Lessons I've learned from starting a small business

An insight into my lessons in business

Recently I was interviewed for a podcast about how I started my business. Participating in this interview got me thinking and really reflecting on where I started and the path to getting where I am today starting an interior design business from scratch. Every day has been full of growth; there have been defining moments, heartbreaking moments, intense challenges which have propelled me out of my comfort zone and many many good willing people who’ve helped me upward. Here’s what I’ve come up with as my lessons in business thus far (with a long way to go, it’s ever-evolving), but I hope this helps someone out there just take that next step forward where ever you are on the path…

Don’t be afraid to swim in your own lane.

Lose the comparison, seriously, let it go. It’s truly the thief of joy. Looking at what everyone else is doing will not help you create a business which is right for you. It's also not going to give you a unique or competitive advantage. Just focus on the value you want to create for your customers or clients and put your head down to really work hard on delivering that experience for them. Swimming in your own lane saves you the mental torture of worrying about everyone else. You’ll get to where you want to go a lot quicker and it’ll be a much happier ride for you!

Celebrate the wins, all of them.

We often strive so hard to accomplish a goal and yet when we reach it, it’s like “ok great, what’s next?” I’m very guilty of this. However, I think I’ve learned now it’s so so important to just stop, and really celebrate those wins. I don’t mean you need to go out for a boozy lunch or buy yourself a new pair of shoes every time you do something well (although those things are super fun for bigger wins so I’m all for them!) It could be as simple as buying yourself a new book you’ve been eyeing off, or going for a walk or doing a yoga class in the middle of the day.

Regardless of the size of the win, celebrate it! I remember sending out my first email newsletter to my database, and honestly, at the time it felt like the biggest achievement in my world. I’d had so much unnecessary fear around sending it out, but I eventually put on my big girl pants and did it anyway. And you know what? The response was incredible! I started getting replies literally flooding into my inbox from people saying how much they loved the content I was sharing and that they were so happy for me. I couldn’t believe it.

So I celebrated! It was nothing over the top or fancy but the next day I took the morning off and went to my favourite cafe and treated myself to breakfast. As I sat there, I smiled to myself, knowing I’d done good, I’d taken one step closer to my goals, even though it was “just” an email newsletter.

I also find it helpful and motivating to keep a running list of my wins. It’s super exciting to see how far I’ve come and looking back at what was a win in the early days e.g. setting up my accounting system on Xero to now what is a win e.g. getting a project published in a major national magazine. It’s all part of the journey, every single little step forward. So celebrate those wins!