Starting a business is a leap of faith, launching Sgùrr Tours.
In July 2022, I took that leap, launching Sgùrr Tours with my first Mercedes-Benz V-Class and a healthy dose of self-doubt. Could I make it work, especially launching at the tail end of the tourist season? Failure wasn’t an option. I was determined to succeed for myself, my family, and my future.
Initial strategy
My initial strategy when launching Sgùrr Tours involved securing work from various sources to gain momentum. Many questioned my timing, pointing out the impending winter lull. However, I set realistic, achievable goals to navigate the seasonal fluctuations. There was a method to my madness. My biggest goal? To add a second vehicle to the fleet by the 2025 season (starting April 2025).
The Initial Surge
The 2023 season brought a surge of inquiries and bookings. I embraced every opportunity, working tirelessly to establish the business. Demand grew to the point where I was actually turning down work myself and passing it to other people. This led me to analyse my business structure at the end of the year. I realised the volume of work I’d had to decline could justify a second vehicle. I crunched the numbers, exploring the possibility of acquiring it for the 2024 season. However, the projected figures didn’t indicate a significant increase in profit with two vehicles at that time, so I decided to hold off and I am glad I did.
The 2024 season was still busy, though not quite as hectic as the previous year. Running a tour business involves much more than just driving and sharing laughs, fun facts, Highland history and stories. The behind-the-scenes work – marketing, administration, maintenance, and more – requires significant time and effort. Without this dedication, the business wouldn’t thrive.
Reflecting on progress and My Self Doubt
Reflecting on my progress and the goals set in 2023, I knew it was time to move forward with my expansion plan. After careful financial analysis, I decided that acquiring a second vehicle for the 2025 season was the right move. The lost opportunities from the past two years solidified this decision. 2025 marks a significant step in Sgùrr Tours’ growth.
Despite the excitement, familiar feelings of doubt resurfaced. The same worries I experienced when I first started – about financial stability and the viability of the business – returned with the prospect of managing two vehicles. However, I firmly believe this expansion is the right path for sustainable growth.
Words of Encouragement and Feeling Proud
I recalled a conversation with a client, Jim, from Beverly Hills, California, during a 2023 tour. Jim, a successful business owner himself, shared his experience of expanding his garden lighting business. He emphasised that purchasing a second piece of machinery and hiring staff was the turning point for his growth and profitability. He encouraged me, saying, “Ryan, your business will start making proper money once you expand and buy a second vehicle.” His positive feedback on my service and the way I managed the tour was incredibly motivating.
I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve built with Sgùrr Tours over the past two years. I’m passionate about my work, connecting with people, sharing stories, and creating memorable experiences in the stunning Highland landscape. I truly believe I have the best job and the most beautiful office in the world.
The unwavering support of my family, especially my wife, who at times did not see me for days on end (I think she quite liked that though! LOL), has been invaluable. Their encouragement and understanding during long working hours have been essential to my success.
Setting Goals, Perusing them, It’s not failure
Setting goals is crucial, not just in business but in life. Having something to strive for provides motivation and direction. My advice? When launching Sgùrr Tours I set ambitious yet achievable goals, work hard, and persevere. Self-employment has been the best decision I’ve ever made. After years of working for others who clearly had no care in the world to look after their employees, being spoken to like trash, never listened too and never given any encouragement, I’m driven to work even harder for my own success and I shall make sure that I will always look after my drivers, who spend long hours driving my vehicles, and looking after my clients as I would, also giving them the support and encouragement I mostly didn’t receive myself from a number of employers over the years.
I’m deeply grateful for the amazing people I’ve met on tour. Their stories, laughter, their continued friendship from afar and continued support have made this journey incredibly rewarding.
Conclusion
So, set your goals, pursue them relentlessly, and don’t give up, even when faced with challenges and doubts. If you give it your all and still don’t reach your initial target, it’s not failure; it’s a valuable lesson. At least you can say you tried your best. Don’t regret the things you didn’t do, but be proud of the effort you put in.
If you would like to book a private executive tour please take a look at our tours here: https://sgurrtours.com/available-tours/
Read our reviews on Google: https://g.page/r/CWrMeZikaGueEAE/review