My Take on being an Entrepreneur

Being an entrepreneur is rewardingly challenging. Oxymoron right. But it is the truth and here is my truth of being an entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur means there are times I am able to create and set my own schedule so that I can be at my child’s sports game or go to that special Thanksgiving lunch in the middle of the day. But there are also times in me doing or focusing on something other than my business, I create space for missed opportunities and product availabilities. Being an entrepreneur means there are times I have a thousand ideas in my head at 2am and I am so energized to act on them. But there are also times my brain is frozen, stuck and I have no ideas or thoughts whatsoever. Being an entrepreneur means there are times I am glad I have the freedom to do and offer whatever I want. But there are also times where having that freedom is daunting and overwhelming. Being an entrepreneur means there are times I enjoy the solitude and independence of my position. But there are also times I miss having a co-worker sounding board to bounce ideas off of similar to my 9-5 job. Being an entrepreneur means there are times I am excited to learn new things that saves my business a little coin like website design. But there are also times I reject that decision – like when your website starts overcharging on shipping for some reason and you have to play detective to figure out why (yes, this really happened to me). Being an entrepreneur means there are times I am able to create to my heart’s content. But there are also times I cannot simply do the thing that got me onto this entrepreneurship path because quarterly taxes are coming due or I have to do inventory or I have to create content for social media because that damn algorithm…. Being an entrepreneur means there are times the customers commend me for my business transparency. But there are also times customers called me a spammer for things completely out of my control despite any resolution I tried to provide. Being an entrepreneur means there are times my products sell out over and above my targeted goal. But there are also times where I have barely hit my average selling point. Being an entrepreneur means there are times my ideas are a hit. But there are also times where my ideas are stuck as potentials in business planner never coming to existence. Being an entrepreneur means there are times my family offers to help and support me. But there are also times where that help and support results in things not being done the way I want or slower than I want, thereby causing frustration for both them and me. Being an entrepreneur means there are times I believe in my business and myself more than anyone else. But there are also times it seems like everyone else believes in me and my vision except me. Being an entrepreneur means there are times my business brings in additional income to the household. But there are also times my business has taken more than its fair share from the household. Being an entrepreneur means there are times I feel like I getting my footing on this journey. But there are also times I feel the ground is literally snatched from behind my feet.

This journey is not for the faint and is not this glamorous, “better than working a 9-5” lifestyle commonly portrayed. The entrepreneurship journey is one that takes hard work, skill, dedication and a true passion for what you are providing to your audience. So, today on National Enterpreneur's Day, let’s give a nod to those of us on this journey. And for those walking this path along with me, take a minute today to see how far you have come despite how it looks today. How it looks for me today is not having any of the products I wanted available. So not only did I fail at having products to provide in celebration of the recent Black Panther movie, I also won’t have the products I intended to feature during Black Friday, Small Business Saturday or Cyber Monday – one of the biggest, if not the biggest, weekends for businesses and retailers. HOWEVER COMMA, in spite of how my today looks, I am thankful for the things I have achieved – like starting this blog, posting to my YouTube each week, staying consistent and growing my social media presence, adding email subscription to my website, investing in myself with the Thrive Business Mentorship hosted by Aaronica with AC Mediahouse, being featured in online magazines like the Craft Hands Club magazine and on the Stitch Please podcast, the official podcast of Black Women Stitch. These are just a few of things I need to tip my hat to myself on achieving. So you do the same – fellow entrepreneur – pat yourself on the back on the things you have achieved and appreciate all the highs, lows, dips, turns and twists of this journey.