We Can Do Hard Things!!

Thanks to all for the positive feedback on my last blog! It feels good to hear those positive comments about the work than Shan and I are doing, and how "amazing" we are for making it happen for ourselves. It feels good to hear those things, because starting this business has not been easy. It has been hard, frustrating, irritating, confusing, mind-boggling......the list goes on. I think Shan and I have both gone through bottles of Ibuprofen taken to ease headaches of thinking really hard! :)

I have been referred to as stubborn and bull-headed. My mother called me "pig-headed". I prefer to say I "persevere". Whatever you call it, Shan and I both have it/do it. We have had set-backs. We have gone months without a customer. We have taken risks that haven't paid off. We have marketed, re-marketed, and marketed our services again, with little pay off. I have lain awake in bed on many nights, second guessing myself.

I had no clue what it took to start and run a business. I'm a Clinical Social Worker, not Steve Jobs! I'm a supervisor, manager, program developer, and lots of other things, but an entrepreneur???.....NO WAY! Personality-wise, when I have an idea about something, I tend to jump in and figure it out as I go. Maybe not the best way to do things, but it seems to be a pattern with me. I'm sure there was an easier way to get the business going.....

I have spent hours reading about social media and marketing. I like it more than I thought I would. I have learned about LLCs, business taxes, W-9's, quick-books, blah, blah, blah... thank God for Shan! Definitely an area of strength for her!! Shan is also detail-oriented so if there are typos on anything that I post...it's because I didn't have Shan proof-read it before I shared it!!

How did I keep myself from giving up??? I kept thinking about something a therapist, Jenny, used to say to the kids we worked with. When kids were frustrated about something they would often say "this is too hard". Jenny would say "Yes, it is, AND you can do hard things". She was right! We can ALL do hard things!

It's been about 1 year and 3 months since I started this journey. We now have ACTUAL clients!! We are getting paid!!! Real money!!! It's still hard, but it's also FUN and REWARDING!! I know I still have a lot to learn, but that's okay. I'll figure it out.....with the continued help and support of my friends, family, the horses, and Shan!

I guess I am an entrepreneur!

Don't let fear of the unknown keep you from doing what you REALLY want to do!!