Happy B-day to me
It’s my first birthday today. Not mine obviously, but my studio’s. Wooohooo!
What started as a leap into the unknown in April 2023, turned into one of the most valuable and fun experiences I’ve had so far. It wasn’t always easy, but I survived (just paid my annual taxes, still got money in my bank account :D).
And I loved (almost) every second of it.
After I took the time to say THANK YOU to the amazing people who have made this year more meaningful and fun, I took the time to reflect.
Here are 13 most valuable lessons from the first 365 days of my entrepreneurial journey:
1. Treat your client’s business as if it was your own. OK, maybe I don’t have to, but I want to. In my previous jobs I was often told I cared too much about something that was “just a job”. It never was “just a job” and now I can care as much as I like and help to the highest degree possible – be it an insight, a piece of advice or a concrete service.
2. Find a great accountant/become financially literate. This one is extremely important if you want zero headaches and focus on what you do best instead of desperately trying to figure out how to keep your books in order. Let everyone do what they do best and pay them for it. Luckily, I share my life with a great accountant, so my books are in order, cash flow is stable and I can get financial advice over dinner.
3. Freedom is not free. I became the master of my time which allowed me to organise my professional and private life the way I saw fit, but I also worked weekends, holidays, while waiting in the post office and what not (to be honest, I loved every second of it). I think the “it was easy for me” part comes from the talent for efficient time-management, high sense of responsibility and loving the work.
4. Choose your battles. You are not for everyone and not everyone is for you. If a job “promises” to bring more headache than joy, it’s not worth it regardless of the money it might bring to the table. In my case, it meant saying NO to some traditional businessman who paid no respect to what I had to say just because I was a woman and to those who wanted to “keep doing what they have always done”.
5. Stay True to Your Values: Define your core values and let them guide your business decisions and actions. Integrity, honesty, and transparency are non-negotiable principles in everything I do. Building a reputation for ethical business practices has earned me the trust and respect of customers and teammates and I hope it will continue to do so.
6. Find great collaborators and pay them well. Or let them find you. 😀 Nobody knows everything, nor do we have the time or the resources to learn everything from scratch. We all need help. Finding great people is not easy, so once you do, make sure they are paid what they deserve. I’ve never discussed the rates of people I’ve worked with because I think their rates were fair – for their knowledge, experience and accountability.
7. Meet over food/drinks. This one kills two birds with one stone. You use your time efficiently to grab a bite and you get a chance to see how the person sitting opposite you treats waiters, bartenders, etc. It will tell you a lot about them and how they might treat you. I don’t work with people who are rude or have a superiority complex.
8. Learn every day. Books, podcasts, direct interactions. Listen, soak up, ask questions, explore. It’s good for you personally and your business. I introduced regular monthly meetings with a few people who inspire me in different shapes, forms and areas – running a business, managing people, keeping up with trends.
9. Ensure you get paid. I was lucky enough to have worked with great clients who paid me fairly for my work. All, except one. And the delay would have been fine if they had communicated their internal cash flow issues with me timely. They didn’t. So, gotta make sure this doesn’t happen again – deliver a portion of work and get paid. Once they show they are fair, you deliver the rest of your work.
10. Show love to yourself. Travel, walk, hike, cook. Take time to rest. You cannot do well until you are well.
11. Show love to your tribe. Dedicate time to nurturing your relationships. Grab lunch, go to b-day parties, make random “how are you” calls. Improved emotional and social support plays a massive role in moderating between absolute exhaustion and personal well-being.
12. Kindness and humour are always IN. Nothing to explain here.
13. Do what you love and you’ll never have to work. A cliche I find to be true in my case. Love, love, loveee what I do and I think it’s reflected both in the results and relationships with clients. Will continue to do work I massively enjoy.
So, I survived the first 365 days. Just paid my annual taxes, still got money left in my bank account. 😀 Bought a cake. Swing by for a slice if you are in Sarajevo.
To the next 365,
Marijana