the hidden truths no one tells you about owning a small business

i’ve owned a few small businesses throughout my life. one thing that never changes is the amount of work that goes into each one. working for yourself means you hold twenty-plus hats at once. it’s by no means a way to simplify your life, that’s for sure. but the one thing that isn’t discussed enough is the mini crashouts, as the kids call it, that happen while owning your own small business.

social media is one hundred percent a highlight reel. that goes for personal pages, business pages, and big brand pages. no one is highlighting the downs of their life or business. the ones struggling to keep it together, put food on the table, or just keep their dream alive with people praying for their downfall and little support. there are so many different things that can contribute to what is actually happening behind the scenes.

the mental toll that comes with just life is amplified when you own a small business. pto isn’t a thing, you don’t have a marketing team, you are the payroll, and who are you kidding, you’re probably not even paying yourself... because you probably think you’re charging too much already, but in reality, you are just covering the cost of the product, if that. this blog is going to discuss that in its full capacity.

recently, i had a twenty-minute crashout where i just cried because i felt like everything i had been working for wasn’t working. i wasn’t doing enough for my business, for the markets i host, for the stores i’m in, wasn’t doing enough markets, wasn’t showing up the way i wanted to as a wife and mamae. a whole collection of things. it was a moment where the world felt like it was crashing, when, in reality, i didn’t appreciate how far i have come, and i was moving too fast for the boundary i had originally set.

personally, for me, the meltdowns happen when i forget to remember how far i have come and how much i am doing. i am the type of person who gets an idea and has to full send it. i don’t like sitting on ideas, ever. i am also a perfectionist virgo gal and hold myself to extremely high standards because of the expectations i set. another thing i seem to do often is forget to sit with what i have done and remember i am sitting where i used to dream about. i forget how far i’ve come and don’t enjoy the present stage i am in because i am already planning what i could do next and how to improve something else.

it’s an odd fine line to ride. i often talk about slow living and being intentional, and sometimes i’m so intentional, i forget the slow part for myself. this is why figuring out a routine and system that works for you is crucial.

owning your own small business and holding so many roles is mentally challenging. nowadays, you don’t just have those typical roles, you have to be a content creator, social media manager, keep up with the new trends, algorithms, various platforms, emails, and so much more. nonstop accessibility has become extremely common in this society, and i’m truly not a fan of it. it creates burnout, excess stress, and unnecessary expectations.

your mind and society will trick you into thinking things along the following:

• you’re not doing enough

• your prices are too high

• your work isn’t good enough, there’s nothing special about it

• you should just give up, there’s enough like you

• you’re not showing up where it matters

• you can’t keep up with social media

• & so much more.

when, in reality, you’re doing spectacular. you don’t need to do more. in fact, you should be doing less and rolling with it. you don’t need to have every social media platform, find one that you like and master it. you can always add on later. you don’t need to post reels like everyone else, you can stick to photos. your page doesn’t need to be meticulously curated, it’s yours, make it show. use it as a personal blog, journal, scrapbook, seriously, whatever you like. create your own work schedule and try to stick to it. monday, do fun stuff like scheduling posts for a week. tuesday, take off. wednesday, make content, follow up on emails, write a blog. thursday, take off. friday, prepare for anything on the weekend or prep stuff for the next week. whatever works best for you. remember to schedule time off because, hell, that’s part of the reason you started your own business, huh? to spend more time with family, prioritize your health, or leave an environment that isn’t for you. to pursue something you love and care about. you don’t want to allow your passion to burn you out.

your mental health is more crucial than you know when it comes to owning a small business.

take the time for yourself.

don’t beat yourself up.

talk about it with someone. (i’ll tell you a secret, they probably feel the same.)

whatever it is you do, own your shit. you’ve got this, and you have a full community supporting you. & if you don’t, or need to join a community, feel free to message me. we’ll get you in ours.