The Realities of Entrepreneurship: What Happens After the Honeymoon?
I’m going to assume most of you know what a Honeymoon is…a nice little time after someone gets married. To relax, spend some time together, and enjoy the newness of marriage.
According to a different version, of the Oxford English Dictionary:
“The first month after marriage, when there is nothing but tenderness and pleasure (Samuel Johnson); originally having no reference to the period of a month, but comparing the mutual affection of newly married persons to the changing moon, which is no sooner full than it begins to wane; now, usually, the holiday spent together by a newly married couple, before settling down at home.”
While we usually only think of a Honeymoon feeling after marriage, I feel there are more times when that feeling hits:
Welcoming a new baby - the cuteness, the love, the snuggles, the miracle that it is
Start of summer break - all the freedom and lack of schedules
Back to school - all the freedom and benefits of schedules
Divorce - seems sad, but for some, it’s the right thing
New health program - the confidence, the adrenaline, the clarity
Starting a business or new service/product - all the confidence, courage, and excitement
Hiring team members - more areas for you to work on high-level parts and take a breath!
You can relate to some of these (or all).
And I’m struggling to type this because I love to bring the rainbows and butterflies kinda vibe - but I also bring the realness vibe, so….
While the first week, first two weeks, and maybe even the first two months are glorious, there may come a time when the newness starts to wear off a bit.
Welcoming a new baby - so much poop and will I sleep again?
Start of summer break - the boredom and how many snacks could they possibly eat?
Back to school - I have to be on time every morning. Who’s going to what practice, and when?
Divorce - the deep emotions that start to come up
New health program - I love how this feels, buuuuuut the couch feels better than dumbbells right now!
Starting a business or new service/product - What’s payroll, and what should I post now? Where did all the super excited people go?
Hiring team members - you can’t come in, why? Let’s write another SOP 😅
Some of these are extreme, I’m well aware.
And because I’m not in the parenting, marriage, or health industry, I’m just going to talk about the business side :)
Starting a business is an extremely brave thing to do. It takes courage, it takes vulnerability, it takes consistency, and more. That’s the same for pivoting and/or offering a new product or service.
There’s a sense of excitement and then maybe dread, confidence, and worry. All in a month or even a day.
And if you think I’m heading right into “know your why,”...you’re correct, but there’s more.
Knowing why you’re investing in yourself and creating your business is essential, but I feel there are more ways to keep from letting this post-honeymoon stage steal our joy.
Cultivate relationships with others:
These are others who have been where you are. Who can see you, listen, empathize, and maybe ask some good, challenging questions to help you look at things differently
Run your race:
Use other people's stories and experiences as inspiration, but don’t let it become a comparison to your journey. It sounds silly, but we tend to allow this to happen, especially when it’s a slow time in our biz.
Create realistic expectations:
Allow for meetings and calls when it is most convenient for you (you can always adjust). Spreading yourself super thin doesn’t create good habits or longevity. Be mindful of the timelines you set for yourself…are they realistic, or are you putting crazy deadlines on yourself?
Let go of your ego:
This could mean asking for help. This could mean seeing the brilliant person that you are and putting it out there for people to get to know. This could be admitting you don’t know something. This could mean following your heart instead of logic and being okay with that. It could also be hiring a team to do the tasks you don’t need to do because they slow you down or drain your energy.
Invest in yourself:
A lunch break. An afternoon walk. White space in your schedule. Therapy of any sort. Meeting with a group of like-minded individuals. Getting curious about things that trigger some frustration or rage inside you.
Starting and growing a business will have you embarking on a journey that brings many twists, turns, emotions, and situations that will cause you to question everything. So, when the newness fades and the reality of entrepreneurship sets in, lean into the relationships you’ve built, stay focused on your unique path, and take care of yourself along the way. The ups and downs are all part of the process, and with the right mindset, you can navigate them with grace and resilience.
And if you need someone in your corner, hi, I’m here!