Over the past few months, I’ve seen several friends on Instagram and on other platforms, start up their own business. And I’m the person who is cheering them on from the sidelines, trying to support them in whatever way I can. For me, I’ve always been an entrepreneur but it’s a title I hadn’t given myself until fairly recently. For me, I’ve always associated entrepreneurs as being people who go from one thing to the next in the hopes that something they do will become a success. And although some things might be semi-successful, you’re always looking for that one opportunity that’s going to make you highly successful. I’ve gone from wanting to act to starting a YouTube channel, going from YouTube to blogging, and then taking that blogging success and turning it into a full-time business. I’m now using Tiktok to grow my platform and I plan to get back onto YouTube. Starting any type of business is the toughest part of the process because it’s taking that plunge and actually committing to it. Here are my tips for starting your own business so you too can be the boss woman you were meant to be.
*This is a collaborative post.
Find What Brings You Joy & Passion
There’s no point in following a trend or an idea if you A. don’t have the natural talent or skills to do it and B. it doesn’t bring you joy. The reason why I started making videos and writing blogs is that I’m a creative person at heart and so I wanted to do anything that would appease that creativity in me. I love making videos and I’ve always enjoyed writing ever since I was little. I would write short stories and my ultimate dream is to have a crime novel published. Its important to find joy in what you’re doing as a business because if you’re in this for the long-run, you better enjoy what you’re doing! Passion is also something that’s very important when it comes to business ideas and I think it goes hand in hand with having enjoyment in what you do. Regardless of the challenges you face, it’s important to find passion in what you’re creating.
Acknowledge That Success Doesn’t Happen Overnight
Unless you’re one of the lucky few, success doesn’t tend to happen overnight. And for some, it might take longer than others. It’s essential that you remember you’re on your own path and that you shouldn’t always be paying attention to what your competitors are doing. Stay in your lane because everyone achieves their milestones and successes at various points in life. Right now might not be your time but if you’re working hard on the daily, you’re going to see results at some point. A lot of people will tend to give up because they feel they could achieve what someone else is already achieving overnight and that’s never really the case.
Be Prepared To Work Hard
I’ve had many people ask me about being a blogger/influencer and whilst some have either started a blog or dipped into another business idea, there are some who didn’t end up committing to it. That’s probably one of the biggest influences when running a business. You have to essentially live and breathe your business and that’s exactly what I do with blogging/writing. I’m on social media every day and I’m creating some form of content every day too. I personally don’t think I’m doing enough compared to others but that comes with organisation and balance of work. If you’re not prepared to work hard for your success then what do you expect? Nothing ever lands on your lap by sheer coincidence and you should stop relying on handouts from the universe and fend for yourself. I had a good upbringing but not necessarily a privileged one in the sense that my family was rich. We were taught to work hard for our money from an early age and to reach for our dreams and goals in life. I feel like I’ve definitely checked these both off my list, so well done parents!
Have A Can-Do Attitude
Believe what you believe but as a woman, there’s still a lot of inequality in the workplace and especially so for those who are business owners. Sometimes we don’t tend to be taken as seriously and that comes from all genders, not just males. I think it’s a mixture of society and our doubts that we’re going to fail. However, with a can-do attitude, you can achieve anything you set your mind too. It’s why people like Angela Wei Milk exist as well as other big leaders in companies as well as business owners across various industries. Believe in yourself because no one else will. And even if no one thinks you’re capable of achieving a business idea, prove them wrong. Use it to put some fire in your belly!
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post with Digital Third Coast. All words are my own.