So, I’ve been thinking a lot about fear and what was holding me back as a business owner trying to make it in a world full of successful and amazing entrepreneurs whom I look up to all the time. I am all about NO REGRETS, and so I try to move forward as quickly as possible once I hit a hard bump in the road. Because I know it will lead me towards another lesson learned and a step forward in the right direction. Although we all have our own lessons to learn, I might be able to make it a bit easier for you. That’s why I want to share my ‘8 mistakes to avoid starting a business’ to help you move forward a little faster than I did.

Table of content

Mistake 1: Don’t share everything with everyone

Mistake 2: Not creating to serve

Mistake 3: Not setting boundaries

Mistake 4: Don’t be chosen – choose

Mistake 5: Don’t hide. Show yourself

Mistake 6: Don’t get stuck in the details

Mistake 7: Don’t switch

Mistake 8: Not being your absolute self

Mistake number 1: Don’t share everything with everyone

Those around you are likely not as enthusiastic about your new business as you are, and they probably won’t understand what you’re doing anyway. They are not your audience, so don’t be disappointed or, worse, be discouraged when they don’t share your excitement. Remember that some friends don’t like it when you change and grow. Don’t let this hold you back. You are meant for more. Let success be your noise.

Mistake number 2: Not creating to serve

I made the biggest mistake in the beginning by creating content I wanted to create, not creating content my audience needed. There is a huge difference between the two. Of course, it’s alright to talk about your experiences; I encourage you to do so. It makes people feel seen and understood that you are experiencing the same as them. But after those stories, teach about how they can move forward or grow from your story and reach the tools they might need.

Mistake number 3: Not setting boundaries

For me, this means time boundaries. I value my time over everything and still, when it comes to running my business, I can get so caught up in the moment that I am still working on that one page on my website on a Sunday evening at 11 pm. Some might say that’s a great attitude, but as a lifestyle entrepreneur, my business must be serving me and not the other way around. I don’t want to create yet another job for myself when starting a business. If I wanted that, I would go back to being an employee.

Mistake number 4: Don’t be chosen – choose

So this is a bit controversial probably. But I truly believe it’s up to you as a business owner to choose your clients. You don’t have to say yes to everyone just because it makes you money. The time and energy you spend with someone or on someone’s project are just as (maybe even more) important than the money. In the end, it will pay out so much more when you had a great experience working together instead of being stressed and not wanting to pick up the phone because you don’t like working with that particular client.

Mistake number 5: Don’t hide. Show yourself

Well, this has been a real struggle for me in the past (and maybe still is some days). I was the girl that would show myself for a few weeks or maybe two months and then totally disappeared. And if I am totally honest, that always happens when things get rough or I get really insecure. My excuse is something like, I don’t know what to say or what my audiences would like to hear from me. But it basically is me saying, I don’t want to sit still and figure out where this is coming from. If I would do that, I probably came up with 10 things I could share to help others.

Mistake number 6: Don’t get stuck in the details

As someone who loves creating beautiful things that work, it can be a real struggle to let things go and just focus on serving and selling. It can be scary to serve and sell, especially when you are in a season of self-doubt and growth. But that makes it even more important just to simply push through and step by step (little steps matter) keep doing what you were doing. DON’T STOP.

Mistake number 7: Don’t switch

Do not change anything for the first 100 days when you’ve set everything up. When things get tough or people are not responding in the way you hoped they would, you might be tempted to change everything (like I did many times, ugh) but this way you don’t know if something will actually work. Give it time, give it 100 days and evaluate after and THEN PIVOT. Because Yes! You can pivot but only when you hit those 100 days and not just because you got scared.

Mistake number 8: Not being your absolute self

And I can’t stretch this enough. People love seeing you. The real you. The boring you. The one who does everything in a day a million other people do. And still, people want to see that. Don’t worry about not being funny enough or expert enough. Just be you, and your audience will follow. They need to know you before they can follow you. Makes sense, right? And if you lose some people along the way, that’s great! Your product, service, or offer wasn’t for them anyway!

So, there you have it – 8 mistakes to avoid starting a business. I hope this helps put everything into perspective and guides you to keep moving forward, even when things get tough!

To support your gratitude for your business journey, I’ve created a 7-day gratitude journal. Download it here to stay fully present during all your seasons of starting a business.