What I've Learned In My First Year As An Entrepreneur
What I’ve learned in my first year as an entrepreneur
As 2022 draws to a close, it’s natural for us to look back and evaluate where we’ve been. This end-of-year newsletter will clearly not be unique in that regard.
So here are the highlights of my first year running my own business:
January:After an eternity of contemplating, I finally began putting together the framework of a new business, one based on one sole concept that had been floating around in my head for a while: Helping others use story as a way to connect with others.
June: Shortly before I officially launched my website, I was laid off (which may have been the universe telling me it’s go time!). It felt very “be careful what you wish for,” as I had often fantasized about this moment, but wanted to wait until I could come close to replacing my income. But, you know, the best laid plans and all that…
August:I completed the content for my first brand deliverable, the Be Seen As The Expert Masterclass. I was thrilled with the results. I was basically scratching my own itch. I hired a curriculum coach and partnered with three others whose skills I respected a great deal and complimented mine.
I then tried a variety of marketing approaches, like Google Ads, email marketing, and social media. I didn’t really commit to one beyond a few weeks of seeing very limited results.
September: I experienced a health scare that put things temporarily on hold. Luckily, the prognosis wasn’t nearly as bad as once thought. It also gave me some additional perspective on how I wanted to live my life and what type of legacy I want to leave. Later that month, I got engaged – one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made!
November: I finally bit the bullet and conducted the masterclass – with two enrollees. Although I had hoped for a larger turnout, these were the exact students that I had wanted in the class, and the feedback from both was incredible!
So what did I learn most from these experiences? Funny you should ask…
Top 4 Takeaways from My 2022:
- Building a business is a marathon, not a sprint.I completely underestimated the amount of time and money it takes to create a solo-powered business. The hardest part has been remaining patient and believing in the vision when I’m not seeing instant results. But it also makes sense. Being a one-man show (especially with ADD) requires extra focus and discipline. It also means spending just as much time finding the right people to bring the best out of you. Staying consistent and persistent with it all has allowed new habits and routines to slowly round into shape, making the journey almost as rewarding as the destination.
- Market for the niches, not for the masses.The problem I had was not being willing to target a specific audience for fear of not reaching enough people. I eventually realized that if you cater to everyone, you risk reaching no one. My epic posts full of (what at least I thought was) insightful content would get crickets. Meanwhile, the stuff that was intended for a specific type of person or situation got the most engagement. And even though it reached fewer people, it generated more responses. Go figure.
- Give yourself permission to fail forward.Part of what’s extended this ramping up period was my propensity to perfect my content before posting it. I was afraid my messaging wasn’t clear and didn’t want to paint a murky picture of myself online. And I was right. It did lack clarity. But it turns out that’s okay. The most important thing was being visible and consistent. Eventually, the clarity started coming, but it was silly for me to think I had to wait for it first. I learned from what didn’t work, and that’s how I was able to get better. That’s the biggest lesson of all: No matter what happens, I have no regrets. I no longer say “what if,” I say “what next!”
- Life is too short to feel unfulfilledAlthough I invested a lot into making this work, I am also fortunate to understand that my value as a person is not solely linked to being a successful business owner. I am beyond blessed to be with my supportive soulmate, find constant rewards in being a parent, and think I’m a pretty reliable friend and family member. Those things, more than anything, is what gives me a sense of purpose. And those things, more than anything else, will define my legacy.What are your biggest takeaways from 2022? I’d love to hear them!Wherever this year has taken you, here’s to finding nothing but joy and prosperity for the new year ahead!