23 things I’ve learned in 2023
1. You only ‘fail’ if you stop trying
I want you to think about the first time you tried ANYTHING. First time riding a bike, the first time you tried to learn an instrument, day one of driving lessons - unless you’re superwoman, you didn’t absolutely nail it first time…right?
And running a business isn’t going to magically make you 10k overnight either. Like any skill, you have to figure out your sales pitch, work on your content pillars, fine tune your offer suite and hone in on your product packaging…which takes TIME. And that’s ok. Heck, that’s part of the fun!
Remember - every person who has ever really achieved anything worthwhile first had to fail. And then try again.
So breathe. Take a step back, look at what went wrong and figure out what you need to learn from the situation. It’s not failing - it’s a really annoying lesson!
2. You are allowed to stop working with clients..
It’s your choice who you work with. If clients overstep boundaries, underpay or undervalue you - you can let them go. It's YOUR business. And releasing them gives you the freedom and time to find a new client that you love to work with.
No one’s saying you have to go all Alan Sugar and fire them - but consider this your permission slip to respectfully explain to your client that the project isn’t working out, clearly outline the parameters of the work you will complete for them within a specific timeframe and what you can both expect from each other in terms of offboarding. You’ve got this!
3. Raise your prices.
You don't have to wait for a sign or to copy your competitors. Ask yourself - have you had the same prices since you started your business? Are people always surprised at how low the investment is?
You KNOW what your incredible offer is worth. The creativity, hard work, hours, energy that took place. And all that aside, you know the amazing results they’ll get from it - you know the journey it will take them - so raise, your, damn, prices!!!!
4. “value" - this is a buzzword that gets thrown around.
Value means different things to different businesses, niches and individual people. Trust your instincts that what you have created is valuable enough to someone. But remember, if you don't think it's good enough - no one else will. Bit of self confidence bestie!
5. You are the secret ingredient in the recipe for success.
YOUR experiences, opinions, expertise and unique perspective is what will make you stand out from the competition. And if you don’t feel like your experience is ‘interesting’ enough - remember, no one has walked the exact same path as you. This gives you a different perspective, a wholly unique way to look at things because of what you’ve gone through, what you’ve grown through. Even if it’s an opinion on current events, your favourite netflix show, a common aspect of your niche that you actually dislike - voice it! People want to hear what you have to say.
6. It's ok to talk about your offers everyday.
No, people won't feel oversaturated by it. No, they won't unfollow you. Stop looking for excuses not to sell. There are so many fun and exciting ways that you can sell that don’t have to feel in your face or overdone. Educating your audience on a problem that they have with tips and value and then presenting your new offer or programme as a solution and one of the tips to get ahead - that’s still selling! Talking about the amazing results one of your clients had and the steps you took to get there in a specific programme - that’s selling!
7. Your feelings are all valid - it’s not always rainbows & sunshine
It's only human to feel jealous or compare yourself when you see others having huge success. But don't stay stuck there!
Acknowledge the emotions and then work on switching that mindset up. E.g. "If they can do it, so can I!"
It isn’t easy - it’s only human nature to compare our lives to others especially when we only see a highlight reel of their best moments online. But working on your mindset is as valuable as learning any new skill! It sets the foundation to your success.
8. Time is not "running out"
What are you rushing towards? You are exactly where you need to be to have the success you want in the future.
If you were trying to get fit in the gym, you wouldn’t expect one session and a few healthy meals to transform your body overnight. If you want to learn Italian, you’re not going to spend a few hours on Duolingo and wake up the next day fluent.
So why would it be any different with your business?
Do the work, and stop looking for a quick overnight hack! Anything that’s worth building wouldn’t be created in a day.
9. Surround yourself with good people
You realize quickly the people who are actually cheering you on and the ones who aren't happy to see you thrive. Surround yourself with good energy and good people who want to see you win.
10. It's OK to ask for help
In fact, do it more. You can't do it all alone and even if you think you can, where's the fun in that?! Make connections, seek help someone more experienced who can look at your challenges from a fresh perspective.
11. Not every launch is going to be a huge hit.
Learn from what went wrong and do it better next time. Because there is ALWAYS a next time. It doesn't have to be so all or nothing.
12. The only way you'll "fail" is if you stop trying
Reels been flopping recently? Keep posting them. Analyse what's working and what's not. TRY AGAIN. Launch flopped? Get a biz coach to help with the next one. TRY AGAIN. You've got this, you know it and so do I.
13. EVERYTHING IS CONTENT.
Literally. Everything. People crave authenticity, they want to see what's going on behind the scenes. Your morning routine might seem boring to you but that's bingeable content to someone else.
14. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.
Keep exploring new ideas, trying new things, and thinking of new creative ways that you can run your biz.
15. Do the damn market research
Yes it can be time consuming but it is worth its weight in gold! The nuggets of information and patterns in similar language you can gauge from your ideal audience is an investment you will always see a return on.
16. Tell your brand story.
Make sure your brand and the story you are trying to tell lives not only in your marketing and social media presence, but in your customer experience. It should be consistent and coherent in every interaction they have with you.
17. Fuck anyone who makes you feel less than for trying something new or who doesn't believe you can do it.
Their opinions ain't paying your bills.
18. "No" is a full sentence.
You don't have to explain any further than that. Saying no to one thing leaves room to say yes to something you really want!
19. The "cool" thing to do is whatever fills you with joy.
Whatever genuinely makes you happy? Is cool. So spend less time worrying about anyone else and more time doing the things that fill up your soul with joy.
20. You are never truly stuck in one place or in one feeling - unless you CHOOSE to stay there.
21. It isn't easy
It's actually really hard. It's scary to take that step out on your own. It's hard hearing rejection or finding more challenges than solutions. But oh my lanta, it is so worth it.
22. 100k followers doesn’t = 100k sales
We’re all working hard on Instagram to build a community, and that is AMAZING. But if you can’t sell to 100 people you can’t sell to 100k people.
23. cherish today
In a fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in planning for the future. Learn to appreciate the present moment, the little pleasures and the small wins! Happiness doesn’t come from reaching that goal, or making that money, it comes from enjoying today, now.
Hi biz bestie!
I'm Emma, the highly caffeinated social media manager and business mentor for passionate, purpose driven female entrepreneurs just like you!
