Success starts with you! Showing gratitude for the ongoing support, some tips and a few shout-outs!

How many of your friends and family started new businesses during and post pandemic OR are still trying to maintain theirs?

Side hustles have become and are still becoming people’s full-time gigs.  The pandemic either created new opportunities for some or forced the decision for others.  Either way, I’m sure we all know a friend or family member in this situation.  If not, a friend of a friend is out there with very few degrees of separation and whether a side hustle turned full time gig, or starting fresh, it’s hard work!  For both my husband and I it was the latter and despite that hustle, neither of us will go back.

THE biggest piece of feedback I’ve heard from my small biz peers during this time is that not everyone you think, or thought was going to support you, is going to support you.  It is a harsh truth and I agree 100%!

BUT, that said, I learnt fast to operate with zero expectations.  What keeps me going is that I believe in my brand and my message first and foremost.  On the good days and the not so go ones a.k.a. those character-building days.  I learn from my mistakes and from an OCD control freak, I’ve become okay with making [many] mistakes and not hanging on to them.  Like we say in boxing “get hit and move on” and the biggest piece of advice I’ll pass along – be your own customer and your own cheerleader before you go out looking for new ones.  That passion will shine through.  The hard work will translate.

There are many pros to this new lifestyle.  It’s the flexibility for me and more time with family, especially my daughter.  I remember doing her hair one morning when she was around 5 years old.  Our conversation was around why she needed to go to after care and not go home at the 3.15PM bell.  I talked about paying bills, putting food on table, saving, and buying nice things.  At 5 years old she answered with “I don’t need nice things; I just want mommy”.  Yup, my heart literally broke a little inside, but I promised her then that one day she would have just that.

Fast forward and she’s 10.  My biggest blessing is not hearing on a Sunday morning when she came downstairs to find me at my laptop: “Mommy are you working today,” – which meant I’d be home in body but online for half the day.  My exit from the corporate world may have been by choice but I’ll tell you, not going back was the decision that came after being home with her during those first pandemic months.

To go sideways but will stay relevant, seeing us both work/hustle gives her an understanding of how important it is to us as a family unit.  She reaps benefits of always having one, if not both of us around but she witnesses the celebrations of wins and lessons of the hard days along the way.  I was trying to hustle to finish August strong and she want to buy a product from me with her own money.  It didn’t get to that, but I think we’ve inspired a little entrepreneur through this.  Your girl has her babysitting business ready to go with 2 partners when they turn 12 and already presented me with her pitch as to why she wants a YouTube channel + IG and how she’s going to maintain, grow and monetize it.

Listen, I work just as hard as I did when I worked in the corporate world.  In fact, I probably work more to be honest.  The difference is that I don’t have anxiety and sleepless nights due to my job.  I have time back and can have a life balance or at least, make my life balance!

There are many more start up struggles.  If you know you know!  For those really wanting to support your friends and their small businesses, here are some ways you can help.  There are many posts and articles on the topic but the ones I’ve experienced and hear the most is what I’ll talk about below:

1. Promote our business(es)
   • I was having a catch-up breakfast with past colleague a couple of days ago and I had brought her a pack of my shower steamers. She not only went home, posted, and tagged my business on her IG pages, she also immediately showed our server my product, asked her to give me a follow on IG and check out my Labour Day sale.  All that cost her nothing and took all of 1 minute.  Now, please go check out @annies.nook for all your custom greeting card needs.

2. Don’t expect a discount!
   • When I tell you it hurts when you have a sale running and a friend still asks you if there’s friends and family discount, it stings. I’ve never done it even before being a small business owner – it’s tactless.  That said, I will always add something extra for repeat customers or customers who spend a lot in one purchase.  Small businesses will treat you right and go the extra mile regardless.  We are grateful and our actions will show it.

3. Leave a review
   • Whether it’s a like, comment and/or a share on a social post or a Google review – if you were happy with your purchase or service, let it be known. Many of us don’t have big advertising budgets so these absolutely help.  My good friend Maureen (who buys all my products) posted her last purchase and a friend of hers got one too.  All these small gestures help us and you’re not just supporting a business.  It’s someone’s dream and vision.

      4.  Tell your networks and they will tell theirs…and so on

• • This one is huge. Doctor and author @teresmarshauthor mentions me in every meeting she and word of mouth has gotten me leads on sales, a small consignment deal and repeat group boxing classes via Zoom through referrals.  The people I have helped through movement is a piece that hits deepest because I know I’m making a change.  Yes, she’s also my mom but I know from my peers that it’s not always this way especially when family doesn’t see your vision.

5. There is room for all of us!
   • All our hustles are real and just because some else is doing the same thing as you, doesn’t meant you can’t support them. My good friend celebrated her 5 years in business this past June and instead of celebrating for herself she created an opportunity for about 10 other small female owned businesses to be seen.   A one-day pop-up event and she brought most of the people.  These customers shopped, followed, and shared as they went along.  Please give my girl @fresca.beauty a follow for all your facial and waxing needs.

Those who have been supporting – you’re the real ones and that goes for friends, family, and strangers.  That’s what I focus on.  The good stuff.  Without you people like me won’t have a business to work on, nurture and grow.  I appreciate you!  We all appreciate you.

I also want my supporters to come along for the ride.  Grow with me and be inspired enough to one day turn your own dreams into a reality.