{"id":30613,"date":"2015-03-02T11:13:03","date_gmt":"2015-03-02T19:13:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=30613"},"modified":"2015-07-14T22:37:59","modified_gmt":"2015-07-15T06:37:59","slug":"18-things-learned-first-18-months-entrepreneurship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/18-things-learned-first-18-months-entrepreneurship\/","title":{"rendered":"18 Things I Learned In My First 18 Months of Entrepreneurship"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This month is the 18 month anniversary of my website and blog. In September of 2013 I finally launched what I had always dreamed of: my online wellness business. Coming from Corporate America, this was a scary thing.<\/p>\n

I used to keep a Mark Twain quote up in my cubicle. I can remember staring at it during stressful afternoons, and daydreaming of a life outside of the \u201cnormal\u201d 9-5:
\n\u201cTwenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn\u2019t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

When I launched my wellness business, I kept this quote in mind. And now, 18 months later, I can tell you that my surroundings are a little bit more familiar, but the unknown waters still exist. The exploration continues\u2026<\/p>\n

18 months, 80 blog posts and recipes, over 25 online guest features, a self-created online wellness program, a self-published cookbook, inspirational business partners, and countless amazing clients later, I have learned so much. Read on for the 18 things I have learned in my first 18 months.<\/p>\n

18 Things I Learned In My First 18 Months of Entrepreneurship:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. The \u201clittle things\u201d feel so incredibly rewarding.<\/strong>
\nThe smallest things can bring the most happiness. A new email subscriber, a new social media fan, a new inquiry about my online wellness\u00a0programs, etc. They may seem like small things, but being in charge of everything in my business, they feel like gigantic steps forward. There\u2019s something about receiving 100{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c} of the rewards of your efforts that is incredibly satisfying. Of course, there is a flip side to this\u2026<\/p>\n

2. It\u2019s far too easy to take things personal.<\/strong>
\nWhile the good feels great, the bad can also sometimes feel worse. Losing a client, getting an unsubscribe, etc. It\u2019s way too easy to take things personal, so I remind myself that it\u2019s impossible to please everyone all the time. And in the end, it\u2019s not about helping everyone, it\u2019s about helping those that want it.<\/p>\n

3. Comparison is an emotional & business downer (note to self: don\u2019t do it!).<\/strong>
\n\u201cYou can\u2019t compare your beginning to someone else\u2019s middle.\u201d -Unknown. Everyone has a different story and a different starting off point. I learned early on that any comparison to others needs to stop, because as Theodore Roosevelt so eloquently pointed out, \u201cComparison is the thief of joy.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Purpose must be the foundation of every business.<\/strong>
\nWhen I first launched, I simply wanted to help others get healthy by providing easy plant-based recipes, tips for health, and through my online wellness programs. But as my wellness business progressed, I realized that what I do is bigger than that. Providing support and motivation, and inspiring others to truly live their best life is my life purpose.<\/p>\n

5. Staying healthy is key for high-productivity.<\/strong>
\nProper sleep and nutrition is even more important now than it was when I was in my 9-5. I can remember the mornings at the office after one-too-many glasses of wine. I would go through the motions and make it through the day, but those days don\u2019t exist anymore. I can\u2019t \u201cgo through the motions\u201d now. In order to stay productive, I make it a priority to get 8+ hours of sleep, get my greens in, and take my supplements. Healthy Jess = Productive Jess!<\/p>\n

6. I\u2019m the worst AND best boss all at the same time.<\/strong>
\nConfession: I have \u201cshiny-object\u201d syndrome. I\u2019m easily distracted and move quickly from project to project without finishing. As my own boss, I let myself do that, and I really shouldn\u2019t. However, when it really comes down to the wire, I know how to create an action plan and buckle down. So I\u2019m overly lenient (bad), but results-oriented (good).<\/p>\n

7. Sleepless nights still exist.<\/strong>
\nI thought lying awake at night would diminish, but to be honest, I don\u2019t think it ever goes away. Pondering about our future is a normal thing, the difference is that the thought process has changed from worry to uncertainty. And I don\u2019t mind uncertainty. But the BIG change is that\u2026<\/p>\n

8. Mornings start with a smile (and a buzz of excitement).<\/strong>
\nWhereas I used to wake up with a feeling of uneasiness, I now start my day with the satisfaction that I am working towards my passions. I get excited to start a new blog post, finish up a project, follow up with a potential client, or mentor a new business partner.<\/p>\n

