What It’s Really Like Running Your Own Business
This week on the blog, I’m pulling back the curtain to reveal a bit about what it’s really like running your own business. I have operated The Scribblist during many seasons of life - from the early days when I was a graduate student looking for extra income, to juggling two jobs simultaneously, and now, as my full time gig. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons, the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur!
One thing I have learned from conversations with people over the years, is that not everyone is built for or wants to be an entrepreneur. Yes, you get a lot of freedom to do things how you want to do them, on your own terms, BUT it also comes with a lot of responsibility. Chances are, when you are first starting out, you are a team of one. I started my business because I loved hand-lettering and illustration, and needed a way to have some extra income while I was attending a graduate program for Studio Art. I didn’t start it to become an accountant, a production manager, to oversee shipping, order fulfillment, marketing, or photography – but all of these things come with the territory. I have learned to love gaining new skills and figuring these things out along the way, but it can be a lot to juggle!
Now that I am further along in my business, I have been able to outsource a lot of the roles and responsibilities that don’t fill my cup. You can read more about that here. I’ve also had to learn over the years how to avoid burnout. When you’re a team of one trying to wear twenty different hats, you work long hours. The physical toll is real, but so is the emotional one. Are you doing this business thing “right?” Did you make the right call with that project? How do I know if I am charging the right price? You will have a lot of questions, and won’t always have people to bounce those ideas off of. You learn so much from each experience, but it can be exhausting! Over time, you’ll find ways to build a community around you - people you can lean on, problem solve with, or ask for advice from. I have found that having other makers and entrepreneurs to connect with has helped me not feel so alone on the journey.
Despite all of the challenges and hurdles I have had to overcome, I absolutely love running my own business. While I do work long hours in some seasons, I am generally in control of when and how I work, and am able to protect my time outside of work as well. I no longer have to beg to squeeze out one or two weeks of vacation. I get to use my artistic skills to create things that bring people joy. I love the challenges and achieving goals that I set for myself. I am proud of the work that I do, and the ways that I can give back to my community. I’ve been knocked down more than a few times along the way, but I always get back up. You learn to become a fantastic problem solver – the type of person who just figures things out!
It can be a slow burn those first few years…but keep going! You will start to see the fruits of your labors, and that is so exciting! Once I was able to finally start paying myself regularly and living the life that I had dreamed about for so long, it felt really, really good. Do I think running your own business is the only way to achieve happiness with work? Absolutely not! I’ve met plenty of people who have found it is just not for them - and that’s great too! But if you feel in your heart that this is what you were meant to do, I know you can do it! I don’t think there really is a way to avoid all of the hard earned lessons you will inevitably make along the way – they’re part of what makes you a better business owner.
I had no idea what I was doing when I started – no idea about how many long nights were ahead of me, or how to create a website, sell my products, or do my taxes. I also had no idea how much I would love being an entrepreneur. It blew my mind the first time someone I didn’t know purchased something that I made. So how did I end up where I am now? I just took the first step. And then the next. You don’t have to have it all figured out from the start - just take that first step.