The growing pains of starting a business
I started my week by telling a client that I could no longer work with him. This was not a fun experience although it helped me to clarify what it is I am willing or not willing to do. What other lessons can I take from this?
- Know my business, and when to say no. Ok, this seems straightforward but if you’re like me, a person who has difficulties saying no to projects, this lesson can be elusive. This is especially true for freelance designers and artists, for whom it may be easy to accept projects that they may not normally accept because of a dire need to pay the mortgage and buy groceries. In this case, I accepted a project before I completed my business plan (I confess I’m still not finished with it) — and before truly asking the question, “Does this project fit in with the scope of what I want to do?” Initial red flags came up that I ignored, and ultimately, not trusting my instincts was my biggest mistake.
- Manage time efficiently. I suspect that this will always be a challenge, but it is important that I manage my time well. I said goodbye to one client, and by the end of the week, found myself with two clients who are anxious to get their site up. I am currently in a state of transition that has me keenly aware of how valuable my time is. Some ideas:
- Track quantifiable time: it may sound obvious but this was a challenge with the client I am no longer working with (I was on a commission basis and for reasons that are now clear to me, I will not do any commission work)
- Give myself actual working hours: this is really no different from a 9 to 5 job, and again, this may seem obvious but it is a challenge for the small business person.
- Take better care of the boss. What does this have to do with starting a business? Well, if I am to be my own boss, I can’t afford to have my body give out on me. I’ve been nursing my lower back all week and this has kept me from doing any work. Sitting in front of a computer is not the best activity for my lower back right now, but neither is hiking or swimming. I enjoy all these activities and it has been tough to stay away from the computer, the hiking trails, and the pool. Yes, I’ve gone to the doctor but hopefully, this will resolve itself very soon without the use of prescribed drugs (though they’ve really helped!). And yes, the title of this post was a pun intended!
I’m sure I’ll revisit these topics in further detail as my journey continues to unfold.
