Melissa Ritchie has a note pinned above her desk which says “As long as you have gas and water, then the world is OK”. It’s a thought that guided her through her first months of business, running her human resources consultancy The HR Tap.

Just before she started her business, Melissa made a punishing 28-day 3,000 mile trip sailing in a 40ft cruiser racer from the British Virgin Islands to the UK with three other sailors she met for the first time at the start of the trip. Technical problems resulted in a shortage of gas for cooking and fresh drinking water.

“In the midst of the gales, in the pouring rain, at night, I was fighting the helm to keep the boat riding the waves and I had that ‘eureka’ moment of realising that this was probably the first time in my life I could do nothing about my situation. I couldn’t get off and walk, I couldn’t put it on hold, nor could I get some sleep and come back to it later.

“I made a vow that when there was a situation where I could do something about, I would grasp that opportunity rather than moan about it. This has kept me going during the ups and downs of setting up the business and is useful advice for anyone who is starting out. If you take a positive attitude to any obstacles, it’s much easier to turn them to your advantage.” The HR Tap team now has clients across the country. In addition to its core business of working with small businesses it also helps larger organisations which need additional HR personnel for projects or change programmes.  Published in 'In Business' 2005