Insights as an Entrepreneur, 4 months in
After 4 months of having a physical studio space in Amsterdam, I reflect on life as a small business owner and the lessons I’ve learned.
Reality is starting to settle in
Perhaps I am feeling particularly humbled today after filing my first VAT return since officially opening the studio doors, but all I have to say is… this is hard. I guess you never really jump into new projects head first, completely aware of how challenging it will be (at least I don’t), but looking back, these past few months as a full-on small business owner and full-time artist haven’t been simple. There are so many things to consider and keep track of that at times it definitely feels very overwhelming. At the moment, relocating to a remote island where the currency is seashells is the fantasy replaying in my head. Contrary to my escapist tendencies, I am still very much determined to keep this project going, and have great faith in it’s success.
I suppose faith is the hardest thing to maintain as an entrepreneur, yet the most vital ingredient in the recipe of success. Giving my trust entirely to the “process” or the “universe” or whatever god I believe in that week, has been the single reason for my ability to keep this train running. In the face of adversity, it has been my trust that I’m on the right path (and an abundance of “good job” messages from the universe) that has kept me afloat. I am now starting to realize that I might need to mix in a bit of practicality (thanks belastingdienst) and foresight, but I am still very confident that this is heading in the right direction.
Learning as I go
This is the first time I’ve ever has a brick and mortar business in any city, let alone a city where I am considered a foreigner. The set of challenges that has accompanied this new venture are complex, sometimes I feel like I’m doing mental acrobatics trying to bend my brain in different ways to solve problems from new angles.
I definitely feel more challenged than I ever have at any of my corporate jobs, even when I was working as a freelancer, because now instead of having a team to rely on when my skillset can’t fill the gaps, I just have to figure out how to move along anyway. This is simultaneously a beautiful and scary thing to experience; because you have to first realize you can’t do it all by yourself which then leads you to form deeper connections with those around you. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned so far is that relying on others is not a sign of weakness, but a beautiful example of how we are all interconnected and have something to offer each-other.
Self-discipline mixed with self-care
Self-discipline is not usually synonymous with self-care in our culture. One usually contradicts the other in some way. As an entrepreneur and artist, it can be incredibly challenging to navigate the waters of business admin, staying on top of communications, crafting a brand image, etc. while simultaneously taking care of the business’ most important asset: you. I’ve had to learn how to respect my boundaries and prioritize my mental and physical health while also acting in the best interest of the business. As time passes, balancing these two becomes easier, yet I am still needing to work on finding a way of interacting with my business that isn’t all consuming.
Learning to trust my inner voice
If I can pin point a single lesson that has been crucial to my personal and professional growth over the past few months it’s this: always trust your inner voice. I’m definitely on a path that not many are taking, especially at my age, so deciphering right from wrong isn’t always easy. I am the only one on the planet who has the full vision of my business inside and out, and it can be hard to give your decisions that much weight, but learning to fully trust yourself, regardless of what internal or external messaging might be telling you otherwise is the key. It’s definitely a slow process and I am integrating new lessons each day, but it’s a beautiful journey to be on and I am so deeply grateful for everything and everyone who has supported me on this path.
Taking it one step at a time
In life in general, but especially as a small-business owner, problems that you face can seem enormous and impossible if you try to take them on all at once. I am slowly learning the process of taking it one day at a time, and not trying to do it all right away. As I mentioned before, I am also really learning to lean on the support of my community, which has been so beautiful and important to me over the past few months. I know that I still have a long road ahead of me to make this business what I have envisioned, but I am open to change when confronted with new information and I’m learning to celebrate the small wins each day!
