Issue #62: If I could start over, here's what I would do differently

If I were a new entrepreneur, here is how I would build a business that allowed me to prioritize rest.

Hey friend!

Mind Body Brand is still a fairly new business, but I have been an entrepreneur in some capacity for over 10 years. I have shared plenty of stories here about how the past 10 years of my entrepreneurial experience have been rooted in the hustle culture and how I am now building a business that is way more intentional about allowing me a life of ease.

Being the reflective person that I am, I often think about what I would do differently if I could start over. Not just starting a new business but starting completely from scratch with no business experience whatsoever.

If I could go back, or even provide other new entrepreneurs with some advice, this is what I would do differently.

1. Build slowly. In my past life, while I loved what I did, I NEEDED to make money. So every decision in my business was focused on making my first dollar, and then the next. Yes, making money is essential to building a business but being desperate for money during those early years forced me to make decisions based on fear instead of what I wanted to do. If I could go back, I would have at least kept a part-time job (shocking) and allowed myself more time to build my brand without being so focused on hitting revenue goals. Building slowly also allows you more time to experiment and get really clear on what you want in your business.

2. Paid more attention to what my mind and body were telling me. I spent so much of that decade working myself into the ground. Waking up early and going to bed late for the sake of the hustle. Looking back. my mind and body were desperately trying to make me recognize that I was pushing myself beyond my capacity. As exhausted as I felt, I just ignored it. In the end, I hit a case of burnout that felt almost impossible to dig myself out of. If I could go back, I would pay more attention to those warning signs and implemented more time for rest into my day even if it felt unproductive.

3. Talk to my ideal audience A LOT. What content you should create and where you should be showing up can all be found by simply talking to your ideal audience. I spent so much time assuming and creating what I wanted in my business that a lot of my launches fell flat. Now, I try to talk to my ideal customer any chance that I can get. Whether it be through formal surveys, hopping on a quick 20-minute Zoom call, or chatting in my Instagram DMs. The more you know about who you are creating for the more success you’ll have.

4. View everything as an experiment. (aka Don’t rush to make any permanent decisions). None of us know what we’re doing. We’re all just out here trying things in our business and waiting to see what sticks. In my early business days, I wish someone would have told me that it was ok to pivot. That the decisions I made in my business didn’t have to be permanent and if something that I tried didn’t work out, that didn’t mean that I was a failure. You take so much pressure off of yourself when you view everything in your business as an experiment and when you’re not afraid to change your mind and pivot.

5. Spend more time creating than consuming. Do you know what led me to burn out fast? Implementing what I saw others doing in their business instead of doing what I actually wanted to do. Whether you recognize it or not, it’s so easy for your own decisions to be swayed by what you see other people creating. I used to consume EVERYTHING! Every blog post, email, podcast episode, YouTube video, and Instagram Live. Sure, I learned a lot but a lot of that content also made me feel as if what I was doing in my business was wrong. So much to the point that I ended up building a business that I didn’t even like. And do you know what happens when you’re working on a business that you don’t even care for? You burn out. If I could go back, I would spend more of that time creating and keeping my eyes on my own paper instead of consuming so much of what everyone else was creating.

The list of things in my business that I would change could go on, but these 5 are for sure what stick out to me the most. Now that I know better, I’m taking a simpler approach to how I’m building Mind Body Brand. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been in business for a while, I hope this helps you to rethink the way you’ve been viewing your business!

Cheers to an incredible week!

– Alisha

GOOD FINDS

♥️ Calling 911 isn’t always the best option. The Right Response is a directory of local organizations that focus on mental, behavioral, and substance abuse emergencies and serve as alternatives to conventional law enforcement. LEARN MORE.

🥰 Valentine’s Day is coming up! Here are 99 solo date ideas to treat yourself to! – The Good Trade

🧸 How therapy helped this Black woman to heal from her workplace burnout. – The Everygirl

🙃 Why self-promotion doesn’t work. – What Works

DON’T FORGET TO BREATHE