Woah what a journey! When 2022 began I didn’t intend to launch two businesses. What happened was I launched my first business ‘Conscious Biz Design’ (which felt “safe”) and then half way through the year, I gained the courage to actually step up and launch my soul business ‘Moksha Pathways’. A business I had been sitting with for a couple of years but didn’t feel 100% “safe” in launching it (aka imposter syndrome). Regardless, as I find myself moving into a new year, I can’t help but feel called to reflect on and share some lessons I have learnt trusting it will support those of you who are currently moving through the motions of your first year in business.

The power of a support network

I honestly would not have reached the level of success I have without my support network. I was lucky enough to find a group of women in business early in the year who have inspired me, motivated me & supported me throughout the whole process. They have been a consistent reminder that I am not alone on this journey that can often feel very scary & overwhelming. If there is one thing I would recommend before starting a business, it is finding your own support network to keep your sane while you move towards your dreams.

My sense of worth does not belong to anyone else

There are many highs and lows when it comes to starting a business. You find yourself often wondering “I am good enough” and questioning that worth whenever anyone asked you what you are doing or judging your choices to pursue this path. What I have learnt is this mindset does not serve me and there are always going to be people who don’t agree with your choices. The key here is to lean into trusting yourself and believing in yourself because it is no one else’s job to do that for you and in the end, it is you alone who will be saying “I am good enough”.

To not take things so personally

You have to build up a bit of a tough skin when jumping into business. I have found you need to learn to put yourself out there, not just when you launch a new product or service but ALL THE TIME. When it’s your business, you are the marketing and no one is ever going to know anything about you and your business unless you share it with them. It’s inevitable that you will sometimes get push back or no reply at all and the key is to not take it personally. I have learnt to tell myself there is nothing wrong with sharing what I am passionate about and its okay if others don’t like it.

How to set boundaries

This has been a hard one! I left the 9-5 because I desire to have more autonomy over the lifestyle I want to live. To have more freedom and time to pursue the things I love. However, when you first start a business it feels like there is A LOT to do and you often go from working 9-5 to working 9-9. It’s not all bad. You are so passionate about getting your business off the ground, that time flies but if you are not careful, you can burn out and lose sight of your reason for starting in the first place. This is why I have found it is so important to firstly remember my WHY! My reason for starting a business and making it priority to make space for the things that make it worth the work. To give myself work-life balance which is something I have always valued.

It can also go the other way, you can find the way you used to live is actually getting in the way of you being able to pursue your dream of starting a business. I have found it is in these moments that I have had to make some difficult choices to release that which is not serving my highest potential. To saying no to attending events or participating in activities, if it means it is going to impact my ability to show up for my dreams.

The importance of self-care

In starting a business, I have found how easy it is to fall into unhealthy patterns. To get so caught up in getting things done that I forget to take care of myself. To gift myself with my basic human needs. Like food, sleep and sometimes even cleanliness (woops!). When you fall into these patterns for long enough, it can really impact not only your ability to function at full capacity but the way you feel about yourself internally and externally. When I fall into these patterns, it’s the little things that bring me back to life. A nutritious meal, a good night sleep, a shower, a breath of fresh air, getting out into nature, a yoga class, a hug. Self-care is a necessity when starting a business so I have found setting none negotiable self-care routines is a must.

Moving through triggers is a part of the process

I am not going to lie. Starting a business is HARD. Not only do you have the experience of learning all the ins and outs of starting a business but you also find yourself being triggered A LOT! I would say if you want to grow rapidly (personally that is), start a business. In my experience, I have had to move through a lot of personal trauma, release a lot of belief systems and learn how to regulate my emotions in a healthy way but as hard as that has been, I am grateful for the experience because it has given me the opportunity to grow and step into a higher version of myself.

Throw perfectionism out the door

I am definitely a recovering perfectionist! So, going into business has really taught me how to let go of making everything perfect. I realised very quickly that I would never get anything out into the world if allowed this unrealistic need to make everything perfect hold me back. It really came down to recognising that nothing is perfect and even if what I produce is not perfect in my eyes, it is so amazing to others. What really matters is getting the work out there, learning what works and what doesn’t and just being proud of yourself for doing the best you can and having the courage to try.

To not take things too seriously

As someone who has come from very professional working backgrounds, I often find myself falling into this professional persona in my business. This is not necessarily a bad thing, It serves me in many ways but what I sometimes forget is that I left that lifestyle behind for a reason. I desire my business to feel more personal and reflect the free, loving spirit within me and within others. I desire to connect with people in a more personalised way so breaking down this belief system around business being professional has been a big learning curb for me. I am learning that it’s okay to let my guard down and not be so serious all the time. That people actually respect doing business with a REAL person rather than someone who aims to be perfect. You can’t please everyone but the key is learning to just be yourself and trusting that JUST BEING YOU IS ENOUGH to draw in the right people to your business.