As I reflect on the past year, I am amazed at how much in my life has changed. This month marks the one-year anniversary of the official start of my marketing business. If you would have told me 2 years ago that I would be my own boss and running the show, living the life I have always dreamed about – I would have laughed in your face!
For so many, owning a business is a dream that seems so far away and unattainable, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Being your own boss comes with both pros, and cons. And typically it does take way more work than just waking up one day and saying “I’m going to start my own business today”. For me, years of hard work in school and several months of planning went into this, and I am still just getting started. It has always been important to me to put the work in to building the life I desire for myself, and my family.
As a reflection, I thought I would share what it’s been like to own my own business and to offer some tidbits of advice for anyone who desires the same.
- Planning is key: Ensuring that you have things well thought out before leaving a secure 9-5 job is essential. It is important to think about things like your financial situation, and whether leaving a stable job is doable for you. It is also important to have a Plan B in the event that business is slow starting out, or you hit a slow month. Owning your own business doesn’t come with insurance and benefits, so you need to ensure that you are properly covered whether through a spouse/family member, or that you do the research to find the right plan for you. At the end of the day, life still happens – and you must be prepared!
- No day is the same: If you like consistency, owning a business probably isn’t for you. I can’t tell you a week ahead what my next week or even few days will look like. I have spur the moment meetings that come up with clients that need to meet urgently, I have unexpected phone calls that must be taken or returned within the day, and I have a million other things that I have to sustain to ensure proper planning for my own business is taking place throughout the course of my week.
- The freedom is awesome: One of my most favorite parts of owning my own business is the freedom and flexibility it has allowed into my life. If I want to sleep in a little later one day, I can do that – but, I know that I may be working later that night. If there is an event that Nathaniel and I would like to attend during the week, or a spur the moment vacation comes along, I have the freedom to do that. However, I will say that with freedom, there is always a catch. Typically, even though I am not behind a desk 24/7, I am behind my phone. Chances are, even if we are traveling or doing something leisurely, I am still “working” from my phone, or ensuring that things are being planned out appropriately.
- I LOVE WHAT I DO: Every day, I get to wake up looking forward to the work I do. I couldn’t always say that about past jobs and it showed. My enthusiasm about my business and my work is out of this world. I get to meet with the most amazing clients every day, some who I now call “friend” and help them tell their story to the world. Some are changing lives. Some are making their life long dreams come true with a new business. Some are bettering our community through charitable work. I seriously do have the best job in the world.
All in all, I am one blessed girl. I have no idea what my future will hold, but I would love to see my business continue to grow. I plan to let God have all of the control, and with that, I know He will put me where He wants me!
