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Entrepreneurship Lessons Learned
It’s been one year since I decided to step out on faith and started a small business. I decided to curate a teacher self care box that focused on mental health and wellness. Since launching, I’ve learned A WHOLE LOT 😅 And I’ve been so close to quitting even more. I’m so thankful that I didn’t give up because this small business has opened doors that I couldn’t have dreamed up. If you’re a teacher or mom who has an idea that keeps tugging at you, DO IT! Do it scared. Someone will benefit from what you have to share. Someone can learn from your story. Here are five lessons I learned from being a small business entrepreneur.
Develop your niche. You must know your audience. Develop an avatar that gives qualities and traits of your ideal customer. You need to know what types of things they like and do not like. You should know what they are struggling with and develop a product that solves a pain point. Your ideal avatar is who you are selling to, so be very clear and concise in your avatar. Think about age, martial status, income, interests, etc. Consider if they are married or have children. You'll be able to create your content and products based on their needs.
Followers DO NOT EQUAL customers. Having a large following on social media and lots of family and friends do not mean you will sell out. Remember, you are selling to your ideal customer and your following may not be that person. It's okay, because they can help you find your right customer through referrals and engagement.
There will be ups and downs. Seasonal trends and shifts. As a teacher self care subscription box, we know there will be increases in May, August, September, and December. This gives us four times a year to really focus on ensuring we adjust our numbers to meet those demands.
Hire help. Once we finally got the ball rolling, we realized we needed help. The first hire we had to make was a professional photographer. My husband had landed a new job and wasn't as hands on with the business. I requested the help of a virtual assistant using The Virtual Savvy . The first thing I handed off were the things I wasn't goo at or that I didn't like doing. Saves lots of time and takes away stress.
Don't compare your beginning to someone else's present. There are plenty of businesses out there doing the same thing. It can be SO easy to be hard on yourself because you haven't achieved the same amount of success as the next person. But what does that solve? What does discouraging and comparing yourself do for you? Nothing, sis. The answer is nothing. You have no clue what the person you're comparing yourself to has been through. Live in the experience. Think of it as data collection for your life's story. And just think, when your business is finally off the ground, you'll have a story to share, too.
