My Favorite Things About Being A Business Owner

Last year I decided to finally make the leap and become a business owner. Scout Creative Agency has existed for 12 months now and it's been the best decision of my life.

I started this business simply because I wanted to stay home with my kids and spend more time with them. I've been able to do that - we send Finn to part time preschool, and Reese is with me. I've gotten so much more out of this past year than I ever imagined. I've learned a lot, but even more than that, I've gained a lot.

First and foremost, I've gained confidence in myself. I've had good bosses and bad bosses in my career, but regardless of the quality of the boss, I just don't think working for someone is for me. I found myself always questioning my decisions, even when I felt they were the right ones. I've made good decisions and bad decisions over the past year, but the point is that I have allowed myself to make those decisions without relying on anyone else, and that is the most empowering feeling in the world. Beyond that, I've been able to learn from those that were failures. Often times when working for a boss, my bad decisions or failures were met with disappointment or criticism, something that hurt my confidence way more than it should have. Instead, nowadays my failures are my own and I handle them my way without getting too down on myself.

In addition, I feel a little bit more grown up. I love responding to the question "What do you do?" with "I own a digital marketing agency." It's just a cool feeling, and I'm just plain proud.

I think my favorite thing about being a business owner is the other folks that I've met or reconnected with. There's something that naturally bonds you with another entrepreneur. It's like this unspoken thing that we all understand. It's a hustle. It's a lot of ups and downs. But it's our hustle. It's all of our ups and downs. Networking used to give this introvert so much anxiety. Now it's something I look forward to! In addition, I have found a good group of small business owners who look out for one another. I've realized that business and personal can intertwine when you have the understanding that when you throw business my way, I'll throw it right back.

There are other things I love - the flexibility is definitely on top of the list! I love the ability to be creative. I love the sense of accomplishment. I love seeing money come in the door knowing that every dollar is because of my hard work. I love dreaming of the growth of my company, even thinking of hiring my first employee.

Lastly, I love the lifestyle owning a business has given me. I've been able to work, be a mom, be a wife, take days off when I want, drive up to New York on a whim, go on field trips with Finn, go grocery shopping on a Tuesday afternoon, the list goes on and on. I'm truly content in this season of life (minus the whole world pandemic thing) knowing that I am doing it!

For anyone looking for advice or inspiration in starting their own business, here's what I have to offer - I'm no one special, just a mom with a desire to spend time with her kids. I'm incredibly introverted and question pretty much everything I do. However, I knew that when I quit my job, I had no other option - I had to make this thing work. It took a while to get the gears going, but once I felt that little bit of success, the doors swung open and I've been on a roll since. Want to know the true secret sauce to having success as a business owner? It's your mindset. Once you start believing it can happen, it will.