Owning a Business is Hard
Owning a business is hard. There: I said it.
Nowadays, most business owners would be open to sharing this with you. We are willing to talk about the hardships. We are willing to admit it’s hard. But sometimes, that doesn’t quite feel like enough. We want to have solutions or answers or overnight success.
For me, my business has always been more about connecting with and empowering others than a paycheck. Now, don’t get me wrong: a paycheck is nice and necessary. But, that’s not where the fulfillment or joy comes from. For me, that comes from meeting others, hearing about their success stories, and empowering them to be brave with their lives and business endeavors.
Success isn’t always tied up in the numbers.
Success in my business looks like changing lives. Success looks like impacting businesses. Success looks like hearing stories about women being brave and sharing their stories.
Now, those are all pretty words that make you feel good, right?
Yeah, me too.
So, let’s talk about the things that are hard. And the things that nobody talks about.
When I started my business, I wish I knew that:
I would have customers who gave me negative reviews
I would lose money on products
Taxes are the worst. Save for them.
You need a business bank account BEFORE you start your business
Retail ebbs and flows
Shipping costs a lot
You will doubt yourself almost every day
You might fail more than you succeed
Your income won’t be fixed
You will be misunderstood
Your business with transform and change and it’s scary
If you’re business is growing, you have to change too
You have to save receipts
You don’t always know where the money will come from
Things break. You have to fix them.
Your email might start to take over your life; don’t let it.
Someone might copy your work
If you can resonate with a couple of those things listed above, then you’re doing something right. That doesn’t mean those things feel easier. They are hard.
So, I am here to tell you that you aren’t alone.
I am also here to encourage you that the best thing you can do for your business is to be yourself. Imagine trying to overcome all of those hardships, while also trying to curate a fake image/facade? No way.
You have share YOUR story. You cannot look around at what everyone else is doing and try to mimic it. You have to embrace your journey and the fact that it’s different. You don’t want your business to look exactly like someone else’s. That’s exactly why you have to start sharing your story! Tell your audience about the things that make your business unique and unlike anything else. We want that. We want something new and different. Use that as your strength, NOT your weakness.
I am over here cheering you on, friend!
If you haven’t taken my FREE five day Instagram challenge that helps you create a heartfelt brand, you can sign up here. You can work at your own pace and start letting these practices change your biz.
Or you can download the Ultimate Guide to Building a Heartfelt Business.
And if you’re a product shop owner, make sure you get your hands on my FREE checklist for starting or organizing an online product shop. This resource is SUPER helpful and will help guide you through the waters of online product selling.
You got this!