Hey there, lovely ladies (and gents too, of course)! I just had to share my story as a female entrepreneur with you all. It’s been one wild and amazing ride, and I hope it’ll inspire you as much as it does me looking back on it.
I started this entrepreneurial journey with a simple idea that just wouldn’t leave my head. It was like a little voice constantly whispering, “You can do this, you can turn this into something amazing.” And you know what? I listened to that voice, even when everyone around me was giving me those skeptical looks.
When I first told my friends and family about my plan to start my own business, they had all kinds of reactions. Some were supportive, but a lot were like, “Are you sure? It’s so risky. What if it doesn’t work out?” But I was determined. I knew that if I didn’t at least give it a shot, I’d always wonder “what if.”
The early days were tough. I was working from my tiny apartment, which was basically just a mess of papers, coffee cups, and my laptop. I had to learn everything from scratch. Marketing, accounting, customer service – you name it, I was trying to figure it out. There were so many late nights where I was just staring at my computer screen, feeling overwhelmed and thinking, “What have I gotten myself into?” But then I’d take a deep breath, remind myself of why I started in the first place, and keep going.
One of the biggest challenges was getting people to take me seriously. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, it felt like I had to prove myself twice as hard. There were times when I’d walk into meetings and could just feel the guys looking at me like, “What does she know?” But I didn’t let that stop me. I made sure to do my homework, be super prepared, and show them that I knew my stuff just as well as, if not better than, they did.
I remember this one particular client meeting where I was pitching my idea. I was so nervous, my hands were shaking a little. But I walked in there with confidence, even if it was a bit of a facade at first. I started talking about my vision, my plans, and how I could solve their problems. And by the end of it, they were nodding along, asking questions, and actually interested in working with me. That was such a huge moment for me. It made me realize that I could break through those barriers and make a name for myself.
Another aspect that was really difficult was finding the right balance between work and life. I was so focused on building my business that I kind of let my personal life slide a bit. I wasn’t going out with friends as much, I wasn’t taking care of myself like I should have. I was living on takeout and coffee, and my gym membership was gathering dust. But then I started to notice that I was getting burned out. I was tired all the time, not as creative, and just not enjoying the process as much. So I had to make a change. I started scheduling in “me time,” making sure to exercise a few times a week, cook healthy meals, and actually see my friends. And you know what? It made a world of difference. I was more productive at work, had more energy, and was overall a lot happier.
As my business started to grow, there were new challenges too. Hiring the right people was a nightmare. I had to interview so many candidates, and it was hard to find those who really shared my vision and were as passionate about the business as I was. But when I did find those gems, it was amazing. We became like a little family, working towards the same goals, and supporting each other through the tough times.
There were also financial hurdles. There were times when I was worried about making payroll, about whether we could afford to invest in new equipment or expand. But I learned to be smart with our finances, look for investors who believed in our idea, and make every dollar count.
Now, looking back, I’m so proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’ve built a successful business from the ground up, all while being a woman in a world that sometimes doesn’t make it easy for us. But it’s been so worth it. I’ve met so many amazing people along the way, learned more than I ever thought possible, and most importantly, I’ve proven to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to.
So to all you ladies out there who are thinking about starting your own business or are in the middle of the entrepreneurial journey, don’t give up. It’s going to be tough, there will be days when you want to throw in the towel, but keep pushing forward. Believe in yourself, your idea, and know that you are capable of achieving great things. Because if I can do it, so can you! 💖