25/05/2023
The unfortunate truth of owning and running a business.
Running a business is really hard and I'm not sure how much longer I can keep fighting for it. But with the great team I have and awesome whanau support it keeps me going each day.
What they don’t tell you is that it can cause severe stress and anxiety and drains you mentally to the point of depression at times in even the most laid-back people.
People will talk about you, compare you to others, use you, they will view you as a service and not a person anymore.
Friends and family may expect discounts, and people will value you and your hard work less than a big chain store.
You have to worry about if you forget to email/message someone back. Are they going to think it was on purpose? Did you disappoint them? Will they hold that against you? When in reality, you just can’t 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, a 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 when so much has been out of our control.
Here’s a small reminder that we are just normal people with hectic lives.
Be kind, be patient, and support small businesses…….and hopefully, more of us will stick around!
And know that 2022 prices are not 2023 prices.
Please support small business🙏🏽