9. Waking up without an alarm clock is a beautiful thing.<\/strong>
\nTHIS definitely helps with my morning positivity. Naturally waking up without the beep-beep-beep of an alarm has to be one of the biggest perks of being an entrepreneur. And not having the time constraints of an alarm also allow me to work late at night (something I do often), because I know I don\u2019t have to face that 5am alarm.<\/p>\n

10. Time is the most precious resource.<\/strong>
\n“Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.\u201d -Jim Rohn. There is no software program, training course, or phone app that will take the place of the #1 most important thing in my business: Time. And not just time, but using time wisely<\/em>.<\/p>\n

11. Multitasking = Unproductive.<\/strong>
\nI used to love labeling myself as an \u201cexcellent multitasker\u201d. When I was applying for corporate jobs, I had it listed as one of my top skills, and I prided myself on being able to do multiple things at once. When I tried to multitask in my business, I realized it was impossible. Doing two things (or more) at one time only leads to one result\u2026.not getting either of them done. Focusing on single-tasking was one of the best things I ever did for my business.<\/p>\n

12. Perfection is an entrepreneur\u2019s worst nightmare.<\/strong>
\nLet\u2019s face it, we all have a little bit of perfectionism in us, am I right? I\u2019m the type of person who has tons of ideas swirling in my head, but actually taking the time to create those ideas into something tangible is challenging. It\u2019s in my nature to want everything to be perfect before<\/em> I do anything. But perfectionism is a biz KILLER. A mentor once told me, “If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.\u201d So I launched a product (that I originally told myself wasn\u2019t done), the next day, and had the biggest sales week of my life.<\/p>\n

13. Social media is a love\/hate relationship.<\/strong>
\nDon\u2019t get me wrong\u2026.being able to run a business and interact with others online while I\u2019m at home and in my PJ\u2019s is an amazing thing, but it\u2019s a catch-22. It\u2019s really easy to stay connected, so it\u2019s also not easy to disconnect. Sometimes I yearn for my 9-5 days when I didn\u2019t feel guilty for not logging into Facebook for days (or even weeks).<\/p>\n

14. Failure is unavoidable.<\/strong>
\nI once spent nearly 6 weeks putting together a launch sequence and new program. Videos, emails, PDF\u2019s, everything. When launch day came and had no signups, I figured everyone was just procrastinating. But then doors closed, and I realized that 0 people purchased the program. Ouch. Not going to lie, it was disappointing. The next day, I logged into Amazon and John Maxwell\u2019s book popped up, \u201cSometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn\u201d. YES. Big lesson learned! The good news here is\u2026.<\/p>\n

15. Success feels sweeter after failure.<\/strong>
\nThere\u2019s something about a personal comeback. It feels like Rocky against Apollo. Personal redemption and success feels that much sweeter after experiencing a failure. The next launch I completed proved that the previous failure was more like a glitch, or a bump in the road.<\/p>\n

16. Ignore the doubters.<\/strong>
\nYes, there will be doubters. My own husband doubted me at first. And a lot of my former acquaintances as well. But I knew my vision, and I stood true on my direction. You have to remind yourself that you are capable, worthy, and deserving of your success. And then go out there and get it. And you also must\u2026<\/p>\n

17. Surround yourself with a like-minded tribe.<\/strong>
\nA like-minded tribe will not only cheer you on and prove the plausibility of success, but will also identify with the lows and help to pick you back up. I love being surrounded with other smart and soul-centered entrepreneurs, and that\u2019s why I created my Savvy Biz Club<\/a>, a free group for other biz owners to interact with those who share the same challenges. A like-minded tribe is absolutely critical to success.<\/p>\n

18. Being a business owner is scary, exhilarating, and gratifying all at the same time \u2013 and I wouldn\u2019t trade it for the world.<\/strong>
\nThere is no guaranteed steady paycheck and that can be scary\u2026but I have never felt more alive and filled with wholeness and purpose. Being able to chart my own path and create my future is the best feeling imaginable. Entrepreneurship is truly an incredible way to make a living.<\/p>\n

Jessica Lauren DeBry is a Wellness Entrepreneur and Online Biz Mentor. Join her FREE membership club specifically for Smart + Soul-Centered Entrepreneurs at SavvyBizClub.com<\/a> to access exclusive videos, webinars, and resources.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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