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Starting your own business can be exciting; I know it was for me. The first day you open your doors and your first paying client comes walking through is a thrilling experience. All your hard work, education, sweat, and tears are finally starting to pay off and it feels great. As you build your business though, there are certain things you should be aware of because they can impact your business for the good, or bad. After 20+ years as a small business owner, I can tell you some things are much more important than others, and those are the things I wish I had known at the very beginning.
You need a mentor — As you start your own business, there is so much you don’t know, you don’t know. This is where a mentor can be invaluable. They have seen it, done it, and know how to navigate it. Find a mentor in your niche and absorb as much as you possibly can from them. You’ll be grateful you did.
You need to be ready for anything but you can’t be — There are some things in running a business you can’t possibly know are going to happen: navigating a pandemic is one such example. Don’t stress out about it; just be aware that situations are going to happen that you can’t foresee. Be prepared on the basics and learn to swim with whatever wave comes your way.
