My Biggest Challenges and How I Overcame Them
I'm often asked about my biggest challenges when I started out with Home Biz Chicks and working from home. So, for the first time, I'm revealing all - and you'll probably find we share a common story. Here are my top 5 biggest challenges and what I did to overcome them:
Taking that first step. You have to take the leap of faith and believe that your business will work. I waited until I had a baby and needed to work from home in order to care for my daughter. I can't tell you how happy I am that I finally made the decision to give up working for someone else - I only wish I'd done it earlier. I've grown so much as a person and when I wake up on Monday mornings I'm excited about what the day holds, not worried or dreading what might come my way.
Feeling fearful. Could I really run a successful business? Who would want anything that I could offer? Would anyone be willing to pay me? I wrestled with all those ideas and more. I've now come to realise that every time I get fearful, it's a sign that I need to grow. I take fear to be a positive thing. When I feel fear in business and the voice in my head says 'you can't do that', I take it as a sign that I MUST do it. Usually my fear comes when there's a new opportunity that means I'll have to step outside my comfort zone. But the great news is that once I'm out of my comfort zone, I've grown as a person - and so has my business!
Realising I had a great idea, but no business skills to run a business! This is a common realisation that often strikes after you've already begun and there's no turning back. I didn't know much about financial control, taxation or bookkeeping so rather than let this stop me, decided never be afraid to ask for help, or ask a dumb question. I outsourced the administrative side of the business to a bookkeeper and an accountant. Outsourcing continues to be a great strategy to grow my business.
Cash flow. I needed to put into place expensive activities and strategies that would grow the business, but still needed to earn an income. I could have focussed on my PR business and made a lot of money in the short term, but I needed a longer term plan that wasn't dependent on how many hours I could charge out each week. In order to grow Home Biz Chicks I had to give up some income in the short term for the long term gain.
Web design. I knew I wanted to set up a membership site, but I didn't really understand what I needed until I was part way through the design process. Then I realised the contractor I was working with didn't have the necessary skills to do the job. I could have given up before I'd even begun, but I cut my losses and moved on. I spent a significant amount on getting the web site I wanted, which I knew would service me for years to come. I've realised that making a firm decision quickly and taking action is much less costly in the long run than continuing down a path that isn't quite right for you, simply because you've already invested time and money in the wrong direction.
Taking that first step. You have to take the leap of faith and believe that your business will work. I waited until I had a baby and needed to work from home in order to care for my daughter. I can't tell you how happy I am that I finally made the decision to give up working for someone else - I only wish I'd done it earlier. I've grown so much as a person and when I wake up on Monday mornings I'm excited about what the day holds, not worried or dreading what might come my way.
Feeling fearful. Could I really run a successful business? Who would want anything that I could offer? Would anyone be willing to pay me? I wrestled with all those ideas and more. I've now come to realise that every time I get fearful, it's a sign that I need to grow. I take fear to be a positive thing. When I feel fear in business and the voice in my head says 'you can't do that', I take it as a sign that I MUST do it. Usually my fear comes when there's a new opportunity that means I'll have to step outside my comfort zone. But the great news is that once I'm out of my comfort zone, I've grown as a person - and so has my business!
Realising I had a great idea, but no business skills to run a business! This is a common realisation that often strikes after you've already begun and there's no turning back. I didn't know much about financial control, taxation or bookkeeping so rather than let this stop me, decided never be afraid to ask for help, or ask a dumb question. I outsourced the administrative side of the business to a bookkeeper and an accountant. Outsourcing continues to be a great strategy to grow my business.
Cash flow. I needed to put into place expensive activities and strategies that would grow the business, but still needed to earn an income. I could have focussed on my PR business and made a lot of money in the short term, but I needed a longer term plan that wasn't dependent on how many hours I could charge out each week. In order to grow Home Biz Chicks I had to give up some income in the short term for the long term gain.
Web design. I knew I wanted to set up a membership site, but I didn't really understand what I needed until I was part way through the design process. Then I realised the contractor I was working with didn't have the necessary skills to do the job. I could have given up before I'd even begun, but I cut my losses and moved on. I spent a significant amount on getting the web site I wanted, which I knew would service me for years to come. I've realised that making a firm decision quickly and taking action is much less costly in the long run than continuing down a path that isn't quite right for you, simply because you've already invested time and money in the wrong direction.