Writing the story of our journey wasn’t one thing I ever imagined doing, till just lately.
Whereas abroad on a piece journey – with a little bit of R&R on the finish – I met a girl who was genuinely interested by MyTrucking. She requested me, “Have you ever ever thought of writing a few of this down? Your learnings, your failures, your wins?”
That query caught with me.
So right here it’s: The journey of me, I suppose, – and MyTrucking. Not polished or good, however actual. As a result of typically, probably the most surprising concepts flip into probably the most significant journeys.
Rural roots
It’s been 11 years since we began rising this little tech enterprise.
What started as a easy concept to assist a transport operator handle issues extra simply has grown into one thing far larger than we ever imagined.
We’ve confronted setbacks, celebrated wins, and discovered greater than we ever thought we’d – not nearly tech, however about individuals, resilience, and what it means to construct one thing that issues.
I’m a rural woman from Mahia Peninsula. I went to the native Te Mahia major college after which headed off to boarding college in Hawkes Bay. After that, I studied a Enterprise Research diploma at Massey College, majoring in Agribusiness, and accomplished a postgraduate diploma in Advertising.
Straight out of college, I landed a graduate function at Richmond Meat Firm. On day one, I used to be handed white overalls, gumboots, and a hairnet – and despatched straight to the slaughter ground for six weeks. I used to be horrified!
However I caught it out and rotated by means of each a part of the enterprise – from the freezers and boning room to load-out and at last the workplace. It was a gritty, hands-on begin to my profession, and I wouldn’t change it for something – as a result of it taught me this:
Lesson 1
“Begin on the floor stage. Perceive each a part of the enterprise. It provides you perspective you by no means lose.”
After 12 months, I moved right into a advertising assistant function, then took a leap right into a advertising govt function at a worldwide meat firm, Bernard Matthews.
It was an enormous step, and I used to be fortunate to have a supervisor who inspired me to go for it. I ended up managing prospects throughout Australia, the UK, and the US – travelling loads, studying much more, and sometimes being the one younger lady in a really male-dominated trade, the meat trade.
Lesson 2
“Maintain saying YES. Even if you don’t know methods to do one thing, you’ll determine it out.”
After 4 years in that function, I wished to do one thing for myself. So I began a advertising consultancy and occasion administration enterprise – and moved to Wairarapa to be with Sam, my husband to be.
I additionally had a industrial property administration enterprise on the facet – fairly a various combine, however once more, I learnt loads.
Additionally, collectively with a superb good friend, we began a girls’s networking occasion referred to as Bubbles & Inspiration. It ran for 10 years and grew from 20 girls to 200, with occasions each two months. It was an effective way to attach with different girls – enterprise house owners, mums, and anybody juggling life.
Across the identical time, I began serving to with Sam’s household enterprise: Sharpes Stockfeed, in Advertising and Gross sales. Sam had constructed through the years a easy Microsoft Entry system to streamline the household enterprise operations.
Sarah and Sam have a good time 10 years of MyTrucking
Later, some good mates of Sam’s purchased an area transport firm and requested if he may construct one thing like what he’d carried out for the stockfeed enterprise – one thing to assist them run extra effectively.
So, he did.
He constructed an entry database tailor-made to their transport wants. They used it for years, and phrase began to unfold.
Generally an concept might not eventuate into something … however this one did. We acquired a quote from an area tech firm and launched MyTrucking into the cloud.
That was 11 years in the past. Our objective in yr one was 10 prospects – we acquired 25. We labored from the kitchen desk, then a cabin, a portacom, a home, a transformed container, and now, a devoted workplace.
Within the early days, we didn’t have a cellular app – only a net app. However we had a intestine feeling {that a} driver cellular app was the following step.
After we requested our early prospects, most stated: “Nah, we’ll simply ring our drivers or print out the day sheet.”
However we constructed it anyway.
Lesson 3
“That is what innovation is – considering forward and seeing what’s attainable earlier than it’s apparent.”
Whenever you begin a enterprise, you’re concerned in each a part of it. From day one, we have been doing all of it – gross sales, advertising, partnerships, buyer assist, and product planning.
We’ve been fortunate. Sam and I are a superb workforce. Sam has a ardour for product and the tech facet, and I’ve all the time had a ardour for gross sales and advertising.
We appear to enrich one another, and it has labored effectively in our companies.
Typically in tech companies, corporations can begin with a robust product focus however haven’t acquired the advertising facet arrange. I suppose that’s the place we’ve been fortunate – we’ve carried out each, proper from the beginning.
The early days of MyTrucking – Sam & Sara at XeroCon in 2015.
One of many massive issues early on was arising with our firm values. It’s one thing that may really feel arduous to outline, but it surely’s been one of the vital vital issues we’ve labored by means of. Our values information all the things – from how we construct the product to how we assist our prospects and develop our workforce.
At MyTrucking, our values are easy: Buyer, Easy, Environment friendly, and Household.
Buyer referrals have all the time been our primary supply of development. After 11 years, it nonetheless stands out as probably the most highly effective method we’ve grown.
We’ve tried and examined all types of selling channels, spent cash on completely different campaigns and instruments, however nothing has ever come near the ability of a cheerful buyer telling another person, “It’s superior.” That sort of belief is gold – and one thing we by no means take with no consideration.
We initially solely registered the area title mytrucking.co.nz, considering we’d solely be in New Zealand. However as we expanded, we realised we wanted the .com area – but it surely was already taken by somebody within the US. It was a basic startup mistake. Fortunately, we managed to trace down the proprietor within the US and negotiated a purchase order for US$1,500. It was an enormous win for our model.
