I hear this all the time…

“Maybe I should start my own business so I too can become a millionaire and work in my PJ’s all day.”
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“It must be nice being your own boss and working for yourself.”
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“It looks so easy.”

Hold the phone. WHAT! Has anyone else stopped long enough to realize the day and age we live in? Anyone with a laptop, wifi and healthy dose of insanity can start their own business and six months to four years later become a millionaire. That’s INSANE! 

Thanks to our world’s advances, entrepreneurship has never been easier. I’ve heard this a lot recently, “It’s never been a better time to start a business.” I happen to agree with them. But, like every new shiny toy or hot trend, there is a flip side. A side that is rarely told and even less acknowledged.

The Glamor 

What people see is the little blue checkmark next to the handle. Not the years it took just to build up to 200 likes.

What they see is the smiley face we put on, when in reality we are likely on the verge of a mental breakdown.

What they picture is us in our PJ’s sipping pumpkin spice latte raking more cash into a six-figure bank account. What they don’t see is that those PJ’s are silk, they are cotton blend and that bank account is actually running on empty because taxes are a harsh reality.

I think it’s evident by the number of comments I receive from strangers, friends and even my own husband that entrepreneurship has this mystique surrounding it. It’s the newest fad and what’s trending for a career. 

People in search of  “their next million” assume that this is the way to get it. People want the popularity that celebrities and individuals with blue check marks next to their name have. What they don’t realize is that our failure rate rivals the hospitality industry. 

 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 50% of small businesses fail in the first four years. Couple that with the fact that 80% of people funded their business out of their own pocket means that these people not only lost their business but lost their own investment in the process.

This is a crushing blow and my heart goes out to every single person who has had to experience this. 

I do not write this to scare or detur someone just starting out, nor do I want to sound like an ultra-pessimist. My hope is that I open people’s eyes to the reality of entrepreneurship.

This journey is not as easy as everyone believes it to be. It’s not all PJ’s and six-figure bank accounts. Onlookers tend to overlook the hard work, all-nighters, self-doubt and failure rate that our little piece of the world grapples with.

Honey, I am with you! Know that you are not alone in this journey to leave a mark on this world. Though it’s not always comfy and cozy, hear me when I say this: You were created for such a grand purpose. Don’t lose sight of how far you’ve come and never forget the passions that drive you. 

You get one and only one chance to live, and life is passing you by. Stop beating yourself up, and dang it, stop letting others do it too. Stop accepting less than you deserve. Stop buying things you can’t afford to impress people you don’t even really like. Stop eating your feelings instead of working through them…Stop abusing your body and your mind. Stop! Just get off the never-ending track.

Rachel Hollis from Girl Wash Your Face”

The Bright Side

I whole-heartedly believe that you can do this. I trust in your gut. I think your dreams are worth pursuing and I know that with some late nights, a little elbow grease and a hefty dose of passion. You can surpass all expectations and achieve more than you set your mind to.

Whether you are 4 years in or haven’t taken the leap yet, I encourage you to journal a few things:

1. What are my motives?
2. Who am I doing this for?
3. Is the risk worth the reward?

It is that simple! What are my motives? Who am I doing this for? Is the risk worth the reward?
I ask myself these questions all the stinkin’ time. Why? Because as soon as I start losing track of why I started White Point Creative, who I work these crazy long hours for, I feel myself losing faith, getting low on steam and allowing doubt to creep in.

It would be my greatest honor if I could come alongside you in this pursuit of yours. I want to be your loudest cheerleader, biggest advocate and best business friend ever.
If you feel like you need someone in your corner to talk to, collaborate with or heck, even just complain to, I am your girl. It would bring me so much joy to assist you in any way possible.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out: lizzy@whitepointcreative.com