Confessions of a Small Business Owner
I’ve been a small business owner for nearly a decade now. Long enough to know that behind every polished brand is a whole lot of second guessing, figuring it out as you go, and wondering if you’re the only one feeling this way.
One of the best things I’ve done for myself is joining a mastermind group of fellow female entrepreneurs. Every week we show up for each other with support, advice, and honest conversations about what’s actually going on behind the scenes. The wins, the hard stuff, and all the in-between moments that don’t make it onto Instagram.
And the biggest takeaway? We’re all dealing with more of the same things than we think.
So today, I thought I’d share a little piece of that with you. A few semi-juicy, very real confessions about the less polished side of running a small business.v
Confession #1: Sometimes I wonder if anyone is actually paying attention
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve sunk hours into a thoughtful post or e-newsletter only for it to result in crickets. Like…hello?? Anyone out there? It’s hard not to take it personally, especially since so much of my actual self is wrapped up in my business.
What I’m learning: The feedback loop in marketing is often way slower than we expect. I’ve had people reference blog posts I wrote months earlier, or mention something from a newsletter they’ve apparently been reading all along but never replied to. I’ve even had people show up to a discovery call and say they’ve been following my work for a year before finally reaching out.
So even when it feels like you’re posting into the void, chances are people are paying attention in ways you just can’t see yet. Marketing momentum tends to build slowly over time, one small moment of visibility (and vulnerability) at a time.
Confession #2: I overthink what I share
Only my husband truly knows how much mental energy I put into everything I publish. He’ll catch me writing a caption and then look over again 30 minutes later like, “Are you still writing that same sentence??”
Yes, my love. I am absolutely overthinking the shit out of it. And at this point I’ve spent too much time on it to walk away with nothing.
What I’m learning: When I’m having an extra hard time getting out of my head, I like to go back to things I’ve already written and felt good enough about to publish. I’ve spent an exorbitant amount of time refining my website copy, so I’ll often pull snippets from there and repurpose them across other marketing channels since I know it slaps.
Confession #3: Keeping up with my own marketing stresses me out
From the outside, consistent marketing can look effortless (which I guess is kind of the point) but behind the scenes it’s SO much work, even for me. And without a plan or structure in place, it can be absolutely exhausting to keep up. When I get behind on my marketing to-dos, it goes from being something I truly enjoy to being the most stressful aspect of my business.
What I’m learning: Finding a rhythm that works for your actual life matters soooo much more than trying to keep up with someone else’s posting schedule. The businesses consistently showing up online are the ones who have found a pace they can maintain.
Confession #4: I compare myself to other businesses
Even after years of doing this work, I still catch myself looking at other marketing agencies and wondering if they’re doing it better. Maybe their website is incredible, they’re working with my dream clients or they just seem to have everything dialed in. On my worst days, imposter syndrome runs rampant and I question everything.
What I’m learning: Comparison is a pretty normal part of running a business, especially when so much of our work lives online for everyone to see. But the longer I do this, the more I realize that what you see from the outside rarely tells the full story. Every business is figuring things out as they go. Everyone has slow seasons, ideas that don’t land, and things they’re still learning. And I bring something to the table that is unique to me.
If any of these hit close to home, just know that you’re not alone! Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, but it does relieve some pressure to know that others are having similar experiences. If you have an juicy biz owner confessions, let me know! I’d love to feature some anonymous confessions in a future post.
