5 Things I've Learnt Since Starting My Own Web Design Company

I didn’t expect such a sharp learning curve that I have experienced when looking at my business journey as I pass my 6 month milestone of KE design. Many of these lessons have been subtle, whereas others have slapped me bang straight in the face. It hasn’t all been pink fairies and rainbows and has left me, at times, looking inwards at how I deal with certain situations and scenarios. However on the contrary it has given me the ability to grow & self reflect on the person I have become, not just as a business woman, but as an individual. It has also fired a passion that has always been there to help and inspire other career changers with little previous experience in their chosen role ..hence why I’m going to babble on for a short while about what I’ve learnt so others can, If they choose, take a small nugget of advice & maybe follow their dreams. SO without all due…lets get stuck in.

1. Take the rough with the smooth, not every day is going to be perfect.

This may seem to be stating the obvious, but from experience, when a day or week or maybe even a few weeks don’t seem to be going to plan Its not all over. Really its just the beginning. Some times it's these moments of lull can be where the magic is bubbling under the surface and change is ready to erupt. An amazing opportunity is probably waiting around the corner & ready to  rear its head. An amazing tool I have used over the years is to journal on a daily basis, writing your goals & intentions for the week. It’s a great tool to be able to self reflect and often shifts the mind into a more positive mindset. Often we lose perspective of how far we have really come and get lost in the ‘whats not working in the right now’ mindset. 

2. People will let you down & thats not your fault.

Be it a client, a service, a friend or even a family member we can all get let down. As I have found out in business It can happen a lot more than you expected or wanted. Stating clear boundaries & sticking to them can be vital in sending a client a clear message on how you will and will not be treated. The importance of not turning rejection back on oneself is vital, especially if you are starting out new, as It can set you back a few steps and the fear of getting let down again may hinder you from going out and finding your dream client, who will respect your services. To create those boundaries mentioned before, again write them down and self - reflect on if or how you are sticking to those boundaries. Create documents like contracts or proposals that state exactly how you want to run your business and have the belief in yourself, your work and how you expect to be treated as a professional service (We will touch more on this later)

3. Consistency is everything

“Rome wasn’t build in a day”…no it wasn’t and unfortunately neither are most businesses.  I believe the key to learning any skill, building a business or becoming an expert in your field is the art of showing up each day. Consistency is a skill that many, including myself, struggle to get on board  with. The beauty of this is that I can take as little of 5 minutes focused work a day to build most things you probably could dream of. With these building blocks it is possible to build a big wall, sit on it and look back down on who you where and see how far you have come. If you Incorporate these 5 minutes into daily routine, like the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, suggests, It could be as easy and automatic as brushing your teeth. I can totally relate to not feeling motivated & the thought of doing a certain task makes you want to slide back under the duvet & have night time lullabies sang to you. But its those moments that the most important in showing up.

4. Surround yourself around those who support you & hold you accountable

I always saw myself as an island, doing things for myself and not wanting to rely on others for much. I would say this been one of the biggest change on views since starting my web design business. As the cheesy line says “no man is an island”, I couldn’t agree more. Without the support of people I have met through networking and accountability mornings, I would definitely not be where I am today. Being local to London has been a blessing as there have been many amazing networking events, but if this isn’t the case, then there are plenty of online networking events out there - Meetup and Eventbrite are bursting full of events for you to dig into.  Another great tip that I have found incredibly helpful is looking for a mentor that can guide you. Places like ADP list offer a wide range of mentors that can offer a wide range of advice on a variety of topics and sectors. Every mentor I have spoken to has given me some useful advice that I have taken with me along the way. It may take a few different mentors to chat to to find a good fit, but having that support in your chosen field from someone with experience is priceless!

5. Believe in your work and don’t sell yourself short

This has been my hardest lesson & one that has been something I have had to work on. Imposter Syndrome is real ! But fear not, you are not alone. The importance in believing in yourself and your work is vital, but be kind to yourself when you have moments of self doubt. Referring back to point 1, where I touch on the importance of journalling and consistently self reflecting on how far we have come can help with moments of self doubt. When you reflect on how far you have come and your achievements throughout your journey, It can be really empowering and help you move out of that negative headspace.

So to summarise, I have learnt a lot throughout my time starting a freelance web design company, not just in terms of business but also as an individual. If you are thinking of starting your own company, just a small pre warning that there will be speed bumps but its all a journey you should embrace and it's an opportunity to learn more about yourself, which is always a bonus! Also you get to do your passion everyday and get paid for it, winner winner. SO get brainstorming those ideas, make a plan and start looking into your dream website. The world is your oyster!