2 years of decisions
This time 2 years ago I was handed a 2-weeks notice of redundancy.
Today, I’m a full-time freelance Operations and Digital Marketing Manager, working with Entrepreneurs and SMEs - and frankly, loving it.
But as we all know, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the JOURNEY… and that has not been smooth sailing!
Personally, I’m sick of seeing the highlights reel online, tired of comparing myself to other businesses when all they share is the good moments, the wins - and nothing about the blood, sweat and tears on the way.
So for my 2 years in business, I’ve decided to share more honestly - in hope Freelancers read it and feel less alone in their solopreneur bubble!
Looking back, I’ve made some great decisions for my business and some not-so-great decisions. But hey, that’s life, right?
I’ve had many times over the past two years where I’ve felt stuck and unsure of my business direction and I’ve headed face-first into the dreaded decision spiral.
It’s normal to feel like this - as small business owners we’re handling five job roles (if not more!). We put the pressure on HARD when we can’t make decisions, or we feel terrible when we make the wrong decisions… We expect have all different skills required to build, maintain or grow a business before we’ve had time or opportunity to learn those skills!
It’s important to not let your decision making hold you back - so this month I’m sharing the most important decisions I’ve made for my business (including decisions that I should have made differently) and answering questions from other businessowners!
In the runup to this blog, I’ve shared a series of posts on Instagram and LinkedIn, showcasing all the different decisions I’ve made in my 2 years:
I also gave my audience the chance to ask me anything about my last 2 years in business. I’m hoping the answers to these questions will help you on your own business journey!
How have you dealt with times when you’ve felt overwhelmed in your business?
Put one foot in front of the other. It’s one step at a time, not five - slow down, breathe, take a break. Overwhelm is easy to come by in business, and it may feel counterproductive to stop right then, but our brains don’t work better just because we pressure them more!
I find I get overwhelmed when my time isn’t my own anymore - when I feel I’m splitting myself too much and let my boundaries soften. Priority No.1 is to get my time back and work out my top priority; then delegate as much as possible until I’ve rebalanced, and address the priorities one by one!
What has been your best way to get new clients?
Word of mouth wins, every time - closely followed by networking (here’s that real human connection again!) and sponsored content. Your online presence helps nurture your audience and convince your followers, over time, that you’re the right person to invest in. But to lead-generate well takes audience research and strategic moves - get your website in shape, and get consistent with your messaging, and find an Ads Manager!
Have you felt really stuck at points in your business and how did you move away from feeling stuck?
First of all, work out what the feeling of stuckness is - it may not be your business, it may just be comparing yourself to others and then expecting far too much too soon. Don’t forget, online is not real!
If you do work out that actually, it’s because you are stuck, and you need to make some bigger moves, I recommend reaching to people who have been there. People who have made those moves, experts in their own right - speak to your friends, other freelancers - can you invest in a coach to help you navigate the big, bold moves you’re about to make?
When you reach a crossroads in your business what tools do you use to decide which path to take?
The previous answer really applies here too, sometimes the feeling of crossroads or stuckness can feel similar. But if I’m faced with 2 specific choices, a good pros & cons list works, and checking in with my short and long-term goals for my business and my life. Is this project going to fit into my current workload, or am I going to overstretch myself? Does it help me learn a new skill, or reach a new audience demographic I’ve been aiming for?
Don’t forget, it’s often not a fork in a road - you’re allowed to make a third choice, to negotiate, rewrite a proposal, offer a pathway that is better suited to you - rather than accept or reject someone else’s suggestion!
What’s been the toughest decision to make in your business?
One of the toughest has been branding myself - I’d love to outsource that in the future, but at the time I did what I could, with that I had (which was no budget to pay a pro!).
Increasing my prices or reworking contracts is always tough too - managing those Client relationships while looking out for my own future… it can be really hard, and you’re always likely to try and talk yourself out of it, but don’t! Your pricing needs to reflect the level of service you bring and the business you want to run - so do your research, and don’t let anyone put doubt in your head!
The past two years have flown by in a whir of decisions, conversations and connections but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
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If you enjoyed reading and think you and your business can benefit from my Operations & Digital Marketing insights - get in touch!
