Ah, entrepreneurship — a massive part of my life, an important part of my life, and a really beautiful part of my life. I got into the online business world to create my own dream life — and I’ve been fortunate enough to build a business where I get to work with incredible clients, work on incredible projects, and work in a way that lets me live my life like I want.
However, this online business I’ve built isn’t always easy to manage. There have been lots of lessons I’ve learned over the years (and lots of lessons I will learn again), and there have been ups and downs, too.
But, guess what? We’re so, so lucky.
I know so many people — including my family and friends — who work corporate jobs that leave them depleted and exhausted and… well, bored. And, while I know that the corporate life is totally a good thing for a lot of people, I know that I didn’t want that — and that you probably don’t, either.
I always think that it’s so important to come back to how freakin’ lucky we are to own businesses we love, huh? Makes all of the lessons so, so worth it.
The Biggest Lessons I’ve Learned from Running an Online Business
Today I wanted to share a few of the lessons I’ve learned from running an online business — and I hope that if you’re starting your own business (or own one already), that this will help you out, too.
First up — work/life balance is so much more than a calendar that’s split equally. I’ve learned over the years that viewing work/life balance as an ever-shifting work/life harmony is so much better than trying to seek an elusive balance that really isn’t always going to be there.
By leaning into the harmony of it all, and finding the ebb and flow, I’ve been able to enjoy my life AND my work more. Sometimes that means soaking up extra family time and renovation time in slow seasons, and sometimes that means burning the midnight oil during the busy ones.
It’s beautiful either way.
And that brings me to one of the biggest lessons and challenges I’ve had as an online business owner — knowing when to step away from the work. As a business owner it can be hard to set boundaries anyways. But, as an online business owner, sometimes it feels like I’m too available all the time.
I’ve learned that there are times that I genuinely feel like I’ve had enough — whether it’s my mind, my body, or my emotions — and I listen to that. I close the computer, I step away, and I take a break. Sometimes that’s by sitting in the sun, sometimes it’s by doing a quick yoga sesh, sometimes it’s by grabbing a bite to eat, and sometimes it’s simply shutting my eyes.
Knowing when to step away has also made me more conscious of when I can step in, too. I love looking for pockets of time during the day to work, even though they might not feel typical or super WFH-y. For instance, I take and pick up my kids from school, which is something I love doing and consciously choose to do. However, that means that I spend lots of time in the car line — which is why I often bring my computer and work while I’m in it.
Win, win.
I’m also a big believer in three lessons that I think everyone should follow as an online business owner — diversifying income, keeping an eye on numbers, and hiring good people. By looking for ways to add income without adding time to your business, you can make WAY more — and by getting yourself a bookkeeper who helps you know your numbers (hello Steadfast Bookkeeping, I love you), you can be WAY more strategic about it. Add a team that you love (I love the mantra ‘hire before you’re ready, cut ‘em loose if it’s not working), and you’ve cracked the code.
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And, there ya have it — the lessons I’ve really taken to heart in my online business. What are yours?
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