Biz Owners Are People Too

Running your own business is hard.

There are some days when you feel on top of the world and other days when you question every single life choice you've ever made.

"Am I on the right track? Should I have just caved into being a cubicle hobbit?"

It's a rollercoaster that's thrilling and also terrifying. I don't particularly care for rollercoasters. But I do love the fact if you hit a low point, you won't stay there forever.

[Insert some witty physics fact here.]

Every single business owner has their own journey - it's unique with all its errors, wins, and come-to-Jesus-moments.

That's why, when I read someone's excerpt on how they got to where they are...

I always read it with a grain of salt (rimmed on a margarita). Because it's different for everyone.

There is no foolproof plan. That's what makes your business adventure unique to you.

--

My entrepreneurial journey started in 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic.

Perfect timing to jump into the unknown, during a clusterfuck of other unknowns. But, I felt this pull inside that there was more to life than staring at numbers all day and being glued to a slightly stiff chair.

I really wanted more for myself. And I also wanted freedom. Annnd I was a black sheep in the corporate jungle.

"You're a Republican? Wow, I didn't think we had any of those here." - In a very polite tone, of course.

So in March of 2020, I packed up my house desk, returned all of the office equipment, and said all my virtual goodbyes.

It was on to a new chapter of starting my copywriting business, M&M Copywriting. Which was not a creative name, at all.

Pouring hours and hours into training, writing, and meeting new people, I didn't really see light at the end of the tunnel. It was frustrating and I didn't know what I was doing wrong.

The biggest struggle was finding my "ideal client." It's like they were in some super secret group that was hidden from plain sight.

"Where the eff are these people at? How do I attract them? Is it me?"

It didn't help that I constantly questioned my writing skills - I used to write diary entries and blogs with little to no hesitation. It actually sounded somewhat decent. Like...what happened to that magic?

I was boring and my spark was MIA.

Many months later, I picked up a part-time office job where my husband worked to make ends meet. They provided flexible hours while I took more copywriting courses and still tried to write.

Then, to preserve my sanity (or what was left of it), I enrolled in a coaching course - I read the reviews and weighed the pros + cons for a couple of weeks. It has been said that if you don't invest in yourself, how can you expect someone else to?

Makes sense, right?

So, I took a leap of faith with a new bank loan in tow.

A few days later, I had a call with the business partner of the main coach. I was super excited and had so many questions ready. It was clear that I needed a change of direction - but I was hoping for some guidance before making a drastic change.

"So Michelle, what brings you to our course? What do you do?"

The beginning of the conversation started out great - I told her what my business was all about, and what I've been trying to do so far. She listened and nodded.

Then, it veered off track pretty quickly.

She was dead focused on how I could create a glamorous course for my clients because that was her specialty. And then, she became very disinterested in the conversation and talked about...well...herself.

"I've been married for...we met...my kids are...my biggest triumph has been...I've accomplished...I've been creating courses for...I'm very successful with...I love to..."

Listen. I'm totally down with getting to know each other, but that half-hour conversation provided zero guidance. I still felt very stuck on square 1.

And as you may have guessed, the coaching program continued to go downhill from there.

You learn from shit like that. You figure out what to look for in a coach and what to avoid, if possible.

It's all part of the wildly colorful business experience. And I really do hope that investment takes her on another trip to Spain.

--

Fast-forwarding a couple of years later, I'd definitely say that I'm in a different headspace. The one nugget I'd tell any new business owner is to make sure you know your voice. Not just know it, but understand it.

And that comes from digging deep into yourself and seeing the value that you can provide to someone.

Yes, you'll see some ugly shit that maybe you've been suppressing away, but that "ugliness" has played a part in evolving you into who you are right now.

And you can connect with other people who have shared similar experiences.

Hell, I've met people along the way that have also been in abusive relationships, experienced abandonment, and have felt completely alone. Business owners are strong AF, but they're also people too.

Use your voice + your truth, and you'll find those amazing clients that seemed impossible to get.

What is something you wish you would've known at the start of your own business journey?