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Awesome Business

Progress is often uneven in getting my business off the ground

by Anne Florenzano | 1470 views | 8 comments | Rate this now!

About the Author

Anne Florenzano is a woman entrepreneur blogging about her experiences and observations as she starts her own business. You can read it at LightMotionandMagic.com

8 comments so far...

Thanks for the support, bPattee!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Anne Florenzano on 23rd June 2008
You hit on many fears we all have and can all relate to -- it is scary but fun all at the same time or we wouldn't spend so much time doing it! I spend so much more of my time trying to get my business up and running it would have been easier to get a job at an office again but it is not as fulfilling. So tackling these fears is just one part of the great process and we're all in it like you!! Keep at it.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by bPattee on 23rd June 2008
Anne, You have highlighted the great benefit of sites like Work It Mom. Women can write in and candidly share their experiences - and it is so helpful to others. Even when it is a second "business" as it was for me there was still enormous learning. I got great affirmation recently when I read about one of Australia's top 200 entrepreneurs who happened to be a woman. She said that in the first two years she was unable to take a salary and when she did it was $100 week. But slow and steady sets strong foundations. You have great passion and enthusiasm, Anne. I can sense you'll do great things.

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Maree Harris on 6th November 2007
Anne! i loved reading this article. really and truely!! i also have the 'fear of phone calls' and even though i KNOW it is going to be fine/successful/etc. i still hate it.

it's funny -even though you keep saying it's hard, i am still inspired to start my own company, eventually (i am still in the idea-bouncing-around-my-head stage!)

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kate on 26th October 2007
So awesome for you and so awesome for us that you shared this!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mandy Nelson - Dandysound on 25th October 2007
Awesome article Anne - thanks for sharing so candidly. I think so many times, people think that being an entrepreneur is all fun... or - I run into moms who don't think I "really" work - ya know - my business is just a cover for sitting on the couch eating bon-bons all day LOL! Your article really speaks to the fact that sometimes, business is all work and no play. But then, there is that other sweet side. When you have that incredible client who has worked really hard and has an amazing break-through. Or when someone e-mails you out of the blue and tells you how much your blog or an article has inspired them... ahhhhh... now that's a reward!

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jenn_Givler on 25th October 2007
Who was it who said 80% of genius is just showing up, Einstein, I think. Creating and running a business is hard work. I created and run an office with personnel at a university. Even though I work for someone else, and doesn't involve money it requires a lot of detail and planning,detective work and sheer inspiration. I think about going freelance one day, but...oh...the effort!! My hat is off to you! It is a great opportunity for me to be able to watch you on your path, really. Please keep writing. :)

Flag as inappropriate Posted by KatieK on 25th October 2007
Anne, thank you for sharing this - I really appreciated the honesty in which you talked about your business. As I often talk about here, Work It, Mom! is my first full-time entrepreneurial venture and it definitely not awe-inspiring - but is all about baby steps, as you say, small victories, tough challenges, small failures, and big efforts to get back up and keep building.

(Oh, and I can totally relate to the story about choosing a company name - I stopped talking to my friends about it because their suggestions made me so insecure about the initial choice we'd made, which we liked, and which, at the end, became Work It, Mom!)

Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 25th October 2007