One Year Down Maggies First Year Job-Free - When I Grow Up

One Year Down Maggies First Year Job-Free - When I Grow Up Live What You Love by MadeByGirl On June 1st I reached a major milestone in my business. It was one year to the day that I sat down each morning with nothing on my work plate except Maggie Rose Interiors. One year and one day since Id last spent time in a cubicle. A year that went by incredibly fast. Im Maggie Morgan, an interior decorator in Seattle and a past (and sometimes recurring!) client of Michelles a When I Grow Up Alumna. I left my day job in 2011 to pursue my business endeavors full-time, after several years of blogging and more than a year of planning and saving my pennies. And now its already been a whole year of trying my hardest and succeeding and yes, at times failing. As I reflect on my entrepreneuriversary, I wanted to share some of the things Ive learned in the last year, particularly with you who may be considering such a leap. 1. Success is not handed to you. This should be obvious, right? Well it is and it isnt. I was lucky enough to have a great kick-off to my full-time work my apartment was featured on a huge decor blog, I started a regular guest blogging gig, I got a couple clients right off the bat from the extra exposure but I knew hard work was ahead. You dont start a business without an expectation of hard work. What I DIDNT expect was that it doesnt get easier. Sure, you learn to do things better and the tasks that once seemed daunting become routine. But as an entrepreneur, youre always adding more to your plate. There are new things to learn. More daunting tasks to tackle. And success isnt awarded to you once youve logged a certain number of hours.. We all define success differently, but it comes hand in hand with hard work. 2. Save more money than you think necessary. Wed been in a tight financial spot for a year leading up to when I quit, living paycheck to paycheck and not saving anything (thanks economy and a lay-off). And only six months after my boyfriend found steady work again, I put in my notice. I have minor regrets about the timing, and only because it made things very tight the first few months (were still on a budget, but things are more comfortable now). More importantly, I didnt have extra money to spend on the business. I havent had the opportunity to travel to conferences or industry events, for example, both of which would be a great boost for my business connections. Of course, had I stayed at my day job another day I might have actually exploded from stress, so there is that trade-off too. 3. A support system is key. Since the majority of my work load is internet-based, it can get pretty lonely hanging out day after day in my one-bedroom apartment (aka Maggie Rose Interiors Headquarters). Ive been lucky to connect with other biz-owner ladies and bloggers, mostly through Twitter or through the blog, and they have been an amazing source of support and encouragement. Not that my other friends and family havent been, but its so helpful to open up about the challenges of owning your own business, finding clients, getting clients to PAY, and hearing, I know exactly what you mean in return. It makes me feel a little less lost at sea. And as a bonus, I get out of the apartment and enjoy fresh air and coffee. It helps that they have the same flexible schedule! 4. There is so much to be grateful for. While I want to be honest about the challenges of unsteady income, having to learn something new everyday, and not knowing where the next paycheck is coming from, I have to admit that I think it is awesome that I get to do what I do. My work is exciting to me and something I love doing. I get to play with fabrics and colors and find beautiful furniture and help create a home for people! That is an amazing thing! I even love the business side of it, which is why I know Im an entrepreneur strategizing marketing and doing projections are still exciting to me. Even during a really slow month when Im freaking out I know I wouldnt go back to my old job. That helps me keep a grateful attitude even when Im having doubts and fears. 5. Confidence comes with practice. The first month I was doing the business full-time we met some friends-of-friends at a party or something and for the first time when someone asked me what I did for a living, I got to say I own my own decorating business. It felt so foreign and I felt like a fraud! Even though Id been registered as a business for more than a year at that point. I still didnt feel like a REAL decorator. And giving my first estimate to a potential client was a disaster Id only done flat-rate e-decorating before that and had no idea what to charge. For three rooms for ALL new furniture and lengthy management and install I quoted $750. Gah, Im so embarrassed now that is DIRT cheap. I didnt get the job (surprise surprise) but I eventually learned to be more confident in my abilities. After a year of estimating Im much more efficient and Ive learned to suss out what kind of project it will be (high  maintenance  with lots of changes, quick and to the point, surprise el ements that will come up). I still get nervous when I send off a quote, but at least I know that its an educated and thoughtful number. Now when I tell people Im a business owner and decorator it feels natural, and Im ready to hand over my card. 6. Youd be amazed at what asking get you. Im a pretty shy and introverted person by nature. I dont like to bother people or feel like a pest. But when faced with the reality of bills to pay and goals to reach, Im learning to set that aside. Im constantly amazed by the opportunities that come from asking for something in a friendly way. A guest post. An interview. A sponsor. A feature in a magazine. Its remarkable! And not once has anyone ever been nasty or rude when Ive asked. Sure, Ive gotten no reply at all to requests before, but thats the same as if I hadnt asked, so Im really no worse off. Anytime Im fretting over asking or pitching something I try to remember this. Just ASK. Thanks to Michelle for letting me take the time to reflect on the last year and share my experiences. Its been quite the journey and Im excited for whats going to happen in Year Two! To read more about my decorating services and/or check out my affordable e-books, visit my website at Maggie Rose Interiors. Maggie Morgan is a decorator and owner of Maggie Rose Interiors. She writes the interior design and lifestyle blog Maggie Rose. She believes that the best interiors are a reflection of the people who live there, with a mixture of styles and colors from all walks of life. She lives and works in Seattle.