6 Lessons from My Entrepreneurial Journey
We often see the polished success stories and highlight reels of successful entrepreneurs online, but the truth is far messier. Building a thriving business isn't just about the wins; it's about navigating the mistakes and learning from them. Over the past decade, as a business owner, I've faced countless challenges and made numerous mistakes that taught me invaluable lessons. Here are the top business mistakes you can learn from to accelerate your path to success.
1. Overworking and Burnout: Signs, Impact, and Recovery
I used to think working harder meant more success, but it only led to burnout. The signs were all there: constant fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, and high cortisol levels that made sleep impossible. I was barely sleeping two hours a night while trying to juggle a newborn and my growing business.
It became a vicious cycle of doing more, earning more, and spending more. I was blaming astrology and the moons for my condition, not realizing it was my body crying out for help.
My mood swings were intense, so I set a strict bedtime routine. While it's not perfect, it includes using an eye mask for complete blackout, noise-canceling earphones to block out any sound, and focusing on improving my sleep quality. 😴
Genetic testing 🧬 showed me the high inflammation levels in my body, so I've been working on reducing inflammation over the past two years, which has significantly improved my well-being.
Mindfulness and spending time in nature became a staple in my routine, and moving to an island 🌴allowed me to regulate my nervous system by immersing myself in nature. 🌊
I learned to pick my battles, meaning I don't stress over things that aren't beneficial to my mental health 🧘♀️. If something truly requires my attention, I handle it, but I don't let unnecessary stressors affect me.
Investing in high-quality water, supplements, and practicing cycle syncing has been crucial. I organize my life and work around my menstrual cycle, focusing only on what's truly important. 💧💊🗓️
Here’s a breakdown of the changes I made:
Regular IV drips and NAD injections for fatigue
Setting a strict bedtime routine
Using an eye mask and noise-canceling earphones for better sleep
Genetic testing to address inflammation
Incorporating mindfulness and spending time in nature
Moving to an island to be closer to nature
Picking battles to protect my mental health
Investing in high-quality water and supplements
Practicing cycle syncing to align work with my menstrual cycle
These changes have not only improved my health but also my overall well-being, allowing me to work smarter, not harder. 🌟
2. Fear of Delegating: How to Trust and Grow Your Team
In the beginning, I tried to do everything myself, which severely slowed my business growth. I had a hard time trusting others and delegating tasks, especially the creative pieces like copywriting and graphics. It was hard for me to let go because I didn't know how to articulate my vision properly.
Because this is a personal brand, I have to create videos myself, but there were many other tasks that could have been delegated earlier. I didn't trust others enough and lacked the processes to guide them. This mindset 🧠 held me back for a long time.
The turning point came when I started training my team and learning to articulate and express my needs more clearly. I see things in my head but struggled to put them into words. Over time, I developed a process that worked for us. Now, my team gets it, and it has made a huge difference. 💡
Here’s what changed:
Training my team regularly to understand my vision
Developing clear processes to articulate tasks
Learning to trust and let go of control
Recognizing the value of delegation in accelerating growth
Focusing on tasks that only I can do, like creating videos
Empowering my team to take ownership and responsibility
Trusting others and delegating tasks has been crucial for my business. It allowed me to focus on what I do best and helped the business grow faster. 🚀
3. Ignoring Customer Feedback: The Importance of Listening to Your Audience
Ignoring customer feedback: In the early days of my business, I assumed I knew best without listening to my customers, which led to missed insights and opportunities. 🙉 I missed out on valuable feedback that could have helped shape my offerings more effectively.
In the coaching industry, there's often an ego play, a sense of "I know what's best." I fell into that trap, thinking I didn't need to listen to feedback because I believed I knew the right path forward. But the reality is, feedback is invaluable. 📢
Here’s what changed:
We started implementing regular customer surveys to gather insights.
I began to actively listen to customer feedback and make the necessary adjustments.
We developed a system for responding to feedback quickly and effectively.
I shifted my mindset to see feedback as a gift rather than a criticism.
We now make upgrades, shifts, and changes regularly based on what our community needs. 🔄
Understanding the needs and desires of my customers has transformed my business. Feedback helps us stay aligned with our community and continue growing in the right direction. 🗣️💬
4. Not Tracking Progress: The Power of Data in Business Growth
In the beginning, I didn't track any progress. I was so afraid of numbers 📉 that I didn't even know when I hit my first $500k. It wasn't until I invested in mentors and attended workshops that I learned the importance of tracking progress. 📊
Not tracking progress meant I was operating in the dark. I had no idea where I was succeeding or failing, and this lack of insight held me back from making informed decisions. 🤔
Here’s what changed:
We started using project planning tools to organize our efforts.
We began looking at all the numbers: from social media reach and engagement to email open rates, to how many times my students listened to meditations and training.
We now review completion reports of programs and courses regularly.
Data from every single aspect of the business is analyzed for improvement. 📈
Knowing your data is power in business. It allows you to make strategic decisions and measure your success accurately. By understanding the metrics, we can celebrate our wins and identify areas for growth. 🏆
5. Chasing Shiny Objects: Staying Focused on Your Core Strengths
Chasing shiny objects 🎇 is a trap many entrepreneurs, including myself, fall into. Whenever I saw posts about people making huge amounts of money using new apps, programs, or following certain mentors, I thought I needed to jump from one thing to another.
I believed I needed to do everything to succeed and often found myself spreading too thin, trying to keep up with every new trend. 📱 This scattered my efforts and made it difficult to excel in any one area. It was overwhelming and unsustainable.
Here’s what changed:
I realized the importance of focusing on one thing and becoming exceptional at it. 🏆
I started prioritizing quality over quantity, investing deeply in core strengths.
We narrowed down our offerings to what we do best, ensuring high quality and impact.
We embraced a more focused, streamlined approach, which brought real results. 💡
Staying focused has allowed us to hone our skills, deliver exceptional value, and achieve sustained growth. 🌱
Quality over quantity is not just a saying; it’s a strategy that works. Now, instead of jumping from one shiny object to another, we stay committed to our core strengths and continue to build on them.
6. Ignoring Branding: Why Your Brand is More Than Just a Logo
When I first started, I thought branding was all about colors, fonts, and photoshoots 🎨. I believed if I had a visually appealing brand, people would connect with it. But I learned the hard way that true branding goes much deeper.
Branding is about knowing your story and expressing it authentically. It's about connecting with your audience on an emotional level, making them feel understood and valued. Here's what I learned:
Branding is an artistic expression of who you are and what you stand for. It's about being real and relatable, not just polished and perfect.
My initial focus on superficial elements meant people couldn’t connect with the essence of my brand. 🌟
I shifted to sharing my journey, my struggles, and my wins. This helped build trust and loyalty. Now, my community sees me not just as a brand, but as a person they can relate to.
I learned to articulate my values and mission clearly, ensuring my brand reflects my true self and resonates with my audience. 🗣️💕
Branding isn't just about looking good; it's about making people feel good. It's about building a community that believes in your vision and feels part of your journey. By focusing on authentic storytelling and genuine connection, I transformed my brand from a faceless entity to a living, breathing presence that people love and trust.
Master the inner voices within and lead your life like a true CEO
Imagine stepping into your life with full clarity, confidence, and command - where every part of you is aligned and working toward your goals. This is where you get into alignment. It’s about mastering the most powerful tool you have: YOU 😇
Arabelle is a Speaker, Entrepreneur, creative, CEO, and solo mama. With a background in investment banking, she helps clients in over 110 countries unlock potential and pursue freedom. She lives between Dubai and Perth, believing real change starts from within.