One Year in Business and the Lessons I’ve Learned Along the Way
Next week marks one year of being in business for myself. One year of Kyah Digital.
It’s been one hell of a year! Lots of highs and lots of lows. And lots of lessons learned along the way! Come take a little trip down memory lane with me as I reflect back on the past year and the lessons that have gotten me to today.
8 Lessons I’ve Learned in My First Year of Business
Two members of my market research audience.
I actually had a memory pop up on my Facebook today - 1 year ago today, a day at the races. I used this champagne-filled opportunity to conduct some market research as to how I should spell “Kyah”, the name of my new business. If you don’t know, “Kyah” is derived from the Zulu word “Ikhaya“ which means “home”. But, I didn’t think Aussies would know how to pronounce it if I spelled it the correct way, so I wrote out a list of alternative spellings and quizzed my friends as to how they would pronounce each version until I got a majority consensus for the Aussie spelling that got the Zulu pronunciation. So, I guess that’s lesson number one - people need to be able to pronounce your business name, and what better way to find out if they can than after a few glasses of champers at the races!
The lead-up to the start of Kyah Digital was a very tumultuous one. I had previously been running a digital marketing agency with a business partner, but that relationship had turned quite toxic and I decided to leave the business. I also lost my mum last year, and that had a huge impact on me, my values in life, and what I wanted out of my business. So when I started Kyah Digital, I had all of that “baggage” with me, and a lot to work through.
So, that leads me to [proper] lesson number 1.
#1. Build a Business You Love
I had a look back today at my first Insta post. It was only in February this year. I actually started Kyah Digital in November 2021, I just didn’t really tell anyone about it. I had a few clients that came with me from my previous business, and some past clients that came back when I announced I was going out on my own. So, I was doing a few odd projects here or there and had a few retainers on the books. But, I didn’t put myself out there for quite some time.
Why?
Because I was taking the time to figure out what I loved - and didn’t love - from my previous business. I didn’t just want to create a replica of what I had been doing before, just because it felt comfortable. I wanted a business that was all me. One that allowed me to work on the things I loved doing and ditch the ones I didn’t. I got stuck into some training to upskill in a few areas, I reflected on my own personal values and what I was bringing to my business, and I worked with a brand strategist to bring a brand to life that was all me and that I could be proud of.
The takeaway: working for yourself is hard. Bloody hard. But if you love what you do and you love the business you’re building, it makes it worth it!
My first brand look from Talia at Moxi Crew
#2. Take Imperfect Action
One of the courses I took to upskill myself was Sarah Masci’s “Get Booked by the Day”. I had been interested in the day rate model for quite some time, but it didn’t fit my previous business. So I took this opportunity to implement this model in Kyah Digital. One of the things Sarah talks about the most is taking messy action. To not wait to launch your VIP Days until every little detail is perfect, but to just do it. Just get it out in the world and refine it as you go along. And that’s what I did! Because let’s be honest, I’m still refining my offers. It never ends. I am always learning a new way of doing something, tweaking my messaging, and upskilling in new areas, so I am constantly refining my VIP Days, they’re never “perfect“. If I had waited until they were, I’d probably be out of business by now.
The takeaway: done is better than perfect! Launch your business. Get your website out in the world. Tell people about your offers. They may not be perfect, but honestly, no one else knows that!
#3. My People are Awesome
I am surrounded by awesome people, from my clients to my friends and family, to my business network. My people are awesome people. Over the past year I’ve dealt with grief, sickness, Facebook hack(s), school holidays, sick kids, time off for family visits, more sickness (including said Spicy Flu), and countless other reasons why I’ve been offline, unavailable, or delayed. But my village is still there. My clients are the most understanding people and have stuck around through all of that. My friends and family continue to listen to me blab on about my work because I just can’t stop talking about it. My business network has gotten smaller, but more intimate. I have a few core business friends - some I haven’t even met IRL - that I can rely on for honest feedback, great advice, and a shoulder to cry on.
A few highlights from the past year with my people.
The takeaway: I know not everyone is this lucky - a lot of business owners say their family and friends don’t really understand what they do and don’t seem supportive. So my advice then is to go out and find the people that do understand, because they will be supportive. It doesn’t mean your family and friends don’t care, but often they just don’t get it (especially if they aren’t self-employed). But other business owners? They get it! You just need to find your people!
