Reflections, lessons and Christmas wishes from Lumeno — 2023

Earlier this year, we took the bold step of leaving secure jobs, following our dream and heading into unfamiliar waters. With the minimum share capital, emptied savings accounts and a plan written in marker pen, we established Lumeno at the end of July. At that point, we had two unsigned verbal agreements with former partners and a landlord with plenty of promises but little action. Our first official working day therefore ended at McDonald's in Fokserød—not ideal, but at least we were not hungry.

Since then, the journey has been busy, nerve-racking, educational and incredibly exciting. Moving from fixed costs with no revenue to drawing our first proper salary in November was rewarding and, at times, frightening. We believed Lumeno could succeed from the start, even before choosing the name, but you never really know until you are doing it. There is still a long way to go, and we are not giving up any time soon.

What have we learned so far as founders?

1. Be patient: Winning new clients takes time. Use that time wisely and stay positive.
2. Do not overthink rejection: There may be many reasons a client chooses someone else. Learn what you can, then focus on the next opportunity.
3. Administration takes time: Balancing creative and administrative work is an art. Accounting, proposals, meetings and contracts are all part of the job, and systematic planning helps you focus on one task at a time. Tools such as Fiken and Folio have saved us time and frustration.
4. Walk your talk: Advice should be rooted in your own practice and experience.
5. Make time for internal work: It is easy to deprioritize internal tasks, but sustainable growth and quality require a solid foundation.
6. Products need not be perfect at launch: Digital solutions are living products that can be improved continuously.
7. Speak well of others and assume good intent: When people fall short of expectations, remember there may be a good reason.
8. Share thoughts with colleagues: If you are fortunate enough to have a colleague, support each other. No one understands your situation better.
9. People have different everyday needs: Life circumstances vary. If your work allows flexibility, remember that not everyone works like you.
10. Small gestures matter: Bringing an extra energy drink or sharing a snack with a colleague is underrated.
11. Adapt to technology: Use AI for what it does well. We see it as a third colleague that helps with tasks outside our expertise.
12. Time and value are different: It is easy to price everything by hours, but experience and efficiency should also inform the estimate.
13. Respect other people's time: Time may be our most valuable resource. Arrive punctually and finish meetings close to the agreed time.

Finally, we would like to thank every client who placed their trust in us this year. We truly appreciate it. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone. 🎄✨ 2024 will undoubtedly be exciting!