As a small business owner of 10+ years, here are some tips that I think will keep you sane should you pursue a side hustle or small business of your own. There are many pieces of advice I can offer, but these three are the ones that I have to constantly work on and remind myself of, and I feel are worth having in your back pocket.
1. Have a schedule!
When you’re passionate about something, you can't help but attempt to do everything on your own so it’s as perfect as possible. It’s very easy to feel guilty about having free time because you end up thinking, "I could spend this time growing my business." However, this can lead to burnout - both physically and creatively - and erode the passion you once had.
To prevent this, I created a schedule for myself. On Mondays, I take new photos of my product. On Tuesdays, I write a blog post. On Wednesdays, I send out emails, etc. This way, every day, I contribute towards my business in some capacity without feeling overwhelmed. And when I stick to the plan, I find I feel less guilt about having free time (a miracle when I get it).
2. Don't get caught up in the likes!
I remember my first Instagram post that brought in over 200 likes. I was so excited because I thought I'd get an influx of followers and orders. Spoiler alert, I didn’t. Not one order.
However, I can’t tell you how many times a post that got only 5 likes has brought in an order.
Just because something doesn’t go viral or isn’t generating engagement, that doesn’t mean your content isn’t reaching the right person looking for whatever you’re doing/selling.
Create content for the person who needs what you’re doing, not for the masses.
3. It’s not that serious!
Whether it’s a cancelled order, a bad review, or losing followers, it’s ok. While it might feel debilitating, daunting, and burdensome from time to time, don’t let the negative take away from the joy of what you do.
You lost a follower? Ok, they clearly weren’t your audience, so what did you really lose?
You got a bad review? Ok, address it. Turn it into content. And remind yourself of how many positive ones you have.
Someone cancelled their order? Ok, clearly that item was meant for someone else. It’ll sell eventually to the right person.
At the end of the day, it’s a privilege to be able to do what we love. Not everyone gets the opportunity. And every negative experience is an opportunity to better your business.
Let me know if you'd like more tips. And if so, around any specific topics?
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