#4. Trust Yourself
I think it’s second nature for business owners to constantly second-guess themselves. We spend a lot of time by ourselves (even if you have a team), and we’re responsible for all of the decisions. But I’m learning that I need to trust myself more. It can be really hard to say no when you’re first starting out. You feel like you need to take on all of the work that comes your way, even when your gut tells you not to. But, if you notice red flags popping up, I’ve learned it’s okay to say no. It feels icky at first, but it allows you to stay open to future opportunities that are better suited to you and your business. I’ve unfortunately learned this the hard way (in my previous business, not this one. As I said - I have awesome people now).
The takeaway: you know yourself and your business better than anyone. Trust your intuition!
#5. Stay Open to Learning
When you own your own business, there is always something new to learn. I know I am a marketing specialist, but I am no business expert, so I’ve had a lot to learn about running a business over the years. And even more so this year, as I now shoulder all of the responsibility as a sole trader. I’ve learned about selling shares, capital gains tax, how to use Xero, the Profit First method (I’m seeing a $$$ trend here), and so much more. But I also know that I still have a long way to go and there is always more I can learn to make myself a better person, marketer and business owner.
The takeaway: be curious, invest in your learning, know your weaknesses and invest in upskilling (or outsourcing) in those areas.
#6. Outsourcing Doesn’t Have To Be Scary
When you’re first starting out, outsourcing can be very daunting though. It’s overwhelming to think about handing any part of your business over to someone else, and very often, you’re trying to bootstrap your way through everything, so you don’t have the funds to outsource. When I started my last business, we did this for a good 3 years. We did everything ourselves and invested very little in getting any help. Funds were tight, and we prioritised saving money over saving time. But, it took ages for us to gain traction on anything. When I decided to go out on my own, I didn’t want to rewind the clock on those 3 years (or more). I knew that if I invested in a few key areas I would start ahead of the game rather than constantly trying to catch up. So, I worked with a brand strategist to come up with my branding, and from the get-go, I’ve worked in collaboration with my accountant and bookkeeper to make sure the back end was all set up correctly. And along the way, I’ve outsourced other aspects as and when I can.
The takeaway: choose one or two things to outsource to an expert. The initial outlay seems like a lot, but if you free up your time to focus on other areas, you’ll make that money back in no time. Bootstrapping things and trying to DIY it all can actually cost you money in the long run because you’re too busy trying to do it all rather than focusing on the things that actually bring the money in.
#7. I’m Right Where I’m Supposed To Be
This lesson is courtesy of Business & Personal Brand coach, Suz Chadwick. I’ve been doing Suz’s Brand Builders Academy course, and whenever someone said to her “I’m really far behind in the course material, I’m still on module x), Suz would respond with “Who are you behind? It’s not a race or a competition. You’re not behind, you’re exactly where you are meant to be.” This has really stuck with me because after growing a business for 5 years and then suddenly starting back at the beginning, I’ve felt “behind” a lot over the last year. But Suz made me look at it in a totally different way and I now remind myself of this whenever I start to feel behind. It’s a mindset game changer.
The takeaway: drop your pre-conceived ideas of where you are “meant” to be in life or business by now. It’s your life and you don’t need to measure your success against anyone else. You too are exactly where you’re meant to be right now!
# 8. Be Kinder to Myself
As a self-confessed perfectionist with super high expectations of myself, feelings of disappointment, ineptitude and self-doubt have been rife on this self-employment journey. But, I’m learning to be kinder to myself. I’m learning that working myself to sickness doesn’t get me to my goals any faster. I’m learning that I’m going to make mistakes, but if I learn something from them then it will all be okay. I’m learning that the things I’ve beaten myself up about are not that important in the great scheme of things, so I can let go of those expectations a little (maybe a lot). And I’ve recognised that I’ve come a bloody long way in one year, and that even though I’m not where I *thought* I might be by now, I have a pretty epic journey to look forward to!
The takeaway: give yourself the credit you deserve, look after your body and mind and show yourself the kindness that you show others, because you too are worthy!
The Ultimate Lesson
I wasn’t one of those kids that grew up wanting to be my own boss. I didn’t have a lemonade stand, and I didn’t constantly dream up new entrepreneurial ideas. Until I had my first kid, I was perfectly happy leaving those big tough business decisions to other people and just getting on with my little job. But now, I kind of love being self-employed. I don’t think I could go back to corporate life and employment (believe me, I have thought about it). And yeah, it’s been tough. And I’m sure there will be more tough things to come in this journey. But I love what I’m building, I love what I’m teaching my kids, and I love everything I’m learning along the way.
I’m really excited about Kyah Digital’s second year. I’ve got some big ideas and I’m so happy to have you on this ride with me!
