failing is an option
FAILING: You should really start that business, build that idea, or create that thing... regardless of the outcome. Failure isn't permanent.
Quick story about a failure of mine. In 2016, I thought I was ready to build my business so I quit my job as a network technician at the time to build it. I had a few clients, but surely not enough to sustain myself. With the loss of income as well as the unpredictability of my next new client or funds to tie things together when things inevitably went wrong - I was not doing as well as I thought I would despite having more time to build my business.
I was excited and thrilled that so many people thought that I was brave for making the leap and I truly felt I was on the cusp of making my next career move my final career move.
Well, I was wrong.
I did well for about three months and realized I had to find myself a new job to sustain myself if I wanted to keep cash flow in my business and not stress out about where my next paycheck was coming from.
It was alright though! At the time I felt like a failure and felt like I let everyone down and that my Mom was right: I could never build a business successful enough to live off of. It sucked for that year. But I learned something major.
If the worst thing that happened was I went back to what I was doing before...is that really so bad?
See most people don't take risks. They wait for the opportune time to take the leap and sometimes even after months of preparation and all the safety nets in the world - they still don't take the leap!
I took the leap and nothing crazy happened. I just fell. I just miscalculated. I just wasn't ready. So when the leap led me to a fall, I simply got back up and started to figure out how I can jump again so that I can land on my feet next time and keep going.
I really thought me going into a corporate role was me selling myself out. It wasn't. I didn't have to close my business down. I didn't have to run away from my clients and customers. I just figured out that having the funds to live my life and balance my business as a side-hustle made more sense to me.
Does it mean I failed? Yes. I failed to prepare for what it meant to take on my business full-time. Does that mean my business failed? Nope. Does that mean I am a failure? Nope.
Making another choice, changing your mind, and falling before getting up are all parts of it. But, I promise you one thing - the whole thing isn't stopping me from starting a new business or jumping back up and out there this time with more experience.
What about you? Are you looking to start a business? Have you been afraid of failing so you scared yourself from even taking the first step? What's holding you back?
and if you have a business, how are you building it to keep it growing? Do you have a failure story you can share?
π© ACTION ITEM: If there is anything I can do to help you get started - whether it's help connect you with a resource, answer a question, brainstorm, or just an intro - feel free to book a free virtual coffee chat with me! I love doing these so I usually allow 30 minutes for each session and again it's free!
βYou can book a call here βοΈ
Some updates:
π I'm competing in this year's Miss New Jersey USA pageant! If you'd like to support by buying me a beer πΊ, I would appreciate that OR if you're curious as to what this is about and want to learn more, you can view all contestants hereβ
π€ Public speaking has been an endeavor since I started coaching people on how to start businesses and although unplanned, I've spoken at my alumni university last month and will be speaking at a local community college end of this month as well
π There's book recs. on me blog Young Jealousy
With love,
Zobia