Tips For Starting Your Own Business
It’s been a year since I launched Lisa Jean-Francois Consulting, and this last year has been THE YEAR of hard lessons.
When I decided to walk away from my full-time career in high education, I knew I wanted to work on building Lisa a La Mode, however, in the blogger world, my social media numbers could not afford me the paid opportunities needed to maintain my household. In other words, I was (and still am) a small blogger, therefore blogging alone was not going to pay the bills. I had tried and failed at Muti level marketing, and I needed to start a sustainable business with relatively low start-up costs. Coaching seemed like a natural fit, so I hired a business coach, and began marketing myself as a business coach as well.
Things were great (in the beginning). It was new and exciting and I was learning so much. But then I found myself frequently depressed. I knew starting a new business was going to be hard, but the toll it began to take on my mental health was beginning to worry me. Then a friend asked me this simple question
Is coaching your passion?
And just like that things became really transparent. I was pouring money, time, and energy into a starting a business I wasn’t passionate about. I had been so scared to try my hand at being a professional blogger, that I dove into something I thought would be easy.
So I stopped coaching and redirected my energy into my blog, and my youtube channel. As a result, I’ve quadrupled my blog traffic, almost doubled my youtube subscriber count, and landed a 6 month contract with a major hair brand.
Suspending my coaching business to focus on building my brand (in preparation for a product launch in 2018) has been the single best decision I’ve made since becoming a full-time entrepreneur. I’ve taken a huge pay-cut to do this, but it feels so right I know that I’m on way towards finally reaching my goals. I still continue to consult and mentor other bloggers and business owners, but now I do it on my own terms.
What’s the Major Lesson?
You can’t take shortcuts when it comes to pursuing your passion. You can’t avoid risks. You can’t avoid being scared. If you are truly looking to live your purpose you can’t forget your purpose along the way.
Recreate this look with these similar items:
Hey, Boo! My name is Lisa and you’ve stumbled upon my own little corner of the world. I’m a 30 something-year-old writer/mother/wife who happens to love lipstick, high heels, blackness, and the truth. You’ll find a mix of everything on this site, so I won’t bore you by trying to define this space. I hope you stay awhile!
Thank you so muchso much for sharing your experience. I knew from the beginning that your blog and youtube channel will explode.
I wish you all the best in all your endeavors.
aww, thanks so much. i’m not exploding, but I’m finally on track! xoxo
This was such a great read! Very inspiring. continue being awesome girrrrrrl! 🙂
hanks boo!
Discovering one’s self is a learning process. Thanks Lisa for sharing this.
thanks for reading!
Your honesty is greatly appreciated and inspiration to us all whom are ready to display our joy and passion through our work! Whenever you feel the need, think of us who are vibrating higher to make it happen and I’m sure you’ll catch the [good] vibes too. Peac3!
thank you!
This was awesome! No shortcuts! It won’t be easy but it will be worth it! I needed this! 🙂
thanks for reading!
Glad I saw this. You gave me motivation. Thank you!
you’re so welcome!
Thanks for sharing, this is super inspiring! It’s great that you were able to recognize it wasn’t your passion. Keep growing on your own terms!
thanks for reading! xoxo
This was a great read. When your friend asked “If this was your passion” that hit me hard. I started my own business and was feeling the exact way you described. It is now “under construction” because I wasn’t really feeling what I was attempting to do. I’ve done some serious thinking and have developed an idea I can truly stand behind. Thanks for this honest and open share. I LOVE your blog and your YouTube tutorials are everything.
thank you for reading! don’t give up!
This was such a good read and I’m so happy that you were open enough with us to share that starting a business is a roller coaster. But you have to be passionate in what you do first and foremost. Great read Lisa!
Thank you so much for reading!
Thank you so much for sharing this Lisa. I am currently working on going in a new direction and reading this just encourages me the more.
you’re so welcome! don’t give up!
What a great post Lisa – a very honest & empowering one!!!
The 3rd and last installment of my festival style campaign with UK brand BOOHOO is still up at the blog – come check it out & lemme know what you think!
Happy Friday!
Rebecca
Thanks so much!
Such a great read. You are dope on so many levels!
Thanks so much! I appreciate you!