Dear Self,
So you think you want to be an entrepreneur? Let me tell you from first hand experience, it ain't going to be all burritos and margaritas, my friend. You find something you love to do, an industry where you feel like you can make a real contribution to your community and make a living doing it. Unfortunately, finding your passion is the easy part. There's a whole lot of things that will come up that you won't expect. Here are a few things we have learned along the way.
There will come a time where you have to decide if you want to grow.
You may be able to chug on for years as a one-woman (or man) show and be just fine, but at some point you may be compelled to bring on employees or subcontractors to grow to the next level. This can be a game changer for your income and stress levels, but it brings its own challenges. Hiring and managing people takes good communication skills, planning, delegation, and assertiveness. It also takes TIME. If you hire and train well it will pay off, but in the short term, it will probably be butt-kicking hard.
There is no one set path.
Success looks different for everyone, and what has worked in situation is not necessarily the right choice for you. Don't be afraid to make decisions that feel right to you and serve your goals and purpose, even if they don’t look like everyone else’s.
Networks are critical.
You can't do everything on your own, so it's vital to cultivate a network of people you trust. Things like bookkeeping (*ahem*), professional photographs, or business coaching could be important building blocks on the road to success. It's so reassuring to know that you have a team of people behind you for the tasks that aren't in your wheelhouse. Not only does this contribute to the overall professionalism of your brand, but it frees you up to do the really cool things that got you into your business in the first place.
Hindsight is 20/20
You will make mistakes. Instead of kicking yourself for doing something wrong, count it as a lesson learned and move on. You can't know it all, so don't get down on yourself for situations you didn’t anticipate.
Be flexible.
Plan A often becomes Plan B, C, D, or E. Be open to change as things progress and keep your focus on the goal rather than road you planned to take there. Sometimes, you just have to punt.
Everyone is winging it
No matter how together another business owner looks, it's nearly guaranteed they freak out from time to time. Did I do the right thing with an employee? Did I set my prices correctly? Do I have what it takes to make my business successful? Believe in yourself and surround yourself with a team to help you make the best decisions possible, and you are WAY ahead of the curve.
Despite the fact that being a business owner is not all sunshine and roses, I don't think I could ever go back to being an employee. I love the freedom and challenge it provides. And I also value all of the things that I have learned along the way. If you have a minute, drop us a line and let us know what you have learned in your entrepreneur journey that you wish you would have known from the start, team@missoulabookkeeper.com.
We love ya so much, we just can’t stop finding new ways to help you out. We are assembling a bank of free resources for you to come back to whenever you need a little guidance. We will be using this space for downloads, tutorials, classes and links to useful resources. Just uploaded: Common Tax Deductions for Small Business.
Have something you’d like to see added to the resource database? Email angela@missoulabookkeeper.com and let us know!
“Forgive yourself for not having the foresight to know what now seems obvious in hindsight.”
—Judy Belmont
