What I’ve Learned in the First 3 Years of Business
Three years ago I was ready to get back to work after having my daughter. But instead of coming back as a project manager or continuing freelancing as a VA, I set up shop for the first time and opened my doors to the interior design industry— a field I’ve worked in since my college days and have loved for as long as I can remember.
That decision came as no surprise to many people in my life. You see, I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My mom, dad, sister, and brother have all owned or currently own a business they built themselves, so it’s safe to say that my closest relatives were just waiting for the inevitable. As for me, I’d like to think I was destined to be a business owner. It runs in my blood, after all. 😉
So starting a business felt like the logical next step in my career, and despite all the guidance I received from the seasoned pros surrounding me, I couldn’t have anticipated the joys and pitfalls of the journey ahead.
Make no mistake about it, running a business is NOT for the faint of heart.
It demands so much more of you than what a traditional career path usually requires. Early mornings, late nights, and being stretched to your limit— especially in the early days of building— and it’s par for the course. I remember having to work and rework my back-end until it was just right, making sacrifices because finances were tight, and saying no to things that I really wanted to say yes to.
But as challenging as my journey has been, the decision to set out on my own has been much more rewarding and worthwhile than anything I’ve had to sacrifice to be able to be my own boss.
Here’s what the last three years of owning my business have taught me. Hopefully, you can learn a thing or two from what I’ve walked through as well.
Year One: Starting a New Business
When I started my business, I was reacting to a need I saw in the market for the things I was knowledgable about and those were the first jobs I took on.
I pretty much lived and breathed drafting, 3D renderings, and project management during those days. I was getting my feet wet with the ins and outs of running a business all while constantly putting the needs of my clients before my own. I stayed on top of learning the new tools entering the interior design industry and was taking stabs at creating systems for myself.
I said yes to everything that came my way, and felt incredibly grateful to make a living doing what I loved (and in my PJs nonetheless), but that led me to a bit of business burnout burnout. And let me tell you, it was NOT pretty. I felt like my work was starting to impact my family negatively. I remember one Friday, I left a family dinner because a client needed something ASAP. If you find yourself consistently sacrificing your personal life for the sake of your work life, tread carefully, my friend. Not maintaining healthy boundaries can cripple even the most experienced business owner if they aren’t careful.
Eventually, I was pulled in to help in a bigger capacity and was able to apply all the valuable skills and lessons I acquired in a short amount of time. I quickly realized that, of all the projects and roles I had taken on, I found the most fulfillment in supporting interior designers by managing the back-end of their businesses. I saw that the impact of creating systems for designers was immediate, measurable, and allowed them to have more clarity with less overwhelm.
So, I refined and pivoted my offers then stepped boldly into the world of systems and workflow consulting.
Year Two: Understanding Brand Strategy
Year two felt different from the jump. I had found my happy place working in the realm of operations but found that many of the clients I was attracting were not aligned with who I was as an individual or the core values at the heart of my company.
I had been in the industry long enough to know that it can be a little snooty. And as a jeans-and-t-shirt, hanging-out-on-the-porch kind of gal, I experienced a LOT of friction the more I encountered this sort of attitude in my working relationships. Seriously, the second I hopped on a call, I would feel all sweaty and stiff. It felt so unnatural and performative to me, so I knew I had to make a change.
I set out to better understand who my ideal client was and how I could speak to them directly. And that’s when my little taglines began to emerge! “Down-to-earth creatives,” “no snoots allowed,” and similar sound bites made their way into my copy which led to a VERY sharp turn. What started as an experiment turned into something people really resonated with. That year, I was able to turn the tide on my working relationships and found myself partnered up with insanely talented, approachable, and downright wonderful people.
Of course, brands evolve over time, and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that a personality can’t be put into a neat little box. And while overgeneralizing and oversimplifying offer no solutions, I can absolutely share my values and update my brand identity to better align with the clients I want to work with.
In year two, I embraced my values of simplicity, balance, individuality, gratitude, impact, and approachability.
For year three, I would focus on how I could allow those values to steer every part of the business I built from the ground up.
Year Three: Streamlining Systems
The third year of business was ALL about systems and marketing. Looking back, I get the sense that I burned everything to the ground so I could correct course and restart with the valuable insights I gained leading the way.
I knew exactly what type of services I wanted to offer and had a better understanding of who “my people” were. For the first time, I had the opportunity to bring new knowledge and fully-realized values to the forefront of my business so I could nail down my brand messaging to match.
I worked on my systems behind the scenes so they could better serve the clients I was privileged to work with. I tweaked and fine-tuned my workflows so I could deliver the love and attention my people deserved. I focused on building and cultivating my support network so I could maintain some sort of balance as I expanded my business— which proved to be absolutely the right move because I had a baby this year!
The Takeaways
I’m sharing all of this with you to pull back the curtain and give you an honest look at what a small business owner can experience in the first few years of their journey. Ultimately, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions when it comes to owning a small business. My journey may not reflect your personal experiences or you may see similarities there you can relate to.
If haven't taken the leap, I hope you know that it's possible to create the business and life you want for yourself, one baby step at a time and one year at a time. If you’ve already gone all in and started your business journey, I’m here to remind you that you’re not alone if you still find yourself wading through the “messy middle.” It’s okay to take time to reflect, change your mind, and change course to pursue the kind of lifestyle and business you envision for yourself.
Whether you’ve got a few years under your belt as a business owner, are just starting out, or are about to take a chance on yourself, one of my favorite quotes for any season of business I’ve experienced is this: “If you don’t build your dream, someone else will hire you to help them build theirs.”
Rest assured knowing your dreams are worth investing in. And you can make them a reality— just as I have and am still continuing to do.
P.S. I’ve heard from so many entrepreneurs that this has been their path as well, which is why this is the foundation for my signature framework, the Uplevel Method. First we start with clarity, understanding what you do, who you do it for, and how you do it. Then we elevate the brand to speak to attract and speak to those people. Lastly, we focus on systems and support so you can scale to the next level.
Whichever stage of business you happen to be in, I have something that can help you crush the next goal on your list. Visit my services page to see exactly what I can do to help propel your interior design business forward.
