11 Things I Have Learned Since Starting My Business

If you have been following along for a while now you may know that last October I was let go from my corporate job. You can check out my blog post on that here. Was I scared when I got the news, yes. But I took the leap & decided to take my ‘little calligraphy hobby’ full time & I am still standing strong a year later.

It hasn’t been without struggle or doubt - but man has it felt super rewarding. I have learned a lot of things along the way and I would like to share them with you - in case you are starting a business yourself or maybe even want someone to chat with about the trials and tribulations of starting a business.

So here we go:

Failure is Part of Success

Mistakes are inevitable - but rather than sulk around & focus on them; learn from them. Whether it has been pricing, material choices, or just an overall process - I have taken those moments & grown rather than giving up. Have I felt like giving up when I have received some constructive criticism or even just plain old criticism - sure! But I honestly think that it has made me better at what I do because I didn’t give up. I took those comments to heart and I changed things up.

Community Matters

Building a business alone can be just that - lonely. Not everyone will understand or be as invested as you are - so I have found networking with likeminded people has been a breath of fresh air. Coming from someone who was petrified of networking - it has truly helped me know I am not alone in all of this. You may find that even your closest family and friends do not understand what it is like to be starting a business. Of course they care and hope you succeed, but they will not truly understand as someone who is going through it! Get yourself out there - find a group that you connect with, even try out a different ones if you need to!

It is Ok to Say No

This might be a little hard at first. When you are starting your business your number one goal is to make money - of course. It is hard to say no to any opportunity that comes your way. You may think it will be a while until another one comes your way, so you jump on anything! But sometimes, it is better to let that one client choose someone else. Learning who your ideal client is & working with just those, will be a game changer.

Invest in Yourself

Hire a coach - of some kind. Find someone you mesh with, do the research & hire someone that will guide you through. Whether it is to help financially or with setting goals, a business coach is a great person to bounce ideas off of, vent with, and overall learn from. I personally have invested in both a spiritual coach as well as a more logistical coach. I waited too long on choosing to move forward on this step & do not regret one single piece of guidance I have received. My only regret is wishing I had invested sooner.

Love What You Do

Choosing to create a business doing something that I love doing has been an amazing feeling. It makes the hard moments worth it. I couldn’t imagine trying to build something from the ground up & it being doing something that I wasn’t fully invested in. I truly believe that the more you love it, the more you’ll put into it. For the most part, you will be excited to ‘go to work’ every day rather than dread it.

All The Hats

At the beginning, you’ll be wearing a lot of hats. Website creator, Accountant, Assistant, etc. You won’t just be doing your ‘craft’. It may be overwhelming wearing all of the hats - but that is where growing a community helps. Find people that can help you! Outsource when you can - especially for the legal & numbers! You may think at the beginning that you don’t have enough funds to outsource and that is totally understandable, but once you feel comfortable choose the task that you dread doing the most and outsource. Keep outsourcing until you no longer are doing any of the tasks you dread.

Time Management is Key

Grab yourself a calendar - whether digital or physical - and time block your days to the best of your ability. Maybe even do both types of calendars to keep yourself extra accountable. Make yourself checklists or To Do lists - so you can management your time in a realistic manner. Set aside certain times to check emails, work on projects, connect with clients, etc. If you are continuously bouncing around from thing to thing - you might start to feel overwhelmed by it all. It may seem silly, but setting aside time for projects you know you need to do - like checking emails - will allow you to not feel obligated to continually bounce back and forth throughout the day.

Self Care is Key

On that same calendar as your time management blocks - block out time for yourself. Whether it is just a walk outside or remembering to eat lunch, make sure you are making time for yourself. I can’t tell you how many times I have become so wrapped up in the day to day that I don’t even realize what time it is. Did I even drink water today? I am not sure! Having certain time set aside will lower the chance of resentment or feeling defeated. You are the most important employee so don’t forget about yourself!

Be Resilient

Growing a business is not easy. There will be more times than you can count that you will feel overwhelmed & defeated. But, you are going to have to dig deep and go back to your ‘why’ & keep going! Maybe a pivot here or there - but do not give up. Stay resilient.

Celebrate the Small

Celebrate all the wins - big or small. Celebrate that inquiry even if you don’t book it. Celebrate the response back from a lead. Celebrate your first booking. Celebrate that perfectly centered piece. Celebrate it all. You are growing a business - on your own - celebrate it ALL!

Pros & Cons

& finally, my favorite. There are pros & cons to it all. Does it scare me to not have a steady paycheck, sure does. BUT, do I love being able to create my own schedule & be there for my kids when they need me? I sure do. Do I love being my own boss? Yes. Do I miss having to ask someone to approve my days off? I do not. Some things will start to outweigh the others.

Sincerely, someone trying really hard to make her dreams come true.