I’m not going to lie – 2023 was tough. Victoria Eve. & Co. had some highs, but there were some big lows. 60% of businesses fail in the first 3 years. In 2023, I thought we were going to be part of that statistic.
But it’s 2024, and we are still here! Over the coming weeks, I’d like to reflect on the year that was, move forward with a renewed mindset, and share my five biggest learnings to date in my journey as a business owner and what that means for my back-to-basics vision for Victoria Eve. & Co. in 2024.
𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 1: 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙛𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝙀𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚. 𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙.
Have you ever made a decision, then immediately after, felt like you should have chosen the other option?
My 2yo has made better decisions for herself than some of the decisions I’ve made for my business (and my life!). I’m generally a positive person. A few small knocks throughout the year are easy to bounce back from. But when the punches keep coming hard and fast, it’s very easy to start basing every decision on fear.
Fear is healthy in that it minimises risk & and stops you from taking chances that may literally kill your business (or you!). But too much fear can also stop you from moving forward and making positive progress.
The difference between my 2yo and me – she thinks intuitively and makes her decisions almost without thinking. Whereas I start with a gut feeling, only to let my head start getting in the way, then second guess myself. She operates from a place of pure instinct and confidence, whilst I tend to overanalyse and doubt myself.
Making decisions as a business owner can feel like walking a tightrope sometimes, balancing intuition with analysis. Embracing the instinctual “gut feeling” while also leveraging the wisdom and experience gained from past decisions is crucial. It’s about finding that balance between trusting your intuition and applying a strategic approach.
As we step into 2024, I’m recommitting myself to honouring that gut feeling while embracing the lessons learned along the way. Remember, running a business isn’t just about the numbers; it’s also about the courage to trust your instincts and pivot when needed.