It is not always rainbows and butterflies.

With every business there comes a great responsibility for the business owner to do what needs to be done in order to make it successful. That means long hours, money spent, time spent, missed events, and even moments. It won't always be like this but in the beginning it will be. For the first few years you have to baby your business. If you don't, nobody else will and your success if any will be slower than it needs to be. I have talked a lot about how good things have been with me making the switch, and they have been, but that doest mean that it hasn't beed hard work and late hours, and missed life experiences. My Husband and my kids get very annoyed when they see me on my phone or laptop. They know I have to work but it is also very hard for them when I am around but not available. It is hard on me too. It is worth it though. If I didn't work from home, I wouldn't be available to them. This is the push for me to have a space to work out of. If I take away their option to see me, give myself a designated work space it takes away their annoyance of seeing me in workaholic mode. It is hard for them to not have me when they can reach me. My family doesn't give my husband grief for working, but the thing is he leaves the house. That makes a difference. It can be very hard for people to remember that even though working from home you are in fact still working. Working from home has many benefits, one of the biggest benefits though is an employee who works from home can actually be more efficient. There are less distractions than in an office setting, that means less interruptions from things that don't need your attention directly. Now that being said if you are someone who can't get away from distractions in your home like dishes or laundry or so on then working from home would be harder. For me I find it great, I can fold laundry while I'm on hold or having a lunch break. I can start supper and be home in case something decided to go wonky with it. I can work from my deck, or couch, or bed!

Now when starting a business or growing it you also need to invest money into it. My husband gets stressed out when he goes to the post office and sees a pile of Amazon Boxes waiting for him to pick up. This was the case when I ordered several mermaid tails, crowns, makeup, and other jewelry for my mermaid shoots. He has also seen me order a laptop, new camera, and multiple lenses this year. Those purchases though were necessary and a big reason for me being a photographer who people want to book with. He hates it every time I order stuff, but now he has much more faith in my ability to make those purchases pay themselves off and pave the way for revenue in the future.

My Husband and my kids see me working like this every day, but friends and family don't so when they are around me it is easy for people to get offended or irritated with me working or with my camera in my hand or my laptop infant of me or my phone in my hand. It might look like I am just scrolling Facebook or watching TikToks or texting friends, but it is all work. It has been a big adjustment for others this week as I am at the lake and have taken my laptop to work down at the water, or the second my kids go to sleep I bring my work back out and get back to editing. It has to be this way, it won't always be this way. Soon I will be in a good groove and can work during weekdays differently and at a different pace, but for these next few years it is hustle after hustle. The hustle is what is helping me grow, and to be happy doing it. I love to be busy so I would not have it any other way.

To those of you just starting out or remembering when you just started out, the grind and hustle is all worth it. Your business, your goals, and dreams they are worth it. Surround yourself with support when you feel the guilt of missing out and you will be just fine. Anything is possible if you believe it, then you can achieve it.

It is time for my hustle to stop for the night, and for me to go make my kids some supper. Have a good week everyone.