Growing Pains: How Mistakes Fueled My Business Growth

I’m excited to share a bit of my business journey with you. Over ten years since 2014! It feels like just yesterday I was taking that first leap of faith. And let me tell you, it hasn't been smooth sailing at all! In fact, some of my biggest growth spurts came from my biggest mistakes. On my journey, I've learned that if I'm able to learn from my stumbles and learn how to pivot, I can gain incredible growth.

The Inevitability of Mistakes - This is Normal

We all know that mistakes are inevitable. Seriously, everyone makes them, especially in business. It's impossible to avoid mistakes, but the key is to recognize them, learn from them, and use them as fuel for growth. It helps me when I try to be positive and think of mistakes as valuable lessons disguised as setbacks (not always easy). I know that they're part of the process, and honestly, some of my most valuable lessons came from the moments I thought I'd completely messed up.

Big Mistakes I Made Along the Way:

No Market Research: Early on, I launched a product that I thought everyone would just LOVE! My husband asked me to make a wedding gift for a coworker who was getting married. I made a keepsake wedding shadow box that was very beautiful, and the recipients loved it. I thought I could in turn make it for others to purchase. I was thinking about the product first and the customer second. IT NEVER SOLD. Turns out, I completely misread the market. It was a flop. That was my first major disappointment and hard not to take it personally. With many other disappointments along the way when things didn't go to plan with product launches, it has taken time for me to learn the crucial importance of thorough market research and learning to listen to my audience. I had no idea who my audience was and I’m still learning to this day and working on improving my research.

Resisting change: Working for myself in my home studio, I’m in a bubble. I was very content inside my little bubble. I saw steady business growth over the years up through Covid-19. After the Pandemic, so much changed. The world changed, algorithms changed, the economy changed, buyer behavior changed. The list can go on and on… I was slow to adapt to many of these changes. Things were working until they no longer were. I was comfortable with my old ways, and I resisted many shifts. That cost me valuable time and opportunities. It taught me the importance of staying flexible and embracing change.

The Power of Pivoting

When things were no longer working as they did before, I had to make some tough decisions. Pivoting is never easy, but it's often necessary for growth. It means tweaking my products, changing my marketing strategy, and a complete overhaul of my business model. You may notice many changes over the next year. It’s scary, but I feel like these are the best decision for my business.

Embracing Lifelong Learning

The business world is constantly evolving. New technologies, changing consumer preferences, and unexpected global events mean I must be a lifelong learner. I'm pushing past my comfort zone. I now seek out new information, attend workshops, reading industry blogs, and listening to podcasts, learn new equipment and techniques. I’ve learned through some hard lessons that it’s essential to stay current and continue to improve my skills, products and services.

Improving My Product Quality and Service

At the end of the day, it's all about you, my customers. I'm passionate about what I get to do every day and providing the best possible products and services. I love the enjoyment I feel when my customers tell me how much they enjoy the products I make. That means constantly seeking feedback, listening to your needs, and making improvements. It's an ongoing process, but it's what drives me.

In conclusion, a little change to that popular saying – “building a successful business is a journey, not a destination”. I know there will continue to be bumps along the road, but it's how I learn and grow from those experiences that truly define me. I will continue to embrace the challenges, celebrate the wins, and I may cry a little along the way, but I'll never stop learning. I look forward to continued growth!