Starting your own Business – the Reality Edition

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Starting your own business takes balls. Great big ones.

A few weeks ago I was talking with a friend who recently started her own business. About how all consuming it was. That in the beginning it is so hard to juggle it all – workload, marketing, family, friendships, relationships. Odds are you will fail at at least one of those…sometimes you fail at them all.

I don’t think people understand that…that it needs to consume you for a while or you won’t make it.Ā The whole “if you love what you do you will never work a day in your life” quote? ummmmm…..

Bullshit.

Some days your creativity has disappeared, some days your developer won’t get back to you and you feel like your head may explode, some days your cash flow is unpredictable.

Quoting is work.

Invoicing is work.

Maintenance on sites is work.

Chasing after money is work.

Business is work.

Let’s not sugar coat it. There is a ton of awesome about owning your own business, just go in with your eyes wide open. When you feel like WOO HOO no more working for the man I’m the boss…remember you just signed up to have the “boss” on your ass 24/7 rather than 8 hours a day šŸ˜‰

 

“The secret to happiness is low expectations.ā€ ~ Barry Schwartz

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Sounds pessimistic, but is it?

Today I watched this TED Talk: Ā The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz, where he touches on how we have a bazillion choices from choicesRSeverything from salad dressings, to clothing, to cell phones. It’s hard NOT to be frozen when faced with so many choices because either;

a) our expectations are insanely high, or

b) we are going to feel disappointment & second guess what we do end up choosing

True right? Wasn’t it easier when we didn’t have the expectation of perfection? And weren’t we WAY less stressed out? I know I was. A few months ago we were looking for health benefits and the levels of different coverage presented to us made our heads spin. Husband wants to get the BEST and I just want us to not overpay. So what did we go with? Nothing…because it was overwhelming and seemed like we’d make the wrong choice. Give us 2 options? Easy peasy and less likely we’d put it off.

ā€œThe more options there are, the easier it is to regret anything at all that is disappointing about the option that you chose.ā€

Just under 20 minutes…grab a coffee and watch it. He’s entertaining too.

 

My Why

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Started a phenominal book a few days ago – Start with Why, by Simon Sinek. FANTASTIC BOOK!Ā Got me to thinking…last year I was approached a few times to do web design for other companies, as in do contract work. I bid on a couple but something just didn’t feel good about it. Why?

WHY did I quit my job at Genivar after 10 and half years?

WHY did I choose this path?

Not going to lie, it’s totally because I LOVE IT. But why is it that I want Unlimited BS to be strictly about small business?

Because I like the little guy. Not just the new ones, but small business in general and I think that even though they may have a small budget trying to get the ball rolling, they still deserve the same opportunities as the big guy with loads of cash burning a hole in his pocket.

And doesn’t it seem the little guy seems to always have crazy passion for what they do? I THRIVE on that!

In my short time in this industry, I’ve met some pretty incredible clients doing some pretty cool things. Learning about what drives them, what they have to offer is what drives me. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and I love that.

THAT is why I can’t contract myself out and be a middle man. I NEED the part of my job that is getting to know about your business…from you. The part where we sit down (over coffee!) and you share your love for your job. I love that part as much as the actual building of the website.

I’m only 4 chapters in…but this is what I’ve discovered about Unlimited BS so far…that is my WHY!

Authentic

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This quote was in my email this morning and I love it.

Companies, like people, should never change who they are so others will like them; they should find those who like them for who they already are. ~ Simon Sinek

It is so in line with the conversations I’ve had the past couple days with Clients, and with friends. You don’t need to put on an act, or be who you aren’t to gain business. Just be authentic. People see through bullshit. Maybe not immediately…but eventually.

I think there is a lot of pressure to be something out-of-the-box, stand out, shock factor, huge, over the top and attention getting.

I’m over it. In my head, out of the box is the new in the box with the lid taped neatly shut.

Don’t try so hard. Be you.

