Going Solo – leaving the rat race behind

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Like it or not, we live in a world where work dominates our lives. In Ireland today many of us suffer long working hours and tortuous daily commutes that lock us into a seemingly endless cycle. We get up early, we go to work, we come home late, we go to bed. Then we repeat the saga, day in, day out. The irony is that in a desperate attempt to maintain our standard of living, a growing number of us are willing to sacrifice our quality of life.

Surely there has to be a better way.

All over Europe a small but growing number of people are realising that, for them at least, there is. Slowly but surely these enterprising souls are turning their backs on the frantic corporate culture of our cities and instead choosing a new life – a life where they can dictate the pace.

Rural Ireland, and the South West region in particular – with its rugged natural beauty,  scenic coastline and eclectic social mix – is proving an attractive proposition for many of these enterprising exiles.

“The region has always had an open attitude, very much welcoming of visitors and outside influences,” explains Michael Hanley, Chief Executive of the West Cork Enterprise board. “Historically important harbours like Baltimore and Schull meant that there was always an outside influence from the continent,” he said, “and I think people, particularly along the coast, were always welcoming of new influences and different ways of doing business.”

Tony Cantwell and his family moved from Dublin to the picturesque village of Glandore in 1998. “We were stuck on the M50 parking lot for a couple of hours every morning,” said Tony, talking about their decision to relocate. “Living on the south side, working on the north, we were trying to cram a family life into the weekend. We didn’t want to bring our children up in that kind of environment,” he explained.

Tony, who gave up a successful career with a global shipping company to make the transition, now runs a custom baby greeting card and wedding stationary business with his wife Thérèse. He works from home, and loves the flexibility it affords him.

“Before there were company objectives and rules of engagement,” he said. “Now I’ve reset my standards back to where I want to be. I’ve been able to do that down here.”

Nick Ross is another family man who decided to leave the corporate world behind and do his own thing. After years living and working abroad he moved back to his native Bandon in 2003 and set up Atlantix Computers and Training. He wanted to spend more time with his young family, and a home based business in West Cork has allowed him to do just that.

“I found myself leaving earlier and earlier in the mornings to beat the traffic, and getting back later and later in the evenings,” said Nick.  “I see a lot more of my family now. When I’m busy, I’m busy, but at least I can be busy from home. And When I’m not busy, I don’t have to sit in an office pretending to be!”

Another attraction of being your own boss is the opportunity to do something you really love. Michael Hoechli moved from Switzerland to Ardfield, near Clonakilty in 2000. After 30 years working in the Swiss banking sector, Michael wanted to indulge his passion for fine wine. West Cork Wines was born, and Michael has been importing selected wines from the Languedoc Roussillon region of France to Co. Cork ever since.
“Ireland is a very entrepreneur-friendly country compared to Switzerland,” said Michael, who found setting up a business here much easier than he’d anticipated, although he still believes the Swiss banks could teach their Irish counterparts a thing or two.

Turning your back on a steady pay cheque and familiar surroundings to venture into the unknown isn’t easy. The people who make that transition successfully tend to have a deep-rooted belief in themselves and in what they want to do. They understand their strengths and weaknesses, and have an enduring confidence in their ability to achieve their own definition of success. They’re certainly not afraid to step outside their natural comfort zones to meet a challenge head-on.

While these entrepreneurs naturally base their decision to relocate on what the region can offer them, they also contribute a great deal in return. “I like to call them one man foreign direct investments,” said Eileen Moloney, senior business consultant with Cork Business Innovation Centre (CorkBIC). She cites a French study that shows that each of these micro-enterprises injects an average of €75,000 a year into the local economy.

“The wealth of talent and experience out there is enormous,” said Eileen, who helps to co-ordinate the SOHO-SOLO project, which aims to foster the inward migration of independent entrepreneurs to Ireland’s south-west. Eileen believes that there’s phenomenal business potential out there. “I think SOHO-SOLO represents the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “For every entrepreneur involved there could be ten more who choose not to participate.”

The contribution that people make to the area they choose to settle in can’t be measured in terms of simple economics. Most integrate with the local community, their children attend local schools and they avail of local products and services. They also tend to get involved at the community level and add to the rich cultural and social tapestry of the region.

“Once people become embedded they’re very quick to mix and offer their expertise,” said Michael Hanley, who’s convinced that this influx of entrepreneurs is set to continue. “The draw is, I suspect, increasing rather than decreasing,” he said, pointing to infrastructure improvements in the region and the wider availability of broadband Internet access. “It’s becoming much easier to work from home and much easier to be in constant communication. I think we can expect a lot more of this.”

While the world of the twenty- second commute certainly has its challenges, it also offers tremendous rewards for those courageous and enterprising enough to rise to them. If you’re tired of trudging along on the corporate treadmill, and dream of striking out on your own, take heart: there are plenty of people out there living that dream. Making yours a reality could be closer than you think.

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