How to create a business you love…
Me with the incredible Nina de Sausmarez at a business event in London
You dream of having your own business, but how do you actually make sure it happens?
I am SO passionate about this topic because I want you to love what you do! I left corporate back in 2016 because I certainly didn’t love it. I was exhausted, undervalued and uninspired by the people around me (and above me!).
The great thing about having your own business is that you get to dictate what you do, when you do it and who you surround yourself by. But as it grows, it’s important to check in and make sure you still love what you do (because trust me, it’s a journey). So here’s my strategic advice on how to create a business you love.
Get clear on your vision at the start
When you start out, there is so much to think about and very quickly you can get into the weeds of your business when you don’t actually know what your ultimate goal is. Take the time out at the start to really think about what your vision and purpose are with your business. Here are some questions to help:-
What is your aspiration with your business?
Who are you wanting to make an impact on?
What is the impact you want to have in the world?
These may sound like really big picture questions, and the idea is for you to really ponder on them over time and get clarity on your purpose and why you want to grow a business. When you are clear on this and have it written down, it’s something you can go back to (and tweak if you need) and check in with to make sure you are truly feeling fulfilled with your business.
Know what brings you joy and what drains you
When you run a business, inevitably at the start you have to wear all the hats - marketing, finance, sales, customer experience, the list goes on… You aren’t going to love every single element of your business all the time, but it’s really important to have an awareness of what you love, and what drains your energy. For example, here’s my list:-
What I love:
Client strategy coaching sessions
Getting to know other business owners on my socials
Going to networking events and speaking on stages
Sharing content on my stories
What drains me:
Going through my emails (yawn!)
Updating client contracts
Scheduling content on social media
Create your own list and get creative in problem solving how you can maximise the fun stuff. For example, maybe you need a social media manager, or perhaps a virtual assistant for the admin. Even if you can’t do this right at the start, build into your plan that when you hit a certain revenue level, you want to bring that support in.
Identify role models
One of the things I see really impact business owners adversely is when they compare themselves to others on social media that look like they are flying in their business. Remember, you never know truly what another persons real life is like and we all put our best selves online. What I advise is to identify role models that you can follow and get positive inspiration from on your journey. These role models don’t have to be in your industry. For example, I’m in the business coaching and strategy space and I love to follow The White Thistle on Instagram. Her account is all about interiors, upcycling and DIY and I love her vibe and watching her reels. Find people like this that can bring you joy and you can grow alongside.
Find your tribe
Running a business can be tough. So surrounding yourself by the right people is absolutely one of the best strategies to keep positive and be in the right headspace to love your business. When I started out, all of my friends were still working in corporate, and I felt like I needed to find people that understood the crazy entrepreneur lifestyle. I joined a networking community and it was one of the best things I did and I’ve made some truly great friends as a result. Some great Essex communities I highly recommend are:-
When you find your tribe and hang out with them, it really makes running a business more fun. You get to share the highs and lows and benefit from each others experiences so I highly recommend doing this!
Decide on your boundaries
Sometimes when you run your own business, the hours you work can get out of hand. I know I left corporate because I wanted to work less hours, and have more time for family. However it can be easy for you to be ‘always on’ in your business. From answering customer enquiries late on a Friday night, to getting phone calls on the weekends, and not feeling present with family in the evenings.
My advice is to be clear at the start what hours you want to put into your business, and what time you want to dedicate to other things - family, hobbies, etc. Make yourself a weekly schedule and include everything from family commitments, to exercise routines, chores and your work commitments. Even if you can’t commit to it all the time, it helps to have the clear intention there.
Think about who you need to communicate your boundaries to as well, and who else you need help from to enable you to grow your business. As it grows and evolves, these boundaries may need to change so make sure you revisit them and lean in to those sometimes difficult conversations.
“Having a business you love should be non negotiable. I believe you deserve to have a profitable business you love, that enables you to have time for fun, family and freedom!”
Final thoughts
I’d love to know if you’ve found this blog helpful. Make sure you take the time out to think about what you love and what drains you in business, and find the time to get to a local networking group to meet link minded people.
Please message me @jenlisterstrategy on Insta or LinkedIn or email me jennie@jenlister.com with your thoughts.
If you are thinking of starting your business or want to work with me to grow your business then I’d love to chat - you can book a free 30 min chat with me here on Calendly or send me a message on Insta or LinkedIn - find me @jenlisterstrategy to chat over DMs.
