I’m four weeks into my #entrepreneurship journey, so I’m *obviously* an expert now… HA! Far from it… but I do want to reflect on the first few weeks in hopes of reaching others who are considering the big leap, or just so I have something to look back on and see how far I’ve come one day.
So here we go… four lessons learned from four weeks of entrepreneurship:
Your network is your greatest asset. As I’ve thoughtfully engaged my professional network, I have been blown away by the love, support, and business coming my way. I’m a Fightin’ Texas Aggie, so have long understood the value of a solid network in building connections, supporting one another, and sharing leads and referrals. I hoped that a “network-first” strategy as I launched my business would pay off, and I’m glad to see this hypothesis working out. Whether you’re just getting started or are close to retirement, think about the people-side of the work you do. Build authentic relationships with colleagues and clients – and nurture those relationships. In my current stage, that looks pretty formal…because if I’m not actually scheduling time to connect with former colleagues, mentors and even friends, it’s easy to find other things to fill the time.
You’re never too junior to make a good impression. While I knew my network would be an asset as I launched, what I didn’t expect was how many colleagues from my baby days in marketing and communications would serve as my champions and partners. I’m excited to be working with some of the “senior” colleagues I once idolized as an entry-level employee. A go-getter attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to learn even when you’re at the lowest levels in your organization can pay off even years (or day I say decades) later.
Be brave and make the call. Or send the LinkedIn message or email. The sales side of business ownership was/is something I look forward to least. I don’t like talking about myself, yet I now must sell myself and the services I offer. I’ve done more cold calling and cold messaging in the last few weeks than ever before in my life and you know what… it hasn’t been the end of the world. Some have responded. Others haven’t. I’ve reconnected with old acquaintances and met new people and every introductory call I've taken has been worth every minute in terms of the wisdom and connections I’ve gained.
The business side of business ownership takes time. I thought I had a decent idea of how much time the administrative part of business ownership would take, but I sorely underestimated it. Maybe it’s just a byproduct of the season I’m in – trying to establish systems and processes while in peak business development mode, but I’m still trying to get a handle on how to most efficiently manage the administrative side of the business. I enjoy this part of the work but know it can’t be all-consuming to be sustainable.
All-in-all, I’m so happy with my decision to pursue entrepreneurship and remain excited about all the new challenges and lessons yet to be uncovered as this journey continues. If you’ve made the leap yourself, do these reflections resonate with you, or what would you add to the list?
This is the first post in a likely-to-be-inconsistent content series I’m calling Mollie’s Musings. I can’t guarantee what you’ll be reading other than reflections and thoughts related to life, entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing or communications, but if you want to be notified when I post, please follow me on LinkedIn and/or subscribe here.