Walk, Don't Run
The lesson I'm thinking about today will be an unpopular one, but one I have given a lot to learn. The Hustle, and the lifestyle that we small business owners proselytize about, is a myth and if you are not careful it will kill you.
The Only Answer That Matters
…asked what was the hardest part about running my business. I thought about it. My response was "deciding to keep doing it every day."
An Honest and Open Accounting of My Second Year in Business.
The first year of starting a business is all about moments. The series of firsts that keep driving you on to the next milestone. The second year is a steady slog uphill.
Cultivate Strength over Momentum.
I'm now well into my second year of being an independent business owner. I have gained a lot of experience and I'm much more comfortable with the risks associated taking the path less taken.
Fair Weather Followers; Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Aplomb
Establishing the real impact and value of your business is important. Especially if it is a business that you have built yourself.
Down the Rabbit Hole: Don't Believe Your Own Hype
When you really boil it down social media (and branding in general) is all hype. You are basically taking your message (look at what I make, I like cats, I'm important, here is something that needs attention in the world, high school was awesome, high school is over...) and putting it out there in the hope that other people will be affected by it (they read it, relate to it, like you more, take action, buy something). There is nothing good or bad about this.
Alternate Realities: The Dangers of Social Media for a Fledgling Business
People do amazing things every day with what is available to them. Most of them don't even live in the Pacific Northwest. All you need is the desire for change, the will to take action, and the determination to keep moving forward.
Mind Your Own Business
Anxiety and insecurity are constant companions when it comes to running your own business. Taking the path less traveled means you'll be walking hand-in-hand with the fear of the unknown. Worrying about what everyone else is up to is a pretty normal part of the process. You worry about how your competitors are doing. You worry about your peers being more successful than you. You worry about how the market will respond to you.
Developing Artistic Vision
Since starting my business and fully devoting myself to my craft I've discovered something really interesting. You don't start out with a vision. You end up with one. I'll be the first person to admit I didn't start out with a vision. I started because I was sick of waiting tables and working nights. It has been only recently that I have really been able to say what kind of work I make and why I make it. This is not a process that you can rush no matter how much energy you devote to it. It's kind of like growing up.
