What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Business
Running a business takes guts, strong will and a wee bit of insanity. Add being black, female and sole owner of a menswear brand to the mixing pot of challenges and it is easy to be inundated with feelings of defeat. The lingering thoughts of “why am I still doing this?” seam to sometimes be on a loop. I knew I had my work cut out for me but I didn’t know how much I would actually evolve from it. I didn’t know this new role I decided to take on would become my saving grace. I didn’t know it would make me better at life. Juggling adulthood and heading a business presents layers of responsibility that get thicker as you climb to reach goals. It is overwhelming, however, if you continue to push because like me you have found your purpose, that gleaming light at the end of the tunnel gets closer and brighter. In those tunneled, misty-eyed moments of frustration, I wish I knew I would find a better version of me.
"8 out of 10 Black owned businesses fail within the first 18 months".
Statistically, the chances of GROOMHER® surviving its first year was pretty slim. According to an article on cnbc.com, 8 out of 10 Black owned businesses fail within the first 18 months and that is a scary deterant. Instead of internalizing this information and stopping, I learned to simply rest when things got difficult. “Yes, it’s hard but you can do hard things'' is something I tell myself often and I wish I knew and believed sooner. Perhaps I would have gotten out of my own way earlier in my entrepreneurial journey. I wish I knew how helpful Shopify’s gurus are in assisting with everything on the site. I would have saved time and money winging it on other platforms. With the many different and popular e-commerce companies out there, finding one early on that meets your specific needs is important.
I wish I knew how seamless Flodesk is in managing outreach to subscribers. It used to be a tedious process but the better version of me always aims to work smarter, not harder whenever possible and this marketing service helps me do just that. I wish I knew Sticker Mule is a one-stop-shop for more than just stickers. I wish I knew sooner the money-saving benefits of having a seller’s permit because inventory does not grow on trees and every penny counts. I wish I knew having a social media presence is immensely crucial to the success of any business and “creating content” is one of the thickest, most monstrous layers to this operation.
I wish I knew Mahdi Woodard would g a t h e r me on Instagram (in the best, most loving way possible) everytime I read a post, watch a video or tune into a Live. The majority of his posts are relatable and push me to do better in and be better for my company. I have learned so much solely from being one of his followers and I wish I knew some of these teachings prior to starting my brand. I wish I knew my 9-5 would be lenient with scheduling and allow the necessary time for me put into my brand. This is sometimes a lot to handle but I have found that being able to stay focused and motivated is key in effectively handling the two. It takes a toll and sometimes I need more sleep than the average person but I can’t imagine giving so much to a corporation daily and not having any time, energy, or creativity left to pour into myself, into my business.
"I have learned to give myself grace and remember slow motion is okay, just as long as I don’t stop moving".
I wish I knew that I would eventually find the balance to thrive in this middle ground. Sure, I falter and some days I just c a n n o t because..hello, human being here, but I simply do my best and no matter what “your best” looks like on any given day, that is enough. I have learned to give myself grace and remember slow motion is okay, just as long as I don’t stop moving. I wish I knew how much I would grow in the chaos of being a business owner. It truly is a rewarding title, despite the ups and downs. I am more disciplined, more strategic, I manage time better, I am more organized, I careless about things that don’t add direct value, I am stern in my decision making and am more trusting of myself when making decisions. All of which I apply not only in business but try to do so in everyday life. I am a seeker of peace truly because my business already disrupts mine *LMAO
I wish I knew there would be periods of zero sales. I would have prepared tasks to quickly turn this around and practice prevention. I wish I knew how to successfully budget and that there are crowdfunding platforms with services available for me and others exactly like me, willing and able to assist.
"I wish I knew that worrying only stifles progress and I have to allow room for things to work out before thinking the opposite into existence".
I am still learning, still taking the required steps and making adjustments as I grow, as GROOMHER® grows. I am finding my tempo and welcoming all the good around my business that I manifested. What I do know is this is only the beginning and year 3 is going to be amazing. I am building my dream brick by brick. I know that I have the support of my tribe. I know that I not only have awesome ideas but the ability and resources to execute them. I know that I love my brand and there is no doubt in my mind or heart that its continued success is inevitable. Fairytales are real, I know this because mine is currently unfolding. My advice to any business owner just starting or already making headway is to keep pushing through that tunnel because what if it works out better than you imagined?
So it is.
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