There is an amazing shift in the world today. More and more people are ditching their traditional jobs and becoming business owners. YEP! I am one of them. From the outside looking in everything looks as it should. You see the ads, the branding and all the smiles. However no one talks or speaks about the not so peachy side.
When I decided to turn my then two products into a business I was lost. I had no clue where to start. Google you say? That is like finding a needle in a hay stack and if you aren't careful you may end up with things you don't need and even money loss. There was no road map or list of To Do's to help me along the way. I joined many business groups and did so much researching and calling around until I almost gave up. LOL funny thing is that wasn't even the hard part. That came later.
When starting a business of any kind it will always be some bumps in the road but keep going. There was many sleepless nights, lots of tears, headaches, and breakdowns. And don't get me wrong still to this very day I still have sleepless nights, tears, and breakdowns. But it is how you recover that matters the most. Your business is only as strong as you are.
I started JAK's with two products, $52.00 and a vision. I have never obtained any funding which made it that much harder. But I knew I couldn't give up. Even now with having and actual store I am faced with more challenges, harder and tougher obstacles. Like really who opens a store in the middle of a pandemic? ME! But what many of you may not know is that I did not have a choice. I had already secured the location just a few weeks prior to the pandemic shut down. I was once again devastated but it was no turning back at that point. I wont even begin to speak on landlords, and contractors. That will saved for another day :)
Each day has its challenges. How many people will come in today, will they have a total shut down again, what happens if I get sick, blah blah blah. But I didn't make it this far to give up and quit. Having a strong support system is crucial! If you do not have one get one! They are the ones to give you that kick in the butt and tell you to get your head back in the game. A lot of times your support team isn't who you thought it would be. Often times its those people you never expected.
The most essential thing you can do when starting your business is making sure you have a solid business plan. How will you make money, who are you selling to, what makes what you are selling different from others in the same field? Is your business unique? Does it solve a problem or fill a need? How will you grow or expand? Is it just e-commerce, brick and mortar, or both? What is your marketing strategy? How do you market in the middle of a crisis (like covid19 ugh) But there are so many other questions that your business plan should answer as well and again I say that's for another day!
At the end of the day it will all be worth the battle. I look back at my original business plan and smile because everything in it has been accomplished and a new one is being written. So when things aren't so peachy look at where you started vs. where you are and whats ahead. Even if you are only just getting started, At least you started now keep going one step at a time.
So to all of my small business owners and those aspiring to become business owners, hang in there, do not quit, do not give up. Find another business owners and ask questions, pick their brains, and most of all do not be afraid to ask for help. I solute you, I applaud you and I am rooting for you!!!!