If there’s one thing I’ve learned thus far throughout my accidental path to being an entrepreneur, it’s that the most challenging aspect of following this path is the amount of self-motivation it takes to make it work.
Being a creative person is only half of the battle. It took me years just to gain the confidence to share my work with others (and I’m still working on this). But when you add on all of the other stuff on top of it? The paperwork, the legal crap, taxes, goal-setting, marketing…you learn pretty quickly that pursuing your dreams isn’t all unicorns and rainbows–it’s hard work.
Mentally, physically, emotionally.
It’s a roller coaster of emotions. And part of me wants to gloat about how it’s already been so rewarding, and I’m happier than I have been in a long time despite building my career from the bottom up, but I also have to address the other side of this venture that exists.
The dark side, where my anxiety pops in and occasionally gets the best of me. Where the fear checks in with me, trying to get ahold of the steering wheel in my life. The financial aspect, where I realize my savings aren’t infinite and sooner or later, it’s actually going to be time to really hustle. And the place where it’s really scary to share my art and subject it to opinions.
Perhaps most difficult of all is knowing I can ask others for help and guidance along the way, but when it comes to making things actually happen, only I can set that plan in motion and keep it moving.
I’m sharing this because while I’m thrilled to be pursuing my dreams, I want to let others like me know that it’s okay to not be “on” all the time. Starting a business is stressful and emotionally taxing, but you don’t have to be the girl who is hustling all weekend long and feeling guilty about taking 30 minutes to herself.
Somedays I wake up so ready to tackle my to-do list and make things happen.
Other days I give up, sit in bed in my pajamas all day watching romance movies and eating ice cream straight out of the tub.
And you know what? That’s totally okay.
The beautiful thing about a bad day is just that: the fact that it’s just a day. One day out of your year. Every day, we get a chance to start over, try again, finish up what we weren’t ready for yesterday but feel bold enough to tackle today.
Embrace and remember the good days, but let the bad ones happen too. Every day is a fresh start.
