If you’re thinking about starting my own business, or you’ve already taken the plunge, let me share a few truths from my own journey. When I started, I thought it was going to be this fast-paced, exciting adventure with constant wins and instant growth. And while parts of that were true, the reality of entrepreneurship came with a lot of surprises.
Trust me, I’ve made mistakes, learned lessons the hard way, and discovered things that would have made my path a lot smoother if I had known them from the start. So, whether you’re in the early stages or still planning your leap, here are the top things I wish I knew before starting my own business.
Success Doesn’t Happen Overnight (No Matter What Instagram Tells You)
Let’s start with the first lesson I had to learn: success doesn’t happen overnight. I had this unrealistic belief that if I just worked hard enough, my business would skyrocket within months. But here’s the thing: building a business is a marathon, not a sprint.
The stories you see on social media about someone hitting six figures in six months? They’re outliers, not the norm. When I first started, I expected everything to take off quickly, but I quickly learned that consistency was the real key. It took time, effort, and countless behind-the-scenes hours to build momentum.
So, if you’re frustrated because things aren’t happening as fast as you’d like—don’t worry. Trust the process, and keep showing up.
Systems Are Your Best Friend
In the early days, I was juggling a million tasks. Content creation, client management, emails, invoicing—it all felt like one big chaos. What I didn’t realize was that systems are the secret sauce to scaling your business without burning out.
Once I started creating processes and using tools to automate repetitive tasks, everything changed. Whether it’s automating my email marketing, using a project management tool like Asana, or setting up client workflows in Dubsado, having systems in place saved me time and energy.
The takeaway here? Don’t wait to build your systems. The sooner you put systems in place, the smoother your business will run. Systems aren’t just for big businesses—they’re for anyone who wants to scale while maintaining their sanity.
You Can’t Do Everything Yourself
When I first started, I felt like I needed to do everything on my own. I thought hiring someone would be an unnecessary expense. But guess what? You can’t do everything yourself—and trying to do so will burn you out faster than you can say “entrepreneur.”
I had to learn this the hard way. Trying to juggle every role in the business—marketing, finance, customer service—left me feeling like I was constantly running on empty. Eventually, I realized that delegating tasks was key to growth. Whether it’s hiring a virtual assistant, using automation tools, or outsourcing work, getting support is non-negotiable for scaling without losing your mind.
You’re the heart of your business, but you don’t need to be the only one working it. Trust yourself enough to ask for help.
Marketing Is Everything (And It’s Not Just About Social Media)
If you’re like I was when I started, you probably thought marketing was just about posting on Instagram or running Facebook ads. I thought that once I had a product, I could simply post about it and watch the sales roll in. Wrong.
Marketing is way more than just social media posts. It’s about building relationships, understanding your audience, and consistently providing value in a way that resonates. Over time, I learned that content marketing, email marketing, and even word-of-mouth were just as powerful as a flashy Instagram ad.
Once I stopped focusing so much on just “posting to post,” and began sharing content that was aligned with my audience’s needs and desires, things really started clicking. Consistency and value over time trump any sales pitch you can throw out there.
Your Mindset Will Be Your Biggest Asset
The last thing I wish I knew before starting my own business is that your mindset will be the biggest factor in whether you succeed or not. Entrepreneurship can be a mental and emotional rollercoaster—there are highs, lows, and everything in between.
It’s easy to get stuck in imposter syndrome, comparison, and fear of failure. But the truth is, how you think is what determines how far you’ll go. I had to learn how to manage my thoughts and emotions, especially during tough times. If I let fear or self-doubt take over, I’d still be stuck in the early stages of my business, second-guessing every decision.
Cultivate a growth mindset, embrace failure as part of the process, and learn to trust your instincts. Your mindset will either propel you forward or hold you back.
You’re Not Behind, You’re Just Getting Started
Building a business is hard, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things you can do. Starting my own business taught me lessons I could have never learned otherwise, and it’s still a journey I’m on every day.
So, if you’re just getting started, don’t be discouraged. Trust the process. Build your systems. Get support. Focus on marketing and building relationships. And above all, stay true to your vision.
You’ve got this, and if I can do it, so can you.
Are you ready to start your own business, or are you in the trenches of building yours? Let me know in the comments what’s been the hardest part of your journey, and let’s chat about how we can make it a little easier. If you need a blueprint to help you get started, grab my free guide on creating systems that’ll help you scale faster and smarter. Let’s do this!
Ready to turn what you know into income?
Here’s where to start:
✨ First, build a business that works for your life. show up smarter.
Inside [Digital Wealth Academy], you’ll learn how to use digital marketing to sell digital products and make real income—without the overwhelm.
✨ Next, show up smarter.
Grab the [Reel Formula Guide] to batch content, create reels with confidence, and finally feel clear on what to post.
✨ Then, sell with soul.
[Stress Free Sales] gives you the step-by-step system to scale without cold DMs, burnout, or burnout-y sales scripts. Just trust, connection, and conversions on repeat.
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