Tomorrow I turn 27, and I’m a little freaked out by how quickly time is flying.
I still remember starting my business in the corner of my bedroom as if it were yesterday!! (If you remember this setup, you’re an OG).
In light of me turning 27, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately.
Reflecting on where I’m currently at in my life, what I’ve learned, and the future. Therefore, I want to share 10 lessons from these reflections:
The ups and downs of sharing your work: When you share your work on social media, you start to become an authority. People might look up to you as someone inspiring, which brings pressure. You might then find yourself putting out educational content, feeling like you need to know everything. However, I’ve learned that’s not the case. Yes, people might view you as an expert, but you don’t have to know everything or have it all figured out. You are learning too, and it’s okay to share that. (I mean, I’m nearly 27, and I still have a lot to learn and overcome.)
The power of saying ‘No’: There was a time when I said ‘yes’ to every opportunity that came my way. I soon realised that when you say yes to everything, you lose sight of your main priorities. I’ve learned the importance of saying ‘NO’ to prioritise effectively (even if the opportunity is great). Don’t attempt to juggle multiple things at once. Pick one focus, complete it, and then move on to the next.
Finding people with the same values: I’ve been lucky to build my business with my partner, but I know it can be lonely to do it alone, especially using social media. It’s really important to build friendships with people who share similar goals and values. Building a business comes with a lot of ups and downs, and family and friends who aren’t in this field sometimes just don’t understand. Having people who do makes it feel less lonely. So put yourself out there, connect with like-minded individuals, and build those friendships; it will be your secret weapon.
Scripting your videos: If you’re creating videos on social media, script them. Plan and write out your videos to get rid of the fluff and explain your point better. Once I learned to do this, the quality of my videos increased dramatically.
Being a ‘Great Designer’: When working as an in-house designer or for an agency, being a great designer matters most because you don’t have to worry about acquiring clients, running the business backend, communicating with clients, marketing, content creation, or sales skills. Running a design business requires learning many skills beyond design. So if you’re a new freelancer, don’t just focus on getting better at design - you need other skills to run a successful business.
Not everyone will like you: This has been a hard pill to swallow, especially as a people pleaser myself. When you share your life online, you’re bound to attract people who don’t necessarily like what you share or do. I’ve learned to reframe it: those who don’t like you usually have their own insecurities or aren’t your audience. Focus on helping the people who share the same values; they are your people.
Running your Business YOUR way: Your business should be unique to you. If it doesn’t follow the traditional way, who cares? You’re building a business for yourself and your life, so stop worrying about how others are doing it.
Finding a balance: I’m still learning to balance enjoying where I am with not becoming complacent and wanting to do more. This is something I struggle with massively. I need to enjoy the process more but find it hard when constantly looking towards the next thing. If anyone has tips on this, send them my way!!
Planning ahead: Planning my week in advance has been incredibly helpful for productivity. I plan my upcoming week either on Friday afternoon or Sunday, ensuring I know exactly what needs to be done when I start work on Monday. This also gets rid of the overwhelming Monday feeling!
Prioritising yourself: Focusing on my health and fitness has had a massive effect on my business. If you’re not 100%, you can’t expect your business to run at 100% either. Prioritise yourself first and see the impact it has on everything around you.
I hope one of these lessons resonated with you or taught you something valuable.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned so far? I’d love to hear yours (hit reply and let me know).
Chat next week,
Abi 😊
Comments