This blog post is the second in a series called “The Chronicles of a Business Owner.” Unlike some of my other blog posts, these posts reflect my thoughts and are not structured as tutorials. I am a new business owner and have only worked on my business full-time since last November (4 months ago). There is A LOT of information out there about running a small business and numerous business coaches that explain the best way to run your business. When you start a small business, it seems that everyone will have an opinion of the best approach. The following post describes some of the more philosophical businesses I have learned during the last couple of months of starting my business.
It’s okay to build your business the way you want
As a new business owner, most of my processes are based on my experience at other engineering firms. In a sense, I have been trying to copy what others have others have done, but the truth is that you can’t build a business in the same way as somebody else has built their business. This is because you are a different person starting your business at a different time. That may seem fluffy, but I’ve already come to realize it really is true. As previously mentioned, there is so much information online about starting a new business, but there are no shortcuts. You have to figure out what works for you, your business, and your customers. Understand that you will evolve and enjoy the process.
Understand how you want work to fit into your life
A lot of the small business information out there is centered around being as productive as possible and making as much money as possible. In contrast, I’ve met engineering firm owners who seem to want to pretend that money does not matter to them. I have found both of these mindsets to be a waste of time. I think the trick is to figure out how to make enough to pay for the life you actually want (not the life that the internet says you want). After all, what is the point of starting a business if you don’t embrace the freedom to live in a way that works best for you and your family? At first, I was working all of the time. I had traded my 8 am to 5 pm schedule for a 24/7 job. During the last month or so, I have intentionally scaled back the amount of time I am working. I have dedicated work time during the week and will take off a random afternoon if my mind or body needs it. This is the freedom I dreamt of when I started my business. Fitting my business into my life in this way may mean I make less money, but that’s okay. I’m already making a bit more than I did as an employee, so I’m fulfilling my financial obligations. At the same time, I now have the power to truly prioritize my family and health over work, and I love it. To me, this is the power of business ownership.