Initial Reflections of a Business Owner

It has officially been over one month since starting Process First Consulting. When asked how the time as a business owner has been so far, I can genuinely say that it’s been great. I am full of gratitude. I was braced for a lot of work and a lot of learning – that part was true.

What I wasn’t anticipating was the overwhelming kindness and support of my network.  

Near and far, the well-wishes, offers of support and advice has left me feeling incredibly thankful. Thank you to those who took the time to reach out and offer words of encouragement, follow Process First Consulting, or even like a post. 

For those who might be considering going out on their own, I wanted to share some of the top pieces of advice I’ve received from this amazing network that have helped me as I’ve launched: 

• Don’t wait for “perfect”  

If you are anything like me, you don’t want to consider something done until it’s done right. While generally this has served me well, this philosophy broke down as an entrepreneur. The books/articles to read, blogs to write, websites and social to build, and other start up activities can be exciting, but they can also be limitless rabbit holes. Get it to “good enough” or “great” but do not spend your energy on trying to get everything to be perfect on the first go. That is a way to never get started. Iterations are always possible over time. Is there really any such thing as “perfect” anyways? 

• Set deadlines  

Looking at my Asana board of everything I needed to get done truly would have had me spiraling if it wasn’t for prioritizing and setting myself internal deadlines. This helped on the above bullet as well. It allowed me to feel like the to-do list was manageable and celebrate progress made along the way. 

• Embrace discomfort as growth 

Getting up and running has been humbling. I’ve needed to lean into tasks that I normally wouldn’t and learn (very quickly) how to do things (like navigating social media) that I have historically avoided. Treat every to-do as an opportunity to learn and grow. Learn from everyone and be willing to try things that aren’t typically “in your wheelhouse.” What you find may surprise you. 

• Revisit values 

Give yourself the time and space to revisit why you do what you do. As you consider your motivations, this will help you realign your values. For example, re-engaging in volunteerism and community is high on my priority list, but I had not allowed myself space for it recently. In revisiting my personal values when starting this business, I have made sure that is factored in and prioritized. Design a future that aligns with what you want, not what you “should” do. 

I hope this can help someone else as they become an entrepreneur. Reach out if you are considering this journey and want to talk! 

If you have not done so already, please follow Process First Consulting. This has been such a busy, yet rewarding chapter, and I could not have done it without my network. Thank you!