She by Shan turns five this month and I want to share some valuable lessons I've learned in my time in business.
This year, I've had my fair share of moments where I've really considered pulling the plug and getting a "real" job. But, as usual, I wake up the next day feeling excited and inspired to do more of what I do. Can you relate?
I've connected with so many other women lately and talking about our business journeys has made me reflect a lot on what I have learned; as well as reminding me of how similar our journeys are. It seems fitting to share a blog post here about my own experience, in hopes that others will feel less alone on their own journey.
Here's my 5 lessons from my first 5 years in business!
1. Sometimes your biggest cheerleaders are not who you expect.
One thing I have heard from a lot of fellow women in business is that it’s often their online fellow business friends who support their business the most, and not their family and long time friends. It can be a lonely place when there isn’t anyone who really gets it, so it makes sense that we tend to build up our own online community with those going through a similar journey.
We get really excited about launching our new business or product, and I've heard the stories of just hearing crickets when you expected a boost of engagement from all the people who know you coming along to buy your product, or book your service, or at least share a post. It's so hard not to be disheartened by this, but one important thing to remember is that our friends and family are often not our ideal clients. They aren't the ones who need our services, and they also likely won't be the ones who understand the work that goes into our service.
Only a fellow business owner will understand the real value of a good review, the small effort to share a social media post, or make a referral. These will be the people that support you and want to see you thrive.
2. Avoiding burn out is hard; take time for yourself.
When you love what you do, it’s hard to let go. You become absorbed in your work and it’s hard to separate yourself from your work-self. A hobby becomes your job and you forget what your other hobbies are, the ones without any attached obligation. Time for ourselves becomes even more important!
They say being self-employed is a 24/7 job, and it's true. Even if you're not technically working, you're always working. Work is on our minds at all times, brewing future ideas and worrying about next steps. I personally think it's a beautiful thing to love the work that we do and not feel like we are working a day in our lives.
However, we still need to create some separation, rediscover some hobbies that can just be purely fun and joyful. It's important to remember that allocating time away from our business will actually benefit our business, we'll have fresher minds and maintain our spark, so we can continue to love what we do and create authentically.
3. imposter syndrome Doesn't just go away; it's an emotional rollercoaster.
You’ll have incredible highs, and massive lows. Some days you’ll feel like giving up, tell yourself you’re not good at what you do, question why you ever started. Then, you’ll wake up the next day thinking you’re the freaking bees knees and ready to smash it. It’s all about riding the rollercoaster!
Talk to any business owner or entrepreneur, they'll tell you they still experience imposter syndrome and have doubts about whether or not they're actually good at what they do. But, they keep showing up regardless, and usually you wouldn't even know that they're experiencing these same challenges.
Owning a business is a real test of resilience. I think it's the difference between who thrives and who doesn't. My biggest tip regarding this would be to focus on the little wins when you're struggling with the lows. Take a look back at how far you've come even in the past year, look over some client testimonials and hype yourself back up. It's easy to forget that you once used to dream of where you are now!
4. use your slow seasons to nurture your business.
Slow seasons can feel personal and it can be really hard during these times to stay positive-- but we know they come and go. One of the best things you can do for yourself is actually utilise these times to do the inner work for your business. Focus on ways to improve your workflow, taking the future load off when things get busy again. Create content to promote your work and stay consistent online (no one else will know you're not busy). Re-evaluate your brand strategy and make any adjustments to how you do business.
Often when we get busy, all the back-end stuff for our business gets a little neglected and we end up wishing we had more time for the admin side of things. When you're a small business, what you do isn't solely what you do for your clients, so don't downplay the importance of everything that you do. Every moment you invest in nurturing your business will pay off.
5. learning to say no is invaluable.
When you're first starting out, it's normal to want to say yes to everything. You don't want to limit your opportunities or turn away potential income. But as you progress further in your business and it becomes more clear what you enjoy doing, and who you love working with, learning to say no is a good thing. There'll be times when things feel misaligned, or even a little "icky", so don't be afraid to say no (politely of course) and see this as an opportunity to re-evaluate who your dream clients are. The more of those clients you work with, the more you'll attract them. The more aligned you feel with those you work with; the better your work will be.
And there you have it—five big lessons from five years in business. I'm stoked I've even made it this far!
Running a business is one of the most challenging, emotional, and rewarding things I’ve ever done. It pushes you in ways you never expected, but it also connects you with incredible people, helps you grow as a person, and allows you to create something that’s truly yours.
If you’re on this journey too, I hope you see yourself in some of these lessons. You’re not alone, and every challenge you face is shaping you into a stronger, more resilient business owner.
Here’s to the next five years—whatever they may bring! ✨
