5 Lessons I've Learned as an Entrepreneur My First Year in Business

Category: Business, Opinion

Entrepreneurship is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Some challenges, joys, and growth all come along with following your purpose. 

Welcome to my blog! For those of you who have been following along for the past year, I started Design Honey in December 2022, a year-long coming up soon! I've had this year of getting used to business ownership, and it has been a lot of foundational work. As this year closes, writing about lessons I've learned as a first-year entrepreneur felt fitting. 

1. Your network and support system determines your success

I started my business with my mentor, Kay, whom I met working on the Gulf Coast. We immediately clicked when I was working an event at my old job and became close over the next year of my career. For context, Kay started her own Public Relations and Advertising agency in Atlanta in the 1970s, when women were barely getting started in the workforce. Kay is a pioneer and trailblazer in her field. I was fortunate that she took me under her wing and taught me the intricacies of her experience. I also met some fabulous women designers and entrepreneurs at The Brief Collective, an online design business school I completed this past year. We have daily communication where we can bounce ideas off of each other, talk about our field, and continue a shared vision to succeed as entrepreneurs.

2. The first year in business is the foundational year. 

Another reality is that your first year in business is about laying the foundation for what will come. Rarely do people see the full potential of their operations in the first year, and the timeline is different for everyone. Some goals I checked off my list this year were to solidify my branding, gain a social media presence, get a few clients, start my email marketing, launch my website, and get comfortable with business operations. There have been periods of growth and plateaus where I have had to get creative and think outside the box to navigate successfully. Overall, I'm excited for the coming years and the potential of my small business.

3. Comparison is the thief of joy

Nothing could be more detrimental than comparing your business journey to what others are doing. There is a sense of urgency that you should push yourself to get into the swing of things and work hard. No one else will make you if you work for yourself. However, as humans, we naturally compare ourselves to our peers and people we know working in our respective fields. I use others' success to motivate me to work harder, continue to improve, and learn from others. I also have to remind myself that others have different journeys and everyone blooms at different times. 

4. Be your own biggest cheerleader

It is vital to have a certain level of grit and self-confidence to navigate entrepreneurship successfully. There are plenty of hours, days, and even months when freelancing doesn't show you a return on investment. Or you have to pull yourself up from a setback. My most significant this year was being pulled into a situation where my client was using fraudulent funds, and I had to terminate our relationship. This setback cost me money, time, and confidence in my business. Sometimes, setbacks can teach us lessons and build resilience to propel us forward. Your mindset is essential to be a good business owner. 

5. Celebrate the wins, big and small

I couldn't write about my first year as an entrepreneur and NOT share my joy. Looking back at this past year and seeing how much I've built, I feel proud of how far I have come. I have so many people to thank; it certainly took a year to get here. Having something long-lasting that allows me to help other businesses and people while following my path has been indispensable. Small joys are starting a blog or gaining traction on social media with my design work. Big wins are gaining several client acquisitions, designing my branding, and getting partnerships with big names like Adobe. Whether we have met online, in person, or know each other, I am thankful for you and all of it—cheers to my first year at Design Honey Co., with many more to come.