Increasing into Australia was scary. There have been weeks of chilly calling, lengthy street journeys, late nights, and early mornings.
We drove 1000’s of kilometres, assembly individuals, listening, studying. It was exhausting – but it surely helped us perceive the market, refine the product, and see simply how in another way each enterprise operates.
That have formed how we constructed MyTrucking and the way we assist our prospects in the present day. The assist of NZTE (New Zealand Commerce and Enterprise) was massively useful on this part — serving to us navigate and construct connections.
One other key consider our journey has been the numbers. It’s all the time vital to crunch the numbers. Sam was beforehand a farm guide for 10+ years, and we’ve been very fortunate to have his abilities on the monetary facet of issues.
Through the years, loads of individuals have inspired us to think about capital funding. We’ve by no means been eager—and positive, we in all probability may have grown quicker—however we’re happy with the trail we’ve taken.
We’ve grown steadily, added nice individuals, constructed higher programs, and stayed true to our values.
Immediately, we’re a workforce of 25. However for us, it’s by no means been about headcount – it’s about constructing good programs, working effectively, and placing individuals and prospects on the coronary heart of all the things we do.
Lesson 4
“Development isn’t nearly pace – it’s about path, self-discipline, and staying true to what issues.”
Through the years, I’ve learnt by staying curious and giving issues a go. I do wish to experiment, attempt new issues, and I’m all the time searching for higher methods to do issues.
Whether or not it’s by means of chatting to others, podcasts, blogs, or studying on LinkedIn, I’m continually attempting to find these small golden nuggets, and nonetheless studying each single day!
One of many greatest challenges of being a founder is, you’ve touched each a part of constructing it from the bottom up, made the important thing choices, and know the story behind each system and course of. That depth of involvement makes it arduous to step again – but it surely’s a vital a part of the journey.
With an incredible workforce round us, I’ve been in a position to shift my focus extra towards advertising and development, whereas nonetheless staying related to the guts of the enterprise.
Apps have additionally helped. So much.
Within the early days, we did all our assist by cellphone and e-mail. Then we got here throughout Intercom – a buyer assist instrument, and it’s been a recreation changer for us.
We’ve all the time cherished Intercom, and I get genuinely excited each time they launch one thing new. It has enabled us to develop and ship the wonderful assist we satisfaction ourselves on. I’m not so concerned within the day-to-day of Intercom anymore, however I nonetheless tune into each podcast and launch—they proceed to encourage me.
Proper now, my go-to app is Copilot AI. I take advantage of it continually – typically as an alternative of bugging Sam, or the workforce, I simply plug my questions into Copilot. It helps me suppose issues by means of and provides me the inspiration to maintain going. For those who haven’t embraced AI but, otherwise you’re nonetheless sitting on the fence—simply do it. It’s a recreation changer.
We use numerous apps: PipeDrive, Slack, Xero, Figured, GoCardless, Stripe, Jira, Confluence, Office365, Semrush, Ahrefs, Yoast, Zapier – and extra.
One Christmas break, I performed round with a tremendous app, Zapier, after listening to about it on a podcast. That little experiment became one thing we now use each day to attach our programs. It’s been an actual recreation changer app, as it may possibly just about join something!
Lesson 5
“Progress doesn’t come from realizing all the things—it comes from being prepared to attempt, be taught, and adapt.”
About six years into the journey, we did a model refresh—not a full rebrand, however a visible and messaging replace. It gave us a recent enhance and helped modernise our feel and appear whereas staying true to our roots.
One of many greatest studying moments on the advertising facet got here when our Fb web page was hacked. Seven years of constructing a robust following throughout New Zealand and Australia – gone in a single day. A hacker took over, offered underwear on it, and ran adverts utilizing my bank card.
I attempted all the things to get it again. No luck. We needed to rebuild from scratch. It was an enormous setback, however we did it. And we learnt loads.
Lesson 6
“You don’t realise how sturdy your model is till it’s a must to rebuild – and your neighborhood pulls collectively to assist.”
We now have prospects throughout New Zealand, Australia, and the UK – and we’re nonetheless rising month by month. We’re about to discover the UK market even additional, and it’s thrilling to see what’s forward.
Sara along with her good friend Carissa, cofounder of Bubbles & Inspiration, and Trelise Cooper.
Alongside all this, Sam and I’ve three youngsters – now youngsters – and we’re additionally juggling two different companies within the rural sector.
The teachings we’ve learnt throughout every enterprise typically overlap. Whether or not it’s programs, individuals, or problem-solving, we discover ourselves making use of these learnings throughout the board – and even into on a regular basis household life. It’s all related.
For those who’re beginning a enterprise, already in a single, or simply excited about it – know this: it’s arduous work. Actually arduous. However the rewards? They’re so value it!
As an proprietor, you carry the load of all the things. It’s not an eight to 5 job. You’re excited about the numbers, coping with buyer calls (typically grumpy ones), stepping in when workforce members are away, dealing with payroll, paying payments, networking, and fielding concepts from all instructions.
There’s loads that goes on behind the scenes that individuals don’t all the time see.
Lesson 7
“You don’t have to have all of it discovered. You simply want to start – and be prepared to maintain going.”
From area title hiccups to social media disasters, increasing into new nations, and constructing a tech enterprise from a rural city in the course of a paddock – the MyTrucking journey has taught us a lot.
For those who’re constructing one thing of your individual, I hope these classes aid you keep away from just a few potholes alongside the way in which. And keep in mind:
“Simply say sure. You’ll determine it out!”
- Sara Orsborn is cofounder of MyTrucking, a transport administration software program firm primarily based in rural New Zealand.
