What I Wish Someone Had Told Me During My First Year of Business

I remember the day I decided to start my photography business. I’d been on the fence about whether or not entrepreneurship was right for me. Until my dad gave me some really incredible advice:

“Don’t wait for someone to give you permission,” he told me. “Go, do the work, and become.”

So that’s exactly what I did. I hit the ground running, and in my first year of business ownership, I did a LOT of work towards honing my craft.

But I’ll be transparent: I didn’t really have a solid growth strategy. Or at least, not one that I could keep up with for the long-term.

I was still in the midst of figuring out f-stops, proper lighting, and some of the more technical aspects of my camera when it occurred to me that I ALSO needed to get a little more serious about building a brand and growing my business.

I knew I wanted to create a business that allowed me to provide my clients with timeless, heartwarming, candid memories they could cherish for a lifetime. I wanted to show up with an exceptional experience that left my clients feeling genuinely valued.

But the fact that I didn’t have a plan for sustainable, profitable growth meant that within a year of opening my doors, I’d gotten completely overwhelmed. 

I was trying to market my services, show up 100% for my clients, create a brand, and keep working on my photography skills. And it was just too much. 

I was wasting heaps of time and money, and I felt like I had nothing to show for it. In short, I was cruising for a burnout.

What I didn’t understand—and what I desperately wish someone had told me during that first year—is that growth for growth’s sake wasn’t enough to create the sustainable, profitable, fulfilling business I had in mind.

Eventually, I got it together, but sometimes I think about how much easier growing my business could have been if someone had just tapped me on the shoulder and told me the truth.

I needed—and deserved—more.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, caught up in the hustle-and-grind, or feel like your business is growing without any direction or strategy, consider this your sign. YOU deserve more, too.

The Key Areas Every Business Owner Needs to Focus On For Sustainable, Profitable Growth Without Burnout

If you’re ready to build a brand and grow your business—without getting overwhelmed or burning out—it’s crucial to focus on all the core growth areas, including:

• Marketing
• Sales
• Messaging
• Communication
• Productivity
• Leadership

Or, in other words, building your brand intentionally, from the inside out.

Now, believe me. From one business owner to another, I understand how overwhelming that list looks. But here’s the thing:

You DO have what it takes to run an extremely successful, profitable, and sustainable business.

You just need to get UNSTUCK. 

You need to whittle down that massive to-do list and figure out what ACTUALLY needs to be done first to maximize your efforts and move the needle towards your goals.

You need CLARITY and ACTION.

That’s where I come in. As a Certified Business Made Simple Coach, I help business owners get unstuck and overcome overwhelm so they can navigate their business growth journey with less stress and more success.

Using branding expertise and Business Made Simple’s proven frameworks in marketing, communication, leadership, messaging, and productivity, my coaching plans can give you the push you need to move forward with strategic action.

With both one-on-one and group coaching plans available, I’m here to help business owners beat burnout and implement smarter, more sustainable, more profitable systems at every stage. 

So if you’ve been struggling with overwhelm, feeling unsure about your next step, or wrestling with that nagging feeling that there’s just something missing from your business, I’d love to help!

Take the Business Made Simple Business MRI Quiz right now to diagnose your business health and determine which areas need a little TLC if you want to grow the profitable, sustainable business of your dreams. 

[Take the Quiz Now]

I can’t wait to see your results!