It’s officially March! The third chapter of the year 2022, and wow is time really flying. Some of you may still be on fire from the NEW YEAR fresh start motivation, but some of you may be looking for some insight or support right now. We asked a few small business owners about their experiences starting and managing their small businesses. We wanted the scoop on what inspired them to take the leap, the fruits of their investments and how they balance out their personal life while continuing to be a successful business owner. If you’re new to the small business game, or looking for a place to start, take a few minutes to see what the owners of G6 Performance Training, Karina Nava Nutrition, and Kreative Candle Co. have to say about their journey so far. 

1. Starting a business…what does that REALLY mean?! What was it like for you in the early stages? (not so much minor logistics, but overall experience/mindset/struggles)

I started my business in May of 2020, somewhat at the beginning of the pandemic. Looking back, I was a little hesitant because I always imagined starting my private practice later in my career. I had this idea that I needed to have tons of experience in order to be successful in private practice. But I decided to take a chance and start my business anyway. I was mostly inspired to do so because I was not feeling motivated or challenged at my full time job. My sister encouraged me to promote my nutrition services on Instagram and that’s how I got started. I kept my full time job and worked on my business in the evenings. The biggest worry I had was that I wouldn’t get any inquiries and that is why I kept my full time job, in addition to having financial stability. The early stages of starting a business is tough – particularly when it comes to your mindset. I often compared myself to other entrepreneur dietitians on Instagram and worried about not having enough followers or likes on my post. I started to get caught up with the small details such as, making sure I had the perfect website and figuring out the best pricing for my services. Although those are important components to a business, I also think that simply “going for it” and getting the experience is what matters the most. Karina Nava Nutrition – Karina Nava

I think when you want to start a business you want to provide a service or a product that can make an impact in people’s lives. The early stages were very exciting and fun. I felt as though I was fulfilling my purpose. G6 Performance Training – Gabe Lemon 

When I started my business back in 2020, I didn’t have any idea where to start and what the requirements were to be a business owner. So I teamed with a good friend of mind that was in Marketing and Graphic design to help me come with branding. The 2nd most important thing I had to achieve was learning how to make a candle. I purchased Kit from Simply Scents by Shan. In this kit she provided everything you needed to have to make a candle. This was very helpful because I wasn’t too sure on where to start with the materials. The kit and the step by step video really guided me on this new journey of becoming a Candle maker. After completing my first batch of candles, I started to do more research on waxes, wicks, fragrances etc. While I began to learn more about the candle industry, I was able to create my own formula and how I wanted my candles to smell and look. Kreative Candle Co. – Kiandra Davis

2. Did you expect to spend as much as you did for the initial financial investment in your business? How was it different than expected? How do you suggest preparing for that upfront?

I did not know what to expect with the finances of my business. I think there is such a big range of what your overhead costs could be depending on how your business is structured. All of my services are virtual, which is helpful because I don’t have to allocate funds to pay rent if I were to have an office where patients saw me face to face. Karina Nava Nutrition – Karina Nava

I was surprised by certain costs like the cost to create a business entity with the state. I would suggest not having any expectations. G6 Performance Training – Gabe Lemon

Starting a candle business, I wasn’t quite sure how much materials cost and which vendors to purchase from. So in the beginning I spent more than I should on products because I felt I needed everything. Now that I am in about 2 years of having a business I have a set vendor list and more knowledge on what exactly I need. I would suggest doing more research upfront on your products and what needs to start. Kreative Candle Co. – Kiandra Davis

3. Do you feel like your time spent in creating, developing & launching was more, the same, or less than you currently spent on your business?

