I think in this day and age, entrepreneurship is highly sought after, but for some of the wrong reasons, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to it for some of those reasons as well. When I first started out as an entrepreneur, I wish there was someone to tell me a few honest things about what was ahead, which is what leads me to write this post.
Three Honest Things I Would Tell Someone Who Is Starting Out:
1. You don’t own the business; the business owns you. It is with you in every second of every day – when you wake up, when you’re in the shower, when you are on vacation – you think about it 24/7. If you aren’t willing to sign up for that relationship, owning a business isn’t for you.
2. No one will ever care as much as you do. Of course, your friends will ask about it and come to events, but they won’t lose sleep if your rent is late. If you are really lucky, you will find some employees who do care – but no one will ever share passion for it like you do and that’s okay – it’s not for them, it’s for you. You have to show up even when no one else does.
3. Whatever business you want to start – it is going to take you twice the amount of money and twice the amount of time that you’ve planned for.
Entrepreneurship is full of ups and downs, but in my experience the ups and downs have seemed to balance each other out. It’s almost freaky. Good has always been followed by bad and vice versa, often times even in the same day. Good feedback is amazing, it makes you feel like what you are doing is making a difference in people’s lives – it’s a beautiful reminder to keep going, but it can also be dangerous. It can cause you to coast a little bit. You stop challenging yourself because, why change? Everything is good – why change it? Then just like clockwork- something comes along that wakes me up and reminds me that I still have so many people to reach. I have to keep evolving and keep growing.
Some days are amazing. You teach a great class, you get everything on your to do list done and someone comes up to you and tells you that your studio and the community you created has changed their life. They have lost 30 pounds, it’s the only time they have with their husband without the kids, they have always been insecure but when they come to the studio people know their name – it’s their happy place. Those comments bring me purpose.
And then of course some days are awful. Half of your staff has the flu and you are so tired that you lose sight of motivation. Your body is so sore that it takes everything you have to get up and teach a class. Then after the class someone e-mails you and says your workout was a waste of their money, that you’re a horrible person who supports men abusing women because you played a Chris Brown song. Those days can make you lose a little sleep.
I have lived by these words over the past two years: “You can’t be everything for everyone, but you can be enough for someone.” A year ago someone left a review saying they wished I played more EDM music. So, my next class I put in a lot more songs from that genre (which isn’t really my style, but I figured that was what people wanted to hear.) I shit you not, the next review I received said “Great class, but she played too much EDM.” You can’t change who you are to make everyone like you. Be you, be strong, people will like you or not like you and really, it’s none of your business either way! It’s hard not to get overwhelmed, but perspective is something that has always grounded me.
When I’m feeling overwhelmed I always try to change my perspective. I know there are people out there taking on more than I do, and they are doing a better job. I think about women that own businesses and have multiple locations. Women that have businesses and have children (hello Sami Sweeny aka Superwoman). The list goes on but perspective brings me back.
Whenever I open the studio in the morning, I leave my house at 4:45am. I always feel like it’s too early to function – I am driving with one eye open and I have a negative energy. There is this bakery on Greenwood Ave that I always pass on my way. As soon as I drive by this bakery, I look in the window and see the same woman opening up the shop every single day for the past two years. She is putting pastries in the oven, sweeping the floors, making coffee – before I even make it to work. It makes me smile every time. She is getting to work before me and hustling harder than I am. It’s a beautiful reminder that if she can do it, so can I. And if I can do it, so can you. There is always someone out there with bigger problems than you and they are making it work – without complaining.
Get up – get started – get after it.
