Everything in my life and business is perfect. I don’t have any problems – said no one ever.
Well, at least until you open Instagram. ????
Today, I want to have a heart-to-heart conversation about some real, raw truths that often get brushed under the rug. In the shiny world of online businesses, it’s easy to believe that success comes effortlessly and that everyone else has it figured out.
But don’t we all secretly know that this couldn’t be further from the truth?
In this blog post, I’m going to open up about five things I wish more entrepreneurs would talk about. I’d love for you to share your own opinion in the comments!
1. Starting something new is hard
Let’s address the elephant in the room right away – getting started is tough.
Doesn’t matter if we’re talking about starting your business, starting an Instagram account or starting to really show up online.
All of it requires a decent portion of courage! So, if you’ve already started, kudos to you – I’m rooting for you!
Starting an online business is exhilarating, but it comes with its fair share of challenges and doubts not many people speak about.
You may feel overwhelmed by the vast amount of information out there, questioning your abilities, and dealing with the fear of failure. Trust me, I’ve been all there.
For me it’s important to remember that every successful entrepreneur I admire started from scratch, too.
So, I’ve got this quote as a post-it on my whiteboard in the office: Embrace the journey, take it one step at a time, and know that it’s okay to feel a little lost in the beginning.
2. Launches flop, (content) strategies flop, sales dip
Contrary to what social media leads to believe, not every launch is a roaring success.
Offers may fall flat, and sales might dip from time to time. Could be seasonal, could be a not perfectly executed pre-launch or just something else entirely you’ll never figure out.
I wish more entrepreneurs would talk about how all these setbacks are part of the entrepreneurial journey. We see all the shiny successes and the big results, but where are the flops?
We’ve had this major launch event planned last year, with a big campaign and it didn’t work out. People were just not responding in the way we thought they would.
This is the reality, for all of us. Don’t beat yourself up over it.
Learn from the experience, adapt, and keep moving forward. Remember, flops are not the end, but an inevitable stepping stone towards growth.
3. Sometimes you don’t know what to post
Even if you love your topic (and I bet most of us do!), nobody is always hyper-inspired to create content.
Passion for your niche or topic is fantastic, but let’s be real – inspiration doesn’t strike 24/7. There will be days when you’re not brimming with ideas or feeling particularly motivated to create content.
It can feel like failure, since you’re the expert in your topic and you always need to know what to talk about next, right?
Guess what? It’s absolutely normal!
Many times, I’ve been questioning my ability to design because I feel I’ve seen it all and didn’t know how to contribute something new.
Give yourself permission to take breaks, recharge, and explore new sources of inspiration. Get an outside glance for new ideas and don’t be afraid to try something new from time to time.
Related article: What to post on Instagram as a Coach, Expert or Online Business
4. Nobody has it figured out
Here’s a little secret – nobody has it all figured out.
I really understood this in my first job when I saw how my coworkers were also just googling, using playbooks and asking for help. Girl, was I relieved!
Yes, the picture-perfect Instagram feeds of fellow coaches can create the illusion that everyone else has a flawless path to success.
But the reality is, we’re all figuring things out as we go.
I wish we wouldn’t all use perfection as a sales argument so much.
Authenticity and vulnerability are far more powerful than a facade of perfection. Remember, your journey is unique, and there is no reason to compare it to some perfect picture online.
5. You can do your own thing
I feel like many online entrepreneurs are just chasing the next shiny thing in the hopes to finally find ‘success’.
How do I know that? Because I was one of them.
But when I started to see our online business as a big playground of ideas, strategies and connections with our audience – it suddenly started to be fun!
There are thousands of paths to success. You don’t have to follow the paths of others, you’re allowed to create you own. It will still work out!
The big benefit is that you can focus on the things you’re really good at (maybe creating carousel posts) and leave out those you dread doing (filming Reels).
Success doesn’t just come from following a strict blueprint, it comes from finding out what suits you.