The time I spent creating, developing and launching my business is about the same amount of time that I currently spend on my business. I quit my full time job last year in June and since then I have been solely working in private practice (part time). I have an intern who helps me with social media and marketing, which has been a huge help for me! This has allowed me to fully focus on patient care. Karina Nava Nutrition – Karina Nava

I’m spending more effort and resources now than I did in the beginning because I am scaling the business which takes on a whole other set of tasks and attention. G6 Performance Training – Gabe Lemon

I feel that I spend way more time in business now than I did during the creating stages for sure. Managing a business that continues to grow on so many levels each day keeps me busy. I am really big on the branding of my company, so I am always making sure I have community and social media presence. Kreative Candle Co. – Kiandra Davis

4. Biggest pro to being an entrepreneur?

Flexible schedule and I have the ability to choose what type of patients I want to work with. I’m also able to implement my philosophy and be creative in how I work with patients. Karina Nava Nutrition – Karina Nava

You get to live life on your own terms. No one has you on their schedule. G6 Performance Training – Gabe Lemon

My favorite part about being an entrepreneur is that I have full control of the company. My mind is full of creative ideas, and as an entrepreneur I have the full ability to try new things out, and I love that. Kreative Candle Co. – Kiandra Davis

5. Biggest con to being an entrepreneur?

Some months are not as busy as other months, which means my financial earnings vary throughout the year. This can be tough if you are the sole provider in your family. Not having financial stability can be scary. Karina Nava Nutrition – Karina Nava

Everybody that works with you and for you, you have to realize you are taking care of their households too. It could add a lot more stress. You also could get caught up with working “in” your business versus working “on” your business, two totally different things. G6 Performance Training – Gabe Lemon

There are many things I had to learn when I started Kreative Candle. There were some days that were smooth, and others that were the opposite. The key for me was learning from my mistakes and celebrating any type of success. It’s my goal to be an inspiration to anyone that has aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur. I want to show people that you can do anything you set your mind to do, no matter what obstacles that may occur. If you can come up with an idea, then it can be brought to life. Your vision is where it all starts, and how you can make it into something big. So with that  being said I don’t feel there are any cons being an entrepreneur just challenges. Kreative Candle Co. – Kiandra Davis

6. How has your journey as an entrepreneur affected your personal life, marriage, kids/family? How do you navigate the balance?

I’m constantly thinking about my business and that makes it hard when you want to be more present with your family. One of the things that was taking up a lot of my time was Instagram. I decided to turn off my notifications because any time I would create a post I became fixated on checking to see how many likes I was getting or whether I had any inquiries in my DMs. It sounds silly but not receiving those pop up notifications on my phone helps me not open my Instagram app and fall into the trap of mindlessly scrolling through my newsfeed. Family life is very important to me, which is why I decided to see patients on a part time basis. I’m hoping to be full time with my private practice in the near future once my son is older – he is currently 10 months old. Karina Nava Nutrition – Karina Nava

Time management is key and making sure your priorities are correct. If my time isn’t managed well it could negatively impact my personal life. G6 Performance Training – Gabe Lemon

 I will say being an entrepreneur and also working full time you have to manage your time wisely. Sometimes you can have a lot on your plate but you have to remember to prioritize the things that matter first which is family. Kreative Candle Co. – Kiandra Davis

7. If you could offer advice to an aspiring entrepreneur, what would you recommend considering or doing prior to taking the leap?

My advice for those who want to work in private practice is to just go for it! Don’t worry about making sure everything related to your business is perfect. I was hesitant to start my business because I felt like I needed to have a website, business cards, a network of referrals, and lots of followers on social media in order to be successful. What matters the most is simply getting started. The experience will come with time and you will learn as you go. Overall, I’ve learned that being a good clinician is more important than being a savvy entrepreneur. Providing high quality of care to patients and addressing their needs is key to having a thriving private practice. Word of mouth is one of the best forms of marketing. Patients who feel supported and cared for by you will tell their friends and family, which in turn can help your business grow. Karina Nava Nutrition – Karina Nava

Don’t overthink. If you have a passion go out and do it. G6 Performance Training – Gabe Lemon

I have 4 very important points of advice for any future entrepreneurs. 

1. Trust God’s process
2. Stay organized 
3. Have a Mentor or Accountability Partner 
4. Always research how to improve, and grow as a CEO 

Kreative Candle Co. – Kiandra Davis