All in a day’s work

I never expected that starting my own business would be such hard work. I remember telling myself over the years, “Some day I will be my own boss and I won’t have to put up with this stuff.” Now I realize how uninformed I was as an employee. The licensing, leasing, county, federal, and state forms, the vendors, the subcontractors, the suppliers, the accounting, and the small incidentals of beginning a business are only a few of the headaches. Then comes the worry of paying each bill as it comes in the mail. Add to that working fourteen hour days for no money.  I have not even opened to the public yet and feel the ulcer developing.

Then I laugh and think, “I so love this.” Even with all the worries, I still love what I am doing. I am living my dream even if it does not last for long. How many people can really say that they tried to live out their dream, or that they even attempted to get close? I am a woman business owner. That has its own challenges in getting business loans and community support in a still male dominated workforce. Most of the time businessmen just look at me strangely and ask, “And what is it you do again?”

Starting a business is much like motherhood. You start out scared and feeling very alone. The challenges are great, you get little sleep, and you never really stop worrying about your “baby.” I hope as time goes on, the business takes on a life of its own and becomes so much more than its mother ever expected.  When I hear my employee saying, “Some day I will be my own boss and I won’t have to put up with this stuff,” I will smile and walk away.