We Out Here - What We've Learned in Our First Year of Being in Business
It takes a village.
Yes, this is something people usually say about raising children, but we are two broke millennials without 401(k)s, and thus Fried Hustle is our baby.
While it is possible that some folks out there have started businesses without any help, it’s likely that they had at least some monetary or emotional support. We are lucky enough to have families who can step in every now and again and spot us. We also found as many varied mentor types as possible. You need the mentors who can give you logistical business advice. You also need the mentors who can provide you with emotional support and someone who isn’t afraid to give you perspective about what you might have done wrong when dealing with clients. Find the people who will teach you, the people who will root for you, and the people who will tell you the truth.Leave room for the wonky. Provide silly and serious outlets to let go of anxiety.
At any moment of the day (when we aren’t in client meetings), you might find us in pigeon pose, or playing dress up with FH’s unofficial mascot, Walter (a mutt of the pug/pekingese/dachshund variety). On occasion we will take a break to play Scattergories or make jello full of plastic babies and tiny hands (creepier and tastier than it sounds <3). These are like the smelling salts of business burnout. It’s easy to take yourself too seriously and forget to take time to eat or laugh or play. Do the laugh. Do the play.
Be prepared to not only work on owning a business, but to also do deep emotional work yourself.
Starting a business is the ultimate exercise in vulnerability. The only way to get better, the only way to continue on a trajectory of improvement is to do what you can with what you have. You need to know how to sit with what you are feeling, accept what you are feeling, move through what you are feeling, and reflect with some perspective and distance. So after you learn how to finalize that refund in Quickbooks, you also need to do the work that allows you to establish boundaries with clients, respond not react, and stop imposter syndrome from ruining your week.
Failure sucks, but it gets better. Clichéd, but damn it’s true.
When you fail at something, let’s face it, it can be a gut wrenching and vulnerable time. It’s going to feel that way, no matter what you tell yourself. But...it won’t always feel that way. Time is on your side, and definitely helps heal this one. Know that failure feels eventually level out, and then you will be left with a valuable lesson for the future!