Welcome to my 4th installment of How to Start a Business. Today I will share what I have learned over the years.

We all get overwhelmed along the way. I know I have. So today I will share some of the things I have learned and are currently working on.

MAKE A TO DO LIST: Some people enjoy making their list the night before but whatever you choose do it regularly. I believe this is the first step in keeping yourself organized. When you get to work each morning and you know exactly what the day will bring, you will feel so much better when you accomplish them.

REWARD YOURSELF ALONG THE WAY: Enjoy the small things - the first sale, the 1000th sale. Celebrate the a new client. Pat yourself on the back when a customer praises your work.

MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF: This is very important and easier said than done sometimes but it’s important to enjoy life and not let the work define you. When you work from home, take time to shower and dress. Get away from your desk from time to time. Take a walk, read a book, make a phone call.

LEARN TO SAY NO: This may be one of the hardest things for us to do. We’re not trained to say no. Woman especially want to please and saying no sometimes is just not in our nature but set limits and know what you can and cannot do. Last holiday season when sales were coming in fast and furious, I had to say no to several requests. I’ll let you in on a little secret. It actually felt good! So be true to yourself. If you don’t want to do it or cannot do it, don’t do it. Just say NO.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP: When you need help, seek it out. Maybe it’s time to hire an assistant. Just do it. You’ll thank yourself later.

KEEP LEARNING: If you want your business to grow and if you want to grow as a person you can never quit learning. Take advantage of webinars and seminars. Watch YouTube. Take a class.

EMBRACE YOUR MISTAKES: Embrace might be a bit too much but learn from your mistakes because you will make them, plenty of them. When I first started in the interior design business my partner asked if we would ever quit making mistakes. I’ve had plenty of time to think on that one! I don’t think so. You may find a better way to do something. There may be things you don’t want to do again. Learn and move on.

FINALLY BE PATIENT: It takes time to build a business. It doesn’t happen overnight. My first sale on Etsy took 8 months. During my first year on Etsy I only had about 68 sales and the second year about 2,000. But I didn’t give up. Since 2012 when I started I have had over 23,000 sales! If things had started out like they are now, I can guarantee that I would not be in business today.

I hope I’ve helped in some small way if you are considering or just beginning to start a business. If you have some other tips, please feel free to share them below.

Next time I’ll address keeping yourself organized. So be sure to sign up below so you won’t miss it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time…