Ever wanted to start all over? If you could do it ALL again, what would you change? Even though I built my printables business to 20K in one year on Etsy, I want to share What I Would do Differently if I Started Over in My Business.
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What I Would do Differently if I Started Over in My Business
I heard this thing recently that if you could pick between being given one million dollars today OR the opportunity to be born again with the same knowledge that you have today. What would you do? I know what I would do! Definitely the latter! What about you?
That being said, I don’t really believe in regrets. I mean, sure. I’ve had some cringeworthy moments in my lifetime. In fact, I kind of wish those things could be removed from other people’s brains. But at the same time, I know I’m in the exact right place I’m supposed to be in right now. Cringeworthy moments and all!
But that doesn’t mean I can’t help YOU to learn from my mistakes and teach you not to follow in my footsteps – especially in my business.
So here’s a few things I would do differently in my business if I started all over.
I Wish I Started Sooner
Doesn’t everyone say this? I wish that I could go back to my 20-year-old self and explain to her that selling on Etsy is easier than you think and you should just give it a try. I would have told to her that when you have kids, you’ll have so much less time. I’d explain to her that my GPA or the school I attended had nothing to do with how smart I was. I would have told her that she’s capable of so much more. I would encourage myself that I was good enough to start. I’d tell myself that people with small businesses are all just figuring it out as they go.
If I would have known all that and had more confidence in myself and my abilities, I would have started sooner, and then I’d be so much further along in my journey than I am now.
Do you think like this too? I want you to know that it’s never too late to start, but that if you don’t start before you’re ready, you’re leaving so much potential on the table.
Getting Professional Help: What I Would do Differently if I Started Over in My Business
I invested in a business coach early on in my business, and I’m proud of myself for that. Having a mentor to push me farther than I would have gone on my own is one of the reasons I am where I am today. People think that it’s smarter and more money-conscious to do it all on your own. But that’s actually backwards because being thrifty when it comes to getting help in our business will keep you broke! If you’re giving away time to save money, this is actually backwards because you can always create more money, but you cannot create more time.
So although I did get a coach, there were some other professional helpers I wish I would have hired sooner in my business. For example, I would have invested in a CPA that specialized in business from the start. My husband and I did have a CPA. However, she was our personal CPA who didn’t really know the tax laws around business. Getting the right help in your business is so important.
Don’t waste your time trying to do it all on your own. And don’t waste your money hiring cheap people to do things that will only make you spend more time and money down the road.
Stay Within the Law
I’m not going to lie and say that I know all the laws and rules and follow them explicitly. The truth is I TRY to do that and I TRY to be compliant. Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know.
However, I can say that there have been times that I knowingly did things in my business that weren’t right – like selling copyrighted items, for instance. I can’t tell you how many people say things like, “Well so many other people are selling these types of things on Etsy and online. Why can’t I do it?” And I have been there! I have said the same things! And I got caught. Several times, in fact. (Mainly because I didn’t realize what I was doing was wrong in some cases. But nonetheless, it was wrong.)
My point is that if you think you are just a “little shop” that is going to fly under the radar and not get caught selling branded items, then you will stay just that – a “little shop”. And being “little” doesn’t even protect you.
In my printables course, I talk about my experience and the penalties I faced and why I encourage my students not to go down the same path as me. And I will encourage you to do the same.
I Would Have Gone Digital Sooner
And last but not least, I would have made the switch from my handmade party decorations to digital printables, much sooner. And the reason I didn’t switch sooner is because I thought I would make mistakes.
There’s a trend I can see in all these lessons I’m sharing with you today. Most of these things that I did that I now regret were fear-based decisions. I was scared to get started. I was scared to invest money into my business to get professional help. And I was scared to make the move from handmade party decorations to printables as well. All because of fear. Fear that I didn’t know what I was doing. Scared that I would fail. Worried I didn’t know enough. I said to myself at every juncture, “I’m not smart enough”. “I don’t know enough”. “Will this even work?”
So as I move forward in my business, I KNOW now that if I am saying any of the above statements it’s a telltale sign that I better go for it. And I better not wait another minute!
So What I Would do Differently if I Started Over in My Business? I wouldn’t let fear get in the way. I would tell that fear to go f*** itself. But the good thing is, I went through all of those things so that I could be less fearful moving forward. And that’s how I plan to be as I continue in my business. Not fearless. But the courage to move through the fear anyway, knowing that when I get to the other side, I’ll have everything I want and no regrets.
Thanks for Reading What I Would do Differently if I Started Over in My Business
Thanks so much for reading about What I Would do Differently if I Started Over in My Business. I love to help you celebrate life through printables and personal development! But above all, I’d love to connect with you. Reach out to me on Instagram and let’s chat.
xoxo, Lindsay
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