09/02/2024
The unfortunate truth of owning and running a new business is that it is really hard. What they don’t tell you is that it can cause severe stress and anxiety and drains you mentally to the point of depression in even the most laid-back people.
People will talk negatively about you, compare you to others, use you, and view you as a service and not a person anymore.
Many people will expect discounts and people will value you and your hard work less than a big chain store or company.
You worry about if you disappointed someone accidentally by failing to respond to an email/message in time. Will they hold that against you, when in reality you just could not get to everyone’s messages and emails.
Starting up and running a successful business puts incredible strain on personal lives and relationships, many of which fail because there is just often no work/ life balance.
You need to be the director, the worker, the admin, the marketing team, the accountant, the cleaner..... All whilst being a parent, a husband or a wife, family support, friend...
There’s a reason you don’t see many people succeed in small businesses after 5-10 years. If they are successful, they are overwhelmed.
It takes a toll. It’s freaking exhausting. Especially the past couple of years in SA when so much appears to be out of our control.
Here’s a small reminder that we are just normal people with hectic lives.
Be kind, be patient, support our local & small businesses…….and hopefully more of us will stick around!
And know that 2023 prices are not 2024 prices.
I copied this from another small business owner that I support!
Please support your local & small businesses!