5 Takeaways From My First 2 Years As A Creative Business Owner
MARCH 14, 2023
While the weather in my little suburban CT hometown today is cold and bleak, there’s some excitement in the studio as I sit doing some business planning, while also reflecting on my entrepreneurial journey to date. My dear design studio celebrated 2 years this January 🥳 and to acknowledge this belated milestone, I’ve compiled a list of my top 5 takeaways from running my business:
01. Mentorship is worth it
Investing in support & asking for help along the way has been worth every penny (especially when it’s felt financially scary 💰) Since starting my studio, I’ve worked with several different coaches (life and business alike) who have guided me through the lows & supported my highs. Could I have reached my successes without them? Maybe. But it probably would have taken me much longer & I would have navigated more unforeseen stagnations and stresses along the way.
02. Outsourcing is a magical thing
In my first year of biz, I flew totally solo & wore every hat (designer, marketer, bookkeeper, you name it). In year 2, I invested in support & witnessed the power of collaboration, savoring more time & energy for tasks that light me up.
03. Hone in on your zone of genius (& stay in your lane)
The additional perk of outsourcing talent and support? You get to focus more time on YOUR expertise and inherent skill. As much as I wanted to believe I can truly do it all (step aside ego), I had to be radically honest with my self, acknowledging where I really shine and embrace deeper TRUST (not only in myself, but also in my team).
04. Prioritize play
At the beginning of year 1, it was all work and no play, in part because I LOVED the freedom and fulfillment from my biz, but also bc I was looping on a limiting belief that I had to work harder to be more successful. Over time: I’ve honed in on stronger boundaries, faced the reality that nothing is ever TRULY urgent, and unblocked my “more work=more worth” mindset.
Today’s mantra: making money is EASY 💸
05. Revisit your purpose often
This one may seem simple, but may be the most critical. Constantly revisiting and ROOTING myself in my WHY reminds me of the intention behind all that I do and keeps me going when I hit all of the lows. With a strong purpose comes the ambition to live out every day fulfilling, keeping me connected & in love with my work.
