My First Year in Business

“Don’t quit your daydream.”

One year ago today I started my journey as a full-time business owner. Prior to that, I had run my business as a side hustle for six years, and had only dreamed of it being my career. Then, I had the push I needed to take the plunge into full-blown business ownership. What was the push? Honestly, unhappiness.

I was working in a corporate atmosphere that I didn’t fit into and it didn’t make me feel as though I was thriving. So, with the best support team a girl could ask for – my awesome husband, family, and friends – I said goodbye to a career that was taking a major toll on me and dove headfirst into all of the ways I could grow my business from part-time to full-time. Scary, huh? Oh, yes. But so incredibly worth it.

Here’s what’s happened in the past year:

1. I’ve had the opportunity to set my own schedule and work wherever I want – feeling a coffee shop, sitting outside on my porch, or being cozy on my couch on a rainy day? Count me in. I found that not being in a cubicle made my creativity soar, and that the flexibility that came with setting my own hours and priorities each week was a game-changer. 

2. I invested in myself. I took courses and workshops, attended styled shoots, hired a brand expert, bought a membership to an amazing studio space, hired social media expertise, and welcomed a bookkeeper to minimize math headaches. 

3. I don’t like talking about money, but this one is pretty cool. I gave myself a raise. That’s right. This year I was able to bring in more than I ever had before. How? By hustling like crazy, by sometimes working 60+ hours a week to take on more clients, and by investing in myself continually. 

In the past year I’ve found more contentment, joy, and gratitude in my life than ever before. I’ve worked with some of the most amazing clients on the planet, I’ve made awesome friends in the self-employed world, and I’ve gotten to create work that fuels my soul. So, a giant THANK YOU to all of the family, friends, professionals, and clients that have been along for the journey. Here’s to a beautiful year two!

Cheers!
Natalie