Best Day in the History of the World

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Don’t get all judgy…yes, the birth of my child and my wedding day all come first.

There..now on with my post šŸ˜€

November 1st was a total wicked day for me. Despite the fact it started before 8am. Red Deer launched Social Media Breakfast which is a networking group that meets once a month over breakfast. Read more

Builds Character or Puts Hair on your Chest or Something

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I worked at Willy’s Hamburgers out on Gasoline Alley for 2 years. I always felt somewhat demeaned by that. I was in my 20s and working in a fast food restaurant.

I busted my ass at that job. Seriously. It would be crazy busy there in the summer and you were literally ran off your feet for 8-10 hours a day. Ya it was a fast food joint, but I liked the “regulars” that came in for breakfast every morning, the really rammy miserable dude that treated me like crap until I stood up to him and he smiled like I FINALLY got it, and my co-workers… Except for that chick who used to make up totally off-the-wall bs stories about horses eating at the table and stuff. She was too odd, even for me.

I’m always super defensive when someone makes a rude remark about a fast food worker or disrespects them because you know what? My bet is that some of them bust their ass at their job 10 times more than you do at yours.

So be nice, your choice of work is no better than the next guy’s.

Mentors

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Mentor

MenĀ·tor – noun

1.Ā aĀ wiseĀ andĀ trustedĀ counsellorĀ orĀ teacher.
2.Ā anĀ influentialĀ seniorĀ sponsorĀ orĀ supporter.

I have a really fabulous mentor. A fellow nerd if you will. He has given me a wealth of info coming from a place of experience, knowledge and understanding. Love that I have someone in the industry that knows their shit and freely gives it to me in exchange for a cupcake or some chickpeas now and then. That is AWESOME.

If you’re just starting out like me, find someone you can trust and someone who knows their way around the cage. Ask for help. Ask for advice. It’s benefits areĀ immeasurable.

To my wise and trusted counsellor, thank you for continually letting me pick at your awesome brain.

Tweet Tweet!

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The first of probably 10 million blog posts about twitter.

Two things you NEED if you are a small business:

  1. A website! I happen to know an affordable website designer that can hook you up
  2. TWITTER!

When I first thought about starting a web design business, I thought I’d offer Twitter 101 to my clients too because I see such HUGE value in it.

So here it is, your Twitter 101 Ā —> Ā DIVE IN! That’s my BS twitter course.

Don’t be freaked out that you have to engage everyone the first week. It’s not going to happen. Just converse….re-tweet…find people who offer you humour, advice, opinions, and knowledge and follow them.

Learn.

Twitter is an AMAZING tool. The thing is no one can make it amazing for you….you need to take all that is YOU (okay, maybe not ALL, I may be an “extreme tweeter”) and put it out there. Let people see who you are and what you and your business are about. I can’t say enough about letting your personalty show, letting people get to know you makes them want to know about your business even more. I can honestly say I’ve gained not only clients, but friends through twitter (<—I know you just groaned at that statement, but it’s true!)

You hear a lot about engaging people on twitter, so I’m not going to use that word. You need to suck them in with your awesomeness. Be You. If you are passionate about what your business has to offer, share it. People will respond. I guarantee it. Give it 30 days and you’ll be hooked.

If you still think you need more than that 30 second intro to twitter, just ask, I’d be happy to show you around my second home. If you need more than that or aren’t willing to jump in that aggressively, I can point you in the direction of local peeps who offer detailed courses of all things social media.

Welcome!

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Here’s where the magic is going to happen. OK, not really. But I am excited to start blogging again! I was a hardcore, faithful, every day blogger about 5 years ago and then just petered out…I miss it. A LOT.

What am I going to blog about? Guess you’ll have to stay tuned in to see. (that’s my teaser, I actually have no idea either!)

Welcome to Unlimited BS! I look forward to all that is to come in this new venture, I’ve never felt so right about something and it only took me 38 years to figure this whole “what I want to be when I grow up” thing. Not bad.