What I Used to Worry About in Business vs. What I Worry About Today!

I was frequently stressed when I first started working at Meraki Media Management. It was the polar opposite of my ideal scenario for starting a business. I imagined that my life would be pure happiness, that I would be able to regulate my own schedule, that I would be less worried, and so on.

This was not the case in real life. I actually felt more anxious as time went on. I'm still dealing with some of these feelings today. I'm so excited to tell you about this part of my journey because there are a lot of lessons that can be learned throughout this experience.

The Little Things I Used to Worry About

Most entrepreneurs won’t be vocally honest about this, but starting a business could be one of the hardest things to be done. I was 22 when I started Meraki Media Management, and it gave me a lot of anxiety and grief. I would freak out about every little thing because I honestly have no idea what I was doing. 

The nitty-gritty of creating all these business social pages, Facebook, Instagram, handles, and creating your own unique URL was stressing me out. And that’s what branched into a lot of fears and anxiety at that time. 

I don’t want my business to get overlapped by another business with the same name. What if they get bad reviews? Or what if my clients confuse them for me? A lot of these worries burst out of me that I even lost sleep. It was pretty funny looking back at it, but 3 years ago, I was genuinely scared and worried about them. 

Something so trivial felt like a BIG DEAL at that time, but look at where I am now. I did not realize it before but those little challenges taught me a BIG lesson in my journey as an entrepreneur. Every little thing that challenged you along the way helps you grow. Three years later, those small things made me see and realize the bigger picture. 

The Things Entrepreneurs are Scared About

When you become an entrepreneur, you have no choice but to go all in. That’s where the scary feeling is coming from. It’s coming from knowing that you as an entrepreneur are betting on yourself for this. You will have to personally develop your life because when you start a business, it impacts not just your work life, but everything around you.

That is scary, true. But betting on yourself was actually one of the most productive things I’ve done in my life. I kept seeing these worry patterns, so I started digging for its roots. And I became productive in creating the lifestyle I want to live in. I became more productive in improving my mental health. 

Looking Back and Giving Yourself Credit

We all experience worrying about little things when we’re young or when we don’t know a lot yet. Remembering those moments might feel embarrassing, funny, and absurd but that was what you felt at the moment, so you don’t have to beat yourself.

We learn and grow in every step we take. As an entrepreneur, all that matters is that you push yourself past these boundaries and limiting beliefs. 

Don’t beat yourself. Instead, look at where you are now. You’re not worrying about the same little thing, are you?

That little Caitlin three years ago who was freaking out about a URL just made the most amount of money she ever made in the past two days. And that’s amazing, knowing that I used to be worried about a URL. 

I just had to sit with that for a minute and give myself that credit. I want to nurture that past version of myself because it shows how much growth I’ve made.

Takeaway

Instead of beating yourself up for the dumb things you did, reframe your mindset and see how far you’ve come. I'm sure there are certain things in your life that you’ve overcome, and you've never given yourself credit for that. 

Even if you're just starting a business, you're probably in a lot better place than you were before. So, give that young version of you a hug. Look at your younger self with empathy. 

Reach out to me if you're struggling with this. Follow me on Instagram @meraki_media_management  and let's just genuinely connect and let's talk because this is what this community is all about.