5 Years in Business: A Reflection
Good things are coming.
This past June marked 5 years since I filed for my LLC, designed my first website, and dove head first into owning my own business. While my business has shifted and evolved over the years, it’s never been more clear to me that I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to be doing — helping small business owners grow their online presence through strategic branding + website design.
I tell people this all the time, but I work with the COOLEST retailers who have amazing businesses + stories behind their brands and it’s truly those connections that I thrive on!
5 years ago I had no idea that I would be where I am today and I’m very grateful for all of my experiences, both in life and business, that have shaped me into who I am in this current season of life.
3 years ago I left my teaching job to take my growing client work full time and I haven’t looked back since.
A little over a year and a half ago, my husband and I moved back to KS, sold our condo in ND, bought another house, traveled with friends, and have worked together to remodel our new home in KS.
Learning to balance running my own business and still being very present in the family business, The Cook’s Nook, since moving back to KS hasn’t been easy, but I feel like I’ve finally found my groove to get into a workflow that allows me to work somewhere between part-time and full-time hours depending on the season and still generate a full-time income. Super thankful for the systems and workflows I put in place to get to this point.
And I’m here to tell you, there isn’t some secret trick or formula. It takes hard work, dedication, and discipline, but I can tell you this: once you find the rhythm and balance, you can do more than you think you can! Since 2018, we’ve helped over 115 small business owners grow their businesses online and I’m really proud of the hard work and dedication our clients give to their projects year after year.
As I’ve reflected this past few months behind the scenes on my business, these 5 things have really stuck out to me:
1. Social media does not define your success.
Trust me on this one… I have the biggest love/hate relationship with IG and I’m very passionate about building a business that doesn’t rely on the algorithm to reach new clients. In fact, I’ve built my entire business without a true IG strategy and not once have I been worried about where my next project was going to come from. There is so much power in building a client process that is clear, seamless, and organized and in turn, growing a strong referral network — don’t let the IG experts fool you😉
2. You don’t need a fancy office set up to grow a successful business.
Some of my best, most productive work is done at my dining room table, in airport lounges when I was traveling between KS and ND all the time, or super early in the morning. I have an office, but I don’t really have an office in the sense that my work is wherever I take it and as long as I have my laptop, I can do most all of my work whenever it’s convenient for me and that’s the part of my business that I love the most, the flexibility!
3. Just do the damn thing… Even if it takes time, even if it’s a little bit scary, and even if you don’t know what the next step might be.
There are so many instances in business and in life where I think we all overthink that one thing, then don’t do anything about it. Just start… even in the slightest smallest way, because you never know if you don’t try and just a small step in the right direction makes a difference. Consider this your nudge to start something new or try that thing you’ve been scared to do in the past!
4. Investing in your business is essential, no matter how big or small.
I remember just how scary it felt to make my first investment in my business when I hired my bookkeeper 3 years ago (hey, Rita!) and looking at where I’ve invested my hard earned dollars now, I understand the importance of investing in your business whether that is in professional services, mentorship, education, systems, etc. Having a true outside perspective on certain things can provide SO much value. Over the last 5 years, I’ve invested in a bookkeeper, a local accounting firm to handle taxes, continued education, brand photos, a copywriter, brand strategy, a graphic designer, contractors on my team, mentorship, systems, and more. Each of those investments has helped me to grow my business to where it is today and even though it always feels a bit scary, it’s always been worth it for me!
5. Relationships really matter!
I’ve built my business on relationships with my clients and fellow creatives. There is nothing more powerful than being part of a collaborative effort to bring a brand or project to life! This also goes for trusting your gut on those clients or relationships that don’t feel totally aligned. I’ve learned that it’s OK to say no to something that doesn’t align with your vision or values; the right project, client, or opportunity will come when it’s meant to be.
Looking to 2024:
These last 6 months in our rebrand era have been BUSY. Busy with our usual client work, but also working to rebrand and relaunch SO many things behind the scenes that are finally making their way into the digital world that I can’t wait to share more about.
A huge thank you to all of my current and past clients for trusting me with your business over the last 5 years… it’s my dream job!
Oh, and just in case you already forgot, you don’t have to live on Instagram to build a successful business! I’m super passionate about this one if you can’t tell lol
In the not-so-rare case that I continue to show up on IG sporadically, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter – I’m excited to bring this baby back to life in 2024. I promise to keep it super casual, only sharing the fun stuff; like recent launches, some of my favorite small businesses, marketing tips, a little bit of life outside of design, and maybe a recipe or something in the kitchen that I’ve been loving lately… afterall, The Cook’s Nook is another big piece of me and I’d love to share more of that with you!
Seriously, if you’ve read this far, thank you! I am incredibly grateful to be surrounded by so many great people in my life. Here’s to the next 5 years!
