I Wish Someone Told Me: Dr. Stephanie Eltz

We all have those moments when we think to ourselves, “I wish someone told me this.” We want to get ahead, so we are getting in touch with the brilliant minds and fascinating entrepreneurs that work in the UK to get their thoughts on life, work and success.

First in line is Dr. Stephanie Eltz — a practising surgeon and the co-founder of Doctify. The app aims to be the Airbnb of private healthcare, taking the weight off the NHS and making things happen quicker for those that can afford going private.

It was born out of her own need to conveniently book appointments that fit into her busy schedule. People often come up with theoretical solutions to problems but few follow through. She had a problem and fixed it, so we wanted to know what made her realise her idea was worth following through.

I wish someone told me not to worry about the small defeats. The big victories will follow no matter what.

How do you know if you’re really onto something?

If you are thinking of founding a company, you should be obsessed about solving a problem. This drive should come from within. It can be a small or a big problem that bugged you and you think you are the right person to make the world a better place by addressing this.

Often when I speak to people who are thinking of starting a company they have this unique drive but the way that they decide to solve that particular problem might evolve over time and that’s ok. The best way of knowing if you are onto something is to talk to other people. One of the best advices I got was not to worry about anyone judging or wanting to steal my idea. It will be on you to execute it anyway. Just share your thoughts and get input. The less convinced and insecure you are, the more negativity you will get from people when you talk about it. People reflect your feelings when you speak to them so take their “it’s not going to work” with a pinch of salt. It might motivate you.

You must speak to your future clients or people that need to buy into your product to make sure you are actually addressing their needs. I think it’s very important to talk to investors as you will probably rely on them at some stage. You need to test your business case by enduring their tough questions. And finally, don’t be afraid of failure!

What’s the one thing you wish someone had told you bringing your ideas to life?

I wish someone told me not to worry about the small defeats. The big victories will follow no matter what.