Freya Simpson Giles
Director
Giles Publications

I've always wanted to run my own business - I see business opportunities wherever I turn. When we adopted our baby girl, I started thinking about a grocery store dedicated exclusively to baby food. When our dog had to have one of its legs amputated, I imagined an online shop selling coats for animals with missing limbs. OK, I never said all my ideas were good ideas!

In order to fund the time I spent day-dreaming about my global business empire, I spent several years working as a freelance editor and writer. I started working mainly on educational texts but soon got requests for corporate copywriting and lifestyle articles. Despite a complete failure to promote myself in any way, my workload grew and grew. In the end, it took my father to point out that perhaps I should leverage myself and open an editing and copywriting agency.

Thus I decided to combine my writing skills and my experience in the publishing industry with my inexplicable urge to run a business, with all that entails. And it entails a lot. Until you can afford to pay someone else to do it, you must be the accountant, the marketing executive, the secretary and even the plumber. The only thing I didn¡¦t pretend to be was an IT specialist ¡V I know my limitations.

I launched Giles Publications at the end of 2006, and the company has been growing steadily ever since. We offer proofreading, editing, copywriting and translation services to a wildly varied clientele. Rather excitingly, I now have staff and a rather smart-looking chair.

I have received nothing but encouragement and support along the way. I believe Hong Kong¡¦s can-do attitude makes it a great place for any budding entrepreneur. Not once did I hear so much as a word of caution ¡V well except from my mother, but that¡¦s her job.

Running a business is challenging, but the list of rewards is long. Of course, we business owners all hope that ¡§pots of cash¡¨ will be on that list, but there are plenty of other benefits that do not involve getting rich. Every new client is a thrill, and every project successfully completed is a confidence boost. Despite the long hours and the tense moments, I would recommend it to anyone.