses, not being afraid of using technology. We love to have this personal connection with our clients. We are not just traditional year-end accountants who prepare your annual accounts and tax returns. We deal with the migration of the accounting function to XERO and integration with other cloud applications to help you manage your eCommerce business.
XERO cloud accounting is different. It integrates smoothly with most common eCommerce applications and allows online sales transactions to flow seamlessly to the accounting system. This makes the reconciliation much easier and saves a lot of time needed for processing manual entries. As a result, XERO cloud accounting is a perfect solution for eCommerce businesses.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
After spending more than 20 years in the corporate world, I started my own company, Nimbus eCommerce, two years ago. I got tired of exchanging my time for money and sacrificing my well-being. After many years of a successful career, I have a lot of knowledge I can share. I have been working remotely since I started my business, and I love the flexibility and freedom that comes with it.
The idea of starting an online business has been in my head for a long time. However, it was quite difficult to confront customers' perceptions of a remote business. Lack of trust and reluctance to engage a professional accountant with no physical office was the biggest obstacle I came across at the beginning. However, the pandemic and lockdowns that came with it changed everything.
Customers are no longer concerned or discouraged by the fact that we work online. For example, the use of modern cloud technology enabled me to run a successful accounting business, which is totally paperless and online-based.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
I think that the best advice was given to me by my father over 30 years ago. It was to invest in myself and my education. He always highlighted the fundamental importance of solid education and how it can contribute to my career and success. And so, I listened to his advice.
After completing my master's degree and a couple of postgraduate diplomas, I didn't stop. At the age of 35, I started studying towards professional accounting qualification ACCA and continued until I turned 43! It was a tough journey. It took me seven years to obtain the qualification, and I passed all the exams with flying colours. And now it is paying off!
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
My well-being and work-life balance are very important to me. I didn't appreciate it so much during my corporate years when I was younger and more resilient. However, working hard and living a busy and hectic life took its toll on me. I suffered a burnout about three years ago, and this is why I made a pivotal decision to leave my well paid corporate job and dive into the uncertainty of starting my own business.
It was tough and scary, but I've never looked back since then. Now I can spend more time doing things I love, looking after myself and spending time with my loved ones. The flexibility and freedom that comes with running your business are priceless. This is what motivates me to move forward.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I remember how hard it was to study towards my ACCA accounting qualification. Every exam preparation was pretty painful. I was working full time and also looking after a family with young children, so it was very challenging to find the time and energy to study. Moreover, I didn't have any free weekends to spend with my children, not to mention spare time for myself.
I had breakdown moments; of course, I did. Finally, I felt I could not continue anymore. I thought about giving up a couple of times, especially when my husband passed away suddenly. But instead, I took a break every time it happened. My family supported me by forcing me to get up and fight. I recovered, recharged my batteries and kept going because I had a dream.
It took me seven years to obtain the qualification, and I passed all the exams with flying colours. But, this was not the end. I decided to go further and apply for a practising certificate which I obtained a few years ago. So, I am very proud to be a chartered accountant and to be allowed to add these four letters at the end of my name – ACCA.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
If I was to choose, I would prefer to meet people face-to-face. I think nothing can replace direct interaction. However, modern technology allows us to do so much more without meeting in reality. It makes meeting new people and networking so much easier. It also allows expanding your network much more. There is also a benefit of time and cost-saving. So, I am strongly in favour of online meetings, taking into account the benefits.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
I think what helped me most was my determination, learning skills and persistence in pursuing my dream. I knew clearly what I wanted, and I knew it would not be easy to achieve. But I was sure I could make it. The strong determination and the clear goal in mind helped me overcome difficulties and move forward. My learning skills and willingness to acquire new knowledge helped a lot as well.
As a single business owner, I had to wear many hats and learn to do things I hadn't done before. The hardest one was online marketing. If I wasn't persistent, I would probably give up after so many difficulties I have met on my journey, and after so much frustration I had to deal with.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
When I was starting out, I was aware that it wouldn't be easy. I knew that you had to work very hard and spend a lot of time before you start seeing results. I also knew that I would have to learn a lot of new things and wear many hats as a small business owner. And I was prepared for that. However, I underestimated the amount of work that had to be done and the amount of time it would take.
