28/02/2022
Copied from elsewhere, but so bloody true.
Running a small business is really hard.
What they don’t tell you is that it can cause severe anxiety, and drains you mentally to the point of depression 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 will expect discounts on everything and 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 because in that time, you actually are doing the work.
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. Your weekends and evenings get absorbed by having to work. You need to be the director, the worker, the admin, the marketing team, the accountant, the cleaner..... All whilst being a husband, family support, friend...
There’s a reason you don’t see many people succeed in small businesses after 5-10 years. It takes a toll. It’s freaking exhausting. Especially the past two years.
Here’s a small reminder that we are just normal people with hectic lives. Be kind, be patient….. and hopefully more of us will stick around!
I copied this from a friend and thought it was pretty spot on with regards to most small businesses!
Please support mine and other local small businesses - a little bit goes a long way.
