Entrepreneurship wouldn't be entrepreneurship without struggles, falling flat on your face, lessons, mistakes, improvements, insights, flaws, updrafts and learnings. Our website builder Lina knows all about that. Today: 4x Lina's struggles and learnings. Watch and learn.
Communicating with customers: don't doubt yourself
Why do experienced entrepreneurs know better what to do and how to react? Because they have similar situations and can draw from that experience when they find themselves in a difficult situation. But especially at the beginning of your entrepreneurship journey, you are sensitive to the opinions of others. They may have more experience and therefore feel like they know better. However, that is not necessarily the case.
The way your clients communicate with you or how they solve problems may not necessarily be the solution. Don't let harsh opinions make you insecure and stick to yourself. Is a customer really unkind and does he or she not see you as an equal? Then respond calmly and believe in your own knowledge and ability.
Working with the right clients: follow your heart
Continuing from the previous point, stick to yourself with choosing your clients. Some people may be genius entrepreneurs and work super well with others, but not with you. They're just not the clients you're energized by. Oddly enough, you often know this and our gut feeling clearly indicates this, but we come up with all kinds of reasons to enter into cooperation anyway. Because you need the experience to grow, because you can put the money to good use, because there is a chance that there is a click after all and it can all work out...
But Lina has learned not to work with people she doesn't click with. You might lose some income, but in the end you get a lot of energy (=productivity = getting more done in less time = more time = money) in return and you only work with the people you really want to work with.
Misunderstanding by your loved ones: find your tribe
People around her did not understand Lina, no matter how good the friendship was. Misunderstanding by loved ones is something many entrepreneurs struggle with. Lina loves her friends very much, but finds it hard to see that they don't understand her. They see the freedom she has to work where, when and how she wants, as well as the fine income and super fun projects. What they don't see are all the struggles every entrepreneur faces. Of course super sweet that they ask every time if she has new clients yet, but it stresses her out. She gets the feeling that she really has to have a new client every month to be successful.
Her solution? Find a tribe like Think Factory Agency! We support each other, listen to each other's stories, give tips, share insights, and we know we're going through the same shit (and euphoria!). That helps. Lina wants to expand this even more and coach and guide girls who want to go into business. She wants to give them that kick in the butt that they need and that she would have loved to have had. And watch her doing so, because as was already evident from her entrepreneurial story, she really goes for the things she wants.
Being strict with yourself: celebrate small victories
Being too hard on yourself is something every entrepreneur recognizes. Just as she felt pressure from her friends when they asked if she had any new clients yet, Lina gave herself a lot of stress by being too hard on herself. The take-away is that it's important to celebrate all the little victories. Baby steps. As long as you continue to provide quality work for your clients, follow your heart and do your best, success will come naturally.
In the next blog, Lina will share her best entrepreneurial tips, so keep an eye on our blog! Want to get to know her a little better in advance? Then check out our Instagram feed, where you can read interesting facts about her.
