Ditching the nineto-five
Female entrepreneurs talk challenges, rewards to following their dreams
With the era of the great resignation upon us, more and more people are ditching their nine-to-five jobs and becoming entrepreneurs.
It's a mixed blessing. With that comes no assured paycheque or health benefits, but allows entrepreneurs to be their own boss.
It also comes with its own set of realities that people should be aware of before they become entrepreneurs, says Alicia Simms.
"It's not a nine-to-five job, or at least it hasn't been for me," says Simms. "So much more work is required when you are the one running the show, and it often carries into early mornings and later nights. However, when it's for you, and it's something you have a passion for, you don't seem to mind as much."
The Truro, N.S. woman is the owner of the Rolling Sea Tattooery, www.rollingsea. ca, the Truro Buzz, www.trurobuzz.com, and Secret Nova Scotia, www.secretnovascotia. ca. It's taken a lot of time and energy to build her businesses, she says.
"You always end up working more than you did for someone else," she adds, at least when you're trying to build a business from the ground up.
“I'm going into my eighth year in business and have been scaling back my workdays, which feels really great. I have now built a small but mighty team which means I don't have to be so hands-on all of the time."
When asked about the realities that people should consider before making the leap to becoming an entrepreneur, Simms says commitment is key.
“It's as hard as people say it is," she says.
“There is so much uncertainty and a lot of stress that you don't necessarily see or feel when you're working for a corporation or someone else's business. People say entrepreneurship isn't for the faint of heart, and I think they're right."
PIVOTING THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES
“I never thought I was capable of running a business, and here I am with three," Simms says. "You can do hard things and learn as you go if you need to."
One of those hard things she's experienced lately is familiar
to all of us: a two-year pandemic that virtually shut down the economy.
She's proud her businesses all "made it out the other side," although adds it's something she hopes she'll never have to experience again in her lifetime.
"I learned a lot about having to adapt to changing times to survive," she says.
Being prepared to pivot, no matter what circumstances are thrown at you, as well as taking advantage of every opportunity is essential.
“I try to soak up every podcast, book, and workshop I can on professional development," she says. "I make a point to network and when I see someone doing something I like, I ask them how they did it. Don't be afraid to reach out to people and ask questions. We all had to start somewhere."
She's learned a lot in the past few years, she adds.
“On a whole, now almost eight years later, I can honestly say I'm happier, but that came with a lot of stressful times over the years," she says.
“It's one thing when you're responsible for your own income and success of your business - that's stressful enough. When you tie in hiring employees that you're now responsible for their incomes and livelihoods? That is a whole other kettle of fish, as they say, and it has kept me awake at night."
SETTING BOUNDARIES
If you're dreaming about starting your own business, says Emily Carlaw, you need to go into it with eyes wide open. It's going to take time - lots of it.
“I would want you to know that it is going to be a real labour of love especially in those first years as you get it off the ground," says Carlaw.
Carlaw is an artist and owner of the Freckles and Porcelain (www.frecklesandporcelain. com) shop at St. Peters Landing in St. Peters Bay, P.E.I. Inspired by an old-fashioned general store, her artwork is sold alongside a curated collection of locally-made goods and day-to-day essentials – items that Carlaw personally loves and that she feels represents the feeling of the East Coast.
“It is both a blessing and a curse to be so passionate about what you do. I feel like my head is always churning with new ideas and what I could/ should be doing," she says.
"Sometimes I find it hard to deeply relax, but over time, I have begun to set boundaries with my time and develop strategies so that I can be more present and gift myself the time that I need to recharge."
It's not always easy - she admits to feeling both happier and more stressed since becoming an entrepreneur.
“I am looking forward to a time when I will come to a more balanced place with my business," she says.
Her advice to new entrepreneurs? Keep going, because it won't always be hard.
“It does get easier as you put in your hours," she says. “If your business is something that you are truly passionate about, that makes this process a lot easier."
'UNCHARTED TERRITORY'
Like everything, the pandemic impacted Carlaw's business.
“I feel like running a shop during COVID changed my course with my business as it became more about surviving than thriving, so my upward momentum stalled in some ways," she admits.
"At the same time, though, I am very proud that I have managed to find a way to navigate these more turbulent waters and uncharted territory. I can't help but feel when things calm down, that all of us fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners will be incredibly resilient."
The thing that surprised Carlaw the most about becoming an entrepreneur is how appreciated she feels by her local
community - something that really shone through over the past two years.
“People in the area and those visiting come in and are so supportive and giving with their words that it really makes all the hard work well worth it," she adds.
TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF
Sheena Russell compares running a small business to spinning plates in the air.
Russell's business, Made With Local, started off as a simple farmers' market table and is now a certified food provider, with products like their food bars and granola available at stores across Canada, but it’s still baked at home in Dartmouth, N.S. by locals using local ingredients.
Russell says she's learned a few lessons since she began her journey, and a key one is that entrepreneurship can be "an exciting, stressful and allencompassing career choice for folks who excel at spinning a lot of plates at once."
It can be a difficult career choice, she adds, and it's important to have a plan in place for how you'll take care of your mental health as you start out.
“Entrepreneurship highs are really high, and the lows are really low, and the pendulum can swing quickly between the two,” says Russell.
“Having a grounding, selfcare practice and prioritizing your mental health as an entrepreneur is extremely important to be able to weather the many storms that come and go."
What has surprised Russell is how supportive the local network of entrepreneurs and small business owners can be here in Atlantic Canada.
“We’ve had so many incredible mentors support us over the years and are grateful now to have the opportunity to mentor others who are on the same journey we were when we first started out," she says.
"We have an amazing startup community here in Nova Scotia (and) the Maritimes and we think it’s the best place in Canada to start and build your entrepreneurial dreams."
BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR
There are different types of entrepreneurs, Russell says, and the goals set early in an entrepreneurial journey will impact your business and the time commitment required.
"Are you hoping for a sidehustle to scratch a creative itch? Or are you going all-in on a venture idea? Both of these options - and the many options that lie between - are valid and worthy," she says. "It’s your choice to make and your responsibility to get really clear on."
For people considering starting their own business, Russell suggests clarity is often the key to success.
“Don’t underestimate the importance of building a brand and community around your business. There are many amazing products out in the world that never get the attention they deserve because the founder/team haven’t prioritized creating a strong, clear brand and doing the work of building a grassroots community of customers and supporters," she says.
And don't get discouraged, adds Simms.
“I can't drive home the point enough that if I can do this, if I can work for myself, build a business from the ground up and see it grow, then anyone can," Simms says.
She encourages others who have an idea and a passion for something to make that a successful business.
"There are so many resources out there for you through organizations like CBDC-NOBL (https://noblbusinessskills.ca/), your local chamber of commerce, and many more that want to help give you the tools you need to succeed."