When I first started by blog after getting my masters, I never intended for it to be just me. In fact, I chose to go with the name HypeGirls because I wanted it to be just that – girls working to help other girls. Also, I am a shy person believe it or not. The idea of being the face of my brand all alone in the spotlight terrified me. Having other women be a part of the movement and share the exposure seemed like a win-win for everyone!
I was so wrong. Well kinda.
Let me start off by saying, I love supporting and working with other women. I’ve had the pleasure of having a lot of amazing talents work with me. Some were better than others, but every intern or volunteer that has assisted me thus far has been a blessing, and I never forget anyone who has helped me get closer to my goals. But even with a team on my side, I still felt alone in my business, as if no one could really see the big picture. Few had the same passion for what I wanted to create. And even though I knew they were there to support my dream, I would still feel guilty for doing things my way.
Throughout the years, my recruits have come and gone. Some left on a good note, others not so much. For many it was just time for them to move on, and others were emotionally draining opportunists – hey it happens! Some I stay in touch with, some I still work with and some I will probably never work with again. But after years of feeling like I had to have a team, I finally realized that I really just need to grow a pair and represent my brand on my own. So when my partner decided to leave the HypeGirls at the end of 2016, I decided to officially go solo – no more partners.
But I had doubts. SO. MANY. DOUBTS.
I was afraid to come off showy by marketing myself on social media. I was afraid I wouldn’t be good enough on my own. I wasn’t sure I had what it takes to get HypeGirls to the next level on my own.
I felt alone, confused, and unsure of which direction to take. This lasted about a month.
But I never got discouraged. I knew had no other choice as a stay at home mom – my business HAD to succeed. I had to make it work.
So I stopped feeling scared and starting reaching out.
I turned to my friends for input. I asked my colleagues for advice. I connected with new people I’ve never worked with before. I starting talking to other mompreneurs. I created my own network and finally found my tribe.
The results were incredible.
Right away, my work as a whole improved dramatically. My clients increased in number and quality. My blog gained more consistent traffic. My workshops started selling out. My social media picked up, because now I can be more personal – it’s just me. And the best improvement? I no longer feel guilty about the decisions I make for my business or for doing things my way.
But sometimes I still have those days. I think we all do.
There are days when I hate myself for how long it took me to make a decision when there was nobody around to ask for help. Some days I stress over a particular client interaction that didn’t go so well and have no one to vent to. There are days I feel guilty for working when my son needs my attention, and I know having a partner would taken some of the load off. I’ve had to stay up late many nights working alone, make important decisions alone, be responsible for the day to day projects and tasks…all alone.
And I wouldn’t change a single thing.
If you are a solo entrepreneur, or recently lost a business partner don’t be discouraged. Remember that it takes time to start over. It takes time to rebuild a business. And it definitely takes time to figure out what you’re doing next and what direction you want to go in. Even people who’ve been in business for decades struggle when they walk into a new niche.
This is a new journey for you.
Be patient and give yourself time to put all the pieces back together. With a little hard work and dedication, it will all work out in the end 🙂
