9.23.2015

Regrouping for 4th Quarter: Shit Got Real and I Can't Deal



This post post is about being open with my journey as a small business owner. It has been almost one calendar year since my business became "official" and I have learned quite a bit along the way. I have been inspired by branding brainiacs such as Maya Elious of Brndwch and her sister Mattieologie to share my journey and be transparent. I think it's important because too many people are glorifying "being a boss" but aren't sharing all of the ups and downs and aches and pains. And honey I'm telling you, every day isn't the sweetest.

I know that I was doing pretty well keeping my blog posts coming fairly consistently, and I was getting great feedback. That not only made me feel great, but was keeping me inspired to continue to write and post. However, I got into a quick rut. While I wasn't uninspired per say, I was worn out and irritated.



In the last couple of weeks I had to take a step back and evaluate my branding as well as my business model. Candice Olivia Beauty is not something I ever thought would happen, and most days I still can't believe that it exists. But the fact of the matter is, the minute I filed those forms and put an "LLC" behind my passion, shit got real.

If you have been following me, you know that I have been extremely busy with clients every weekend, running all over the DC Metropolitan area beating faces left and right. I already have a busy 9-5 job, and then I'm super busy with my other job (that being makeup) and still trying to find time to blog. It seems as though almost every day I'm getting a call, text or email in regards to a makeup appointment. I'm blessed to be busy, but at what cost? No I'm not complaining, but I'm just saying, I'm working entirely too hard to not have the amount of money I need or feel as though I deserve.

While I'm not a supreme being mathematician or have an MBA, I'm smart enough and business savvy enough to do my own accounting for the most part. I just hadn't been doing so. So I sat down and went through all of the receipts that I had, and all the appointments that I had to date for 2015. So a few spreadsheets later with some equations and what not, and there it was. The real deal. You know I'm one for receipts and facts and I'm very black and white when it comes to money. And the receipts aren't adding up child. And I have no one to blame but myself. I'm technically in the green....but it's a light green. Like a mint. Not sage. Not seafoam. I'm trying to be emerald! You get where I'm going with this. The money is looking funny, and I'm not laughing. At all.

The bottom line is that I'm being too nice to other people. And by doing so, I'm not be nice or fair to myself or my business. This is something that will change for the 4th quarter of the 2015 fiscal year and moving forward. I am determined to start 2016 with a bang. 

I am charging myself with being a better business person, and I have many mentors and makeup friends that are holding me accountable and for that I am beyond grateful. I am making a promise to not only myself, but my business to be intentional about all business dealings.

If you yourself are a small business owner or thinking of becoming one, I challenge you to be the best that you can be. Not only for yourself, but the fate and longevity of your business.






3 comments:

Unknown said...

Great post! It's hard to be transparent because it means, first and foremost, you have to be real with yourself. You made me think about a lot, and shits about to get real for me too. Here's to a great 4th quarter and a new take on my business.

Thanks Candice!

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing daughter. Self assessments are necessary. Numbers DO NOT LIE!!!
Keep up the great work that you do in both professions.

Love you Much!

Unknown said...

I really love honesty and this is like a bang. Thought I was the only one trying to get shit real for 2016.