My seven secrets of survival

Published on Saturday 7 April 2007 00:35

1 I can't imagine life without working.

Working hard is in my blood. My grandfather, Walter MacAulay, brought sliced bread to Scotland and made a fortune before moving on to the dairy business. On my mother's side, my Yorkshire grandmother was a retailer, which was very ambitious for her time. She was widowed, but continued to work while also bringing up a family. My father was a solicitor and I also trained in law. From a young age I worked every summer and holiday. I'd credit my grandfather for my ambition and drive, and my late father for my work ethic.

2 I'm a marathon runner. I find clarity when I'm running - the fog lifts, it relieves any pressures and clears the mind. I am at my most determined when I'm running. And you have to plan marathons six months ahead with a strict timetable. You've got to find the time and build it up. I use the same systematic approach to whatever we're setting out to achieve in business. If you take it slowly and get the principles right, growth will follow.

3 Develop the ability to say no. Business isn't about being the biggest but about providing excellence and expertise. There's a saying, "Sanity versus vanity", where sanity is profit and vanity is turnover. So many people just want to have the biggest turnover, but while doing my MBA I learned that in a small business you should never compete on price. Frankly, some business doesn't suit us. If, for whatever reason, we can't do it for the client, I'd rather say so at the outset. In my private life this translates to being able to say no to my kids, whether it's about saying no to another biscuit, or disciplining them when they're naughty. As long as you show them plenty of love as well, then it's OK.

4 Don't take yourself too seriously. My stepfather is a retired solicitor. He's my mentor and a wonderful influence, and he says, "No matter how bad things are they can only get worse." It means if stuff happens we have no control over, have a good laugh, because you have to deal with it quickly. Grab hold: if you leave it too long it will only get worse. In my experience, things are never as bad as you think, as long as you face the problem as quickly as possible, instead of sticking your head in the sand.

5 Never be afraid to ask for help. I have an extremely supportive and loving family on both sides, my husband's and my own. They are pretty smart people, so we can always pick up the phone and ask someone who's more qualified for help in dealing with a problem. It's far better to talk a problem through and get other people's expertise. Of course, I'm always there for them, too, and it's amazing how many skills we can pull together. Having that support is invaluable.

6 Be aware of the negatives but don't dwell on them or you'll never get out of bed. When I set up Dunpark a lot of people suggested it was a crowded field. I replied, "There's always room at the top." Everything's competitive and you should be aware of what the problems are, but then get on with it. I chose to emphasise the positive. Experience is a hard taskmaster but it has taught me to adapt to whatever hand life deals me. Simply set high standards and take everything with a straight bat - in other words, be utterly honest.

7 Never take people for granted, particularly if you're as busy as I am. I always try to say thank you to my team at the office. It's absolutely vital to show your appreciation - you can't do anything without your team. That includes my husband, John, who's also in the business. Outside of work, we make sure to visit a secret destination every year. One of us books and does all the planning without telling the other person anything about it. I feel that in marriage, if you talk about your holidays for too long before going, you might as well not go. Last year he whisked me off to Siena for the Palio. I hadn't a clue! I thought we were going to the west coast of Scotland. It was absolutely fantastic and a complete surprise. Have good fun. It's as simple as that.