While Swish Coaching may be a new business, the groundwork was laid over the past 20 years. As a teacher since 2004, I spent endless evenings, weekends, and school holidays volunteering to spark interest in young people and teach them life skills through basketball. Over time, basketball became the #1 in-demand sport in Wales, and despite my best efforts, I realised I couldn’t continue to develop basketball in North Wales as a volunteer. That’s when I decided to take the leap and start Swish Coaching.
What surprised the National awarding body was how quickly the business gained traction—attracting players from across the UK to our National Camp, with Great Britain star Jamell Anderson partnering to run it. I also established a connection with the world-leading Impact Basketball camp, launched 1:1s, elite sessions, and even developed a sixth-form skill academy. But the truth is, I’m not a newcomer to this work—I’ve been doing it for two decades, just behind the scenes.
Here are my 5 essential takeaways after winning the Best Newcomer Business Award:
Celebrate Success: When people praise you, be proud, say thank you, and then move on to make things even better.
Ask for Help: Don’t pretend to know it all. Ask questions and seek advice. The guidance I received when starting out helped me build a strong foundation.
Plan in Detail: The more detailed your plans are, the more likely your ideas will succeed. Fine-tuning every aspect increases your chances of success.
Bounce Back: Things will go wrong—expect it. Dust yourself off and find alternative solutions to keep moving forward, even if they weren’t part of your original plan.
Stay Passionate and Committed: Setting up a business is hard, especially with a full-time profession. There were countless 5 am and late-night emails. Passion and drive are key to pushing through.
Comments