Definitely, I would reach out for help much sooner if I knew. I also didn't know that marketing on social media can consume so much of your time. And it can feel like constantly spinning a wheel with no visible results. Overall, if I didn't have strong motivation and a clear goal in mind, I think I could give up. But, unfortunately, I now understand why so many people start a business and fail quite quickly.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
I admire people who have the courage to transform their career and life completely, start as a one-person business, and grow into a successful company within a few years. I know how tough it is to do this. I know how many sacrifices you have to make and how hard you have to work to achieve this.
And that's why the vast majority of new businesses fail. So, I really admire those who managed to succeed and keep going. Although, on the other hand, success can mean something different to everyone.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
As I mentioned earlier, my well-being is really important to me. So, my hobbies would involve physical and mental activities that enhance my well-being. Mostly I love outdoor activities, like walking, hiking, cycling, surfing, kayaking. And my most recent hobby is a stand-up paddleboard.
I also practise yoga regularly, and it helps with my mental and emotional balance. I am planning to start doing Pilates to keep my body strong and healthy. And my biggest hobby of all is travelling and visiting new places. I am so happy that working remotely allows me to benefit from it.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
Surprisingly, the pandemic has helped my business to jump start. I know it has been hard on many people and many businesses, but it appeared to be a great opportunity for my business. The idea of starting an online business has been in my head for a long time. However, it was quite difficult to confront customers' perceptions of a remote business.
Lack of trust and reluctance to engage a professional accountant with no physical office was the biggest obstacle I came across at the beginning. However, the pandemic and lockdowns that came with it changed everything. Customers are no longer concerned or discouraged by the fact that we work online.
Before the pandemic, one of the first questions potential clients used to ask was: Where are you based? They no longer ask this question. The use of modern cloud technology enabled me to run a successful accounting business, which is totally paperless and online-based.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I used mentoring services at the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, which was helpful. However, I find it much more inspiring and effective to follow successful people on social media, read their stories and engage with the content they post. It works much better for me and keeps me motivated and inspired.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
My first advice would be: make sure you have a strong motivation and enough determination. The journey is going to be tough, and you will have to work very hard and spend a lot of time before you start seeing results. You will have to learn a lot of new things and wear many hats as a small business owner. Be prepared for that, and don't hesitate to get help and support when you need it.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
I think that in the vast majority of cases, it is insufficient motivation or lack of determination. As I mentioned earlier, this is a very challenging task to start and run a business, and many people don't realise how tough it is. There are many difficulties and obstacles on the way, and not everyone is prepared to overcome them. So, if the motivation is not strong enough, they give up.
Also, the overwhelming frustration and lack of determination can be the reason for giving up. Many businesses also fail because of poor financial management skills. They can successfully attract new customers and generate sales, but they underestimate the need to implement proper financial systems from the beginning. Many of my accounting clients fell into this trap, and they had to shut down the business, which was so promising and was growing quickly.
It's very important to engage an accountant as a trusted advisor from day one. However, this is not the area where you should look for savings. Instead, it's crucial to invest in professional advisory services which can save your business from failing.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream another dream."
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I wouldn't like to mention particular names here. I think there are plenty of successful businesses on the market, and they are a great inspiration for the ones who are just starting out.
However, as I mentioned earlier, I admire people who have the courage to transform their career and life completely, start as a one-person business, and grow into a successful company within a few years. I follow a couple of them on social media, and I find their stories really encouraging and inspiring.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success means something different to everyone. For me, it doesn't mean to have a corporate career, climbing up the ladder until you become a senior officer managing other people. I tried it, and I know it is not for me. But, on the other hand, it also doesn't mean starting as a one-person business and growing to a multi-million international company within a few years.
I feel that the most important thing for me is to live a happy life. And I feel that I have succeeded in that because starting my online business allowed me to regain my freedom, maintain balance and enjoy life as much as I can.