I love giving an honest and transparent look inside my business, and this is one of those moments — I’m sharing my best advice for your first year in business (that I didn’t follow).
There’s not a lot I would change about my business journey, but I do wish I would have taken the advice given. And I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with my business now. In fact, 2024 has been exceptionally good for Reveal — but it took time to get here (6 years, in fact), and listening to a little bit of this would have carried me a long way.
And that’s what I want to share with you, the advice I wish I’d listened to during my first year as a business owner.
What’s The Best Advice I Received in My First Year of Business?
Continuing the theme of full transparency, here’s a moment of honesty — it’s not one piece of advice I consider the best — it’s six. But I swear they’re all good things, and even if you’re not in your first year of business, this advice applies to you, too.
#1. Mistakes Are How You Learn
“Mistakes are how you learn — the goal isn’t to avoid them; it’s to make the most of them.”
Unfortunately, you’re not handed a handbook as an entrepreneur — you’re figuring it out as you go and trying your best at everything you do. Naturally, mistakes are made, but what really matters is how you deal with them and what you do moving forward.
#2. Put your blinders on
“Whatever “she’s” doing is not your concern — put on your blinders from the jump.”
The benefit of being in the online space is the huge community, but there’s also a downside. Nothing can give you imposter syndrome like seeing others in your industry do this or that. Remember that there’s a lot you don’t see that goes behind it — put your blinders on and focus on your business, your clients, and yourself.
#3. It’s Okay to Innovate And Change Things Up
“Don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never seen before — it’s okay to innovate and change things up.”
You can do the “new” thing; you can change it up and innovate. Just because you’re in your first year of business or you’re new to the industry doesn’t mean you can’t lead change (because you absolutely can).
#4. A Number Without Context is an Immediate Red Flag
“A number without context is an immediate red flag — stop comparing.”
Back to #2 — there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that you don’t see. A number without context should not impact your business.
#5. It Does Get Easier
“It gets easier, even if that feels impossible right now.”
2023 was a rough year for me personally. It was stressful and overwhelming, and while I decided to romanticize everything moving forward because life was too short, it still happened. As a business owner, you’re going to have ups and downs, times when you’re booked out, and slow seasons when you have no inquiries. But it WILL get easier as your business grows and you have more experience — I promise.
#6. It’s not about what you already know how to do
“It’s not about what you already know how to do; it’s about what you’re willing to learn and figure out.”
Learning is the name of the game as a business owner. You might be amazing at what you do (and that’s great), but there are so many aspects of business and marketing you’re not familiar with that you’ll have to learn. And it’s not just in your first year of business — each year, algorithms will change, wants will shift, and you (and your business) will need to adapt.
How to Take Advice and Run With It (Like I Didn’t)
I not-so-subtly said it in the beginning, but I didn’t originally take the same advice I’m giving you now. And while I don’t regret how I’ve grown my business so far, I wouldn’t have beat myself up over the little things if I had.
I hope sharing my little insight today saved you from a lot of stress in your business. I would love to hear advice that you got when you started that helped you — or advice you wished you could go back and tell yourself.
Share your advice in the comments below or DM me on Instagram @revealstudio.co (I’d love to e-meet you).
