When I was first starting my business, things like logistics used to stress me out – setting up a button for people to book calls with me, maintaining my website, etc. As I got further along the journey, how to best connect with people stressed me out. And finally, you guessed it… client acquisition and managing ebbs and flows stressed me out.
A couple of years after starting the journey, I look back now with a whole new perspective. So often, the “how” holds people back from pursuing “what” sets their soul on fire. Lucky for me, I’d surrounded myself with a coach and other women on the same journey to help.
So here’s me pulling up a chair with a cup of warm, fragrant coffee to tell you that it all works out. We always figure it out. While I still need to remind myself of this as I hit new levels of expansion in my business (owning a business is about constantly learning and growing), I’m here to tell you that if following your passion is what you desire, you can find ways to figure out the “how”.
Logistics
When we first contemplate starting our own business, logistics is a concern that receives an inordinate amount of weight in the consideration. We wonder how we’ll do it, from bookkeeping to insurance to a website. It feels daunting at first.
But, things like this frequently just take a little bit of work at the beginning to figure out, and then we get to reap the benefits for years to come. What a bummer it would be to let something that is a little stressful and has a learning curve at the beginning hold you back from following your dreams.
The good news is, you’re not alone in feeling this way. I felt this way at the beginning, and I’m sure most other business owners have. Through the power of connection, I’ve seen that most people are willing to help those just getting started to work through these things.
Connections
Another common obstacle that I hear as others discuss why they’re weary about pursuing their dream business is connecting with people. They worry about networking, dealing with clients, etc. There’s a variety of reasons for this, like being introverted, enjoying working in solitude, or less than ideal experiences in the past. I get it… I wanted to be a writer to work by myself.
But what I’ve learned is that worrying about this is creating an obstacle before even attempting to deal with people. Overcoming this story in our minds often happens over time. Oftentimes, our first clients are family and friends. As we start our journey, we find ourselves meeting people on similar journeys. Our network grows organically, and we start to get referred to others. Soon enough, you’re only working with people that you choose to work with and only spending time connecting with people you desire.
The people can turn out to be one of the coolest parts of your business.
I’m not naive. I know every business is different. For example, retail is different from service providers. But it’s my belief that in most cases, we overcome this concern organically as our business grows.
Workload
Ah, this is the most common one that I still find myself working through. This concern can work in two directions.
As business owners, we may have times where work is flooding in and we may have times where it feels like we’ve lost a bit of traction. Just like seasons, businesses are often cyclical. And we should be thankful for that as business owners. We can’t run on all cylinders at all times.
When we’re at capacity, we always figure out a way to get done what needs to get done. When we are looking for more to take on, we find creative ways to make things happen. This down time also allows us time to invest ourselves to be ready for the next flood of work.
Both seasons of business are important. It’s easy to get swept up in the moment of one of the seasons. Trust me, I’m still working through these. But it’s important to think of the long game and not panic.
If you’re looking to share your own experiences as a business owner through a book, I’d love to help you bring these to life! Let’s chat through a free strategy session.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.