Birth of a Young EMPIRE
- thegreatborrower.
- Oct 10, 2021
- 3 min read
“Be an amateur. Not everything you do has to be good, especially at first.”―Ann Handley
Anyone out here trying to succeed in business has no shortage of public figures who've transitioned from an idea to incalculable success to aspire. What the hungry of us often glaze over is that monster aptly referred to as process - the 'what it took to get there.' Looking instead to retrace outcomes not mimic the hardships.
As a student/teacher in business, I thought to myself, what better way to educate and share that all-important element, process, than with digestible snapshots in real-time of my experience building a young EMPIRE.
The first thing out the gate, I found this process equivalent to another role I AM somewhat well-informed, parenthood. I don't know from your experience but, most parents will tell you the outpouring of love and excitement is highest before birth. Afterward, not so much. Once all the celebrating is over. The new parent(s), generally mom, is left settling into a new paradigm shift that clashes - preconceived notions verse reality. Spoiler Alert: Reality always wins.
Business is much the same. After all, the kudos for actually striking out in the merciless world of infinite strategic maneuvering to attract, maintain, and keep your brand alive is just you and your company (baby). Most new parents excitedly over share their little bundle of joy first everything. Here's my attempt to do the same.
Milestones with my one month old, online business.
What do any of us do when we run smack into situations we haven't a clue to handle? Call someone for advice.
I'm no different.
A researcher at my core, I began with my local community (both online & brick n' mortar), gradually branching towards the net. I was not disappointed. Hitting pay-dirt, especially with a 2010 Entrepreneur article, 10 Things Customers Want on a Website. I highly recommend reading.
Unlike human beings, businesses thrive in continuous upgrades as a result of new experiences and knowledge received. Hence, the new facelift for my website. Can we say C-L-A-R-I-T-Y! I saw immediate results.
Then it hit me like a damn ton of bricks that sickening feeling from deep in my gut resurged. It was fear. Illusionary doubt, causing me to doubt everything that boldly made me believe in myself. If you've ever been there, you know what I mean. Parenthood of any type is not for the faint at heart. It also awakens within you, deep in your core, the strength and fortitude to dare anyone or thing to harm what you've created.
My advice for would-be and new business parents, there are endless reasons not to set your dreams on fire in reality. Most of it is some form of fear and illusion. The rest in all the friggin red tape, licensing and credential ( Please, please, please protect your baby at the start), a flood of information - pulling you in so many directions (to the brink of insanity), and oodles of money spent before you hang the OPEN sign.
What sets apart - those that succeed or not is more intimidating than fear, regret. That monster will haunt you one way or another.
So, do it already? That way, no doubt is left on the table. You'll be at peace, even if your business fails the first time. The reason will never be because you didn't try.
In the first month, babies lift their heads, respond to sound, and might smile to the delight of their parents. This online infant company did just that. We opened. Game-changer, during pivotal upheavals in the world of business, playing out on a global stage. I don't know about you, but seeing business on the precipice of evolution is bada$$, and I'm priming myself to swim with the sharks.
Even when we erred with our first edition of the website, we sparked interest from our content. Our fledgling eComm business, our baby, wasn't as successful in closing new clientele, but our blogs have lifted its head. Great opportunities come to those that keep working.
Lastly, a smile I cannot express the pride I felt seeing the first group of notifications, almost passed out when my subscriber list began to grow. Our milestones exceeded my expectations as I didn't think I'd get a single subscriber in my first month, but ACU, my company, my baby proved me a proud parent. I feel as if I've won the friggin lottery.
Yes, the goal of business ownership is to make a pure profit. That's my goal too, but my first and last priority will forever be sharing knowledge and helping others live in their authentic selves.
Stay tuned to see what future months hold in store for us.
Happy Business Parenting!!!!!!!!
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