I open this blog sharing a photo of a young person winning at life, I want to be more her! In this pic its about 09:30pm on a Friday eve and shes boshing a drink (hot choc) and is wide awake. This is now my aim, to be able to drink a glass of wine past 9pm on a Friday and still be awake.
Well, I may as well start this blog as I mean to go on... by that I mean sporadic and most definitely NOT the weekly, on-time kind of blog, which is exactly why I am writing it here on a Saturday morning rather than last night when I should have done it. Why didn't I do it last night? Because I fell asleep on the sofa! Just a normal Friday night for most people that work in education over the age of 40, or so I believe. However, when I woke up and got sproglet to bed, I realized that I needed to wait for the mountain of Cuban Beef I had batch cooked to cool before putting it in the freezer in some 2024 style prep boxes (no ziplock freezer bags here anymore) that have bats on the top of them because... I have a kid and it's nearly Halloween? No! Not because of that but they were the cheapest ones in TK Maxx. Anyway, I was sat at the kitchen table admiring the lovely last hurrah to summer in the form of gorgeous mustard yellow sunflowers on the table whilst the beef sat on top of a stack of ice cubes and began to think about a few questions and conversations I have had this week.
I ran some training at a primary school on Monday and was asked what it was like to run my business. I was told by another person how fortunate I am to be able to work outdoors every day. At this point, I obviously reminded that person that it has rained for 90% of the year! Then, at the pub last night (after wakeboarding, as it would be rude not to because that big ball of light was in the sky), I bumped into a friend (a parent of a child at the same school) who was talking about getting a taste of being self-employed and perhaps wanting to work for herself now.
So, you're thinking about taking the plunge into the wild world of business entrepreneurship! . Congratulations on considering joining the ranks of brave souls who have dared to venture into the realm of being their own boss. Now, grab a wine (or other drink), cozy up and lets chat business.
In a world filled with endless possibilities, the decision to start your own business often begins with a spark of inspiration (no pun intended), a light bulb moment if you will. Whether it's a passion project that's been brewing in the depths of your soul or a sudden epiphany that hits you after three 250ml of wine (oops thats the bottle gone then), the birth of a business idea is a magical thing but it can be so hard to take the plunge and roll with it, especially with imposter syndrome and all those voices in your head telling you that you will probably fail!
To business or not to business.... that is the question! I had to get this phrase in since I spent about an hour talking to Marthy yesterday about Shakespeare and I reignited my oscar worthy acting skills this week during a first aid course that then made me spend far too much time considering 1) joining an Am Dram group and 2) going back to my roots and teaching drama again, until it dawned on me that I actually have time for neither.
Anyway, i digress.......so, to business or not to business. The bitter/sweet symphony of self-doubt and hesitation; every new entrepreneur's favorite tune. The fear of the unknown, the anxiety about taking risks, and the ever-present impostor syndrome are all part of the delightful package that comes with considering starting your own business. But fear not, for these obstacles are simply minor obstacles on the path to success!
There is a plethora of books and info out there but it can be a minefield to navigate through the business plans, market trends, PR, competitor stuff and not to mention accounts! Running your own business is most certainly, without a shadow of a doubt a rollercoaster of emotions, it's a mix of excitement, terror and a pinch of delirium. So, you best start early with the self-help/affirmation stuff and give yourself a much needed pep talk with a mantra that could give any seasoned motivational speak a run for their money. my particular favourite is " it can't be that difficult" and "what's the worst that could happen?"
The title of this blog says 'tips to make it happen' but really my only tip is to get yourself prepared for the ride of your life, running this business has been incredibly hard and although a lot of people congratulate me for "getting out of the classroom" and "having a better work/life balance", neither of those things are actually accurate. If you are considering running your own business you will know if you have it in you, you will know deep down if you have the determination, resilience and energy for it. I thought it was going to be really tough but i dont think anything or anyone could have actually prepared me for just how tough it really is.
Ask yourself why you are considering working for yourself. My answer to this was really rather simple, it was just "why not?".
And so, if you choose the path of the grand adventure as a business entrepreneur, it is paved with challenges, triumphs, and a whole lot of caffine/wine-fueled late nights. But remember, every successful business owner started from square one, armed with nothing but a dream and a healthy dose of caffeine/wine. So go forth, brave soul, and may the entrepreneurial gods smile upon your efforts!
So, business ownership is mainly a rollercoaster of emotions, from light bulb moments to pep talks in front of mirrors. If you're on the brink of diving into the world of business entrepreneurship, remember: you've got this! 🚀🌟 and why not?
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