5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Setting Up My Business

I have been running I Know This Girl for almost 5 years. (My business anniversary is in September.) Where has the time gone? Before I started, I already had experience with playing crystal singing bowls and helping people build their own collections. Prior to that, I'd been self-employed for many years. I ran a personal training business for 10 years and then set up as a freelance project manager supporting wellness brands. Still, I had so much to learn about putting myself out there and earning a living through my own business. 

As always, I’d love to share that knowledge with you to support your own journey, whether you have been running your own wellness business for 10 years or 1 day. There’s something so special about women sharing their experiences and wisdom they have picked up along the way. I’ve received amazing advice and encouragement from other women. Now I’d like to pass it on to you. 

My advice for sound practitioners and wellness business owners 

Working in the wellness space can be so fulfilling. You get to share practices that have meant so much to you and have a positive impact on other people. At the same time, you do have to promote yourself which can feel uncomfortable and deal with the business side of things which is all new. If I could go back in time and give myself a bit of direction and encouragement at the beginning of my business, this is what I’d say. 

Imposter syndrome is normal

Experiencing imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It means you’re doing something new. Your first event can be terrifying (in my experience). Each event gets easier and the part of you that’s fearful gets a little quieter. The buzz you feel afterwards and your intention for doing it always makes it worth it. A little fear never hurt anyone. It’s a sign that you’re growing.  

Don’t undercharge

I understand the temptation to keep costs down to get more work but you put a lot into each offering and you deserve to honour that. Work out the time and energy involved in running your sound bath, event, workshop or retreat, making sure to factor in your travel and preparation time. Then decide if £30 for an event feels fair. 

At the start, it might feel right to say yes to everything to gain experience. Some exchanges and free offerings when you start out can be beneficial. Just make sure you clearly outline the terms beforehand so you know what you are receiving in exchange for your hard work. Are they going to tag you, write a post about you, offer a testimonial for your website, or link you in their event listing and social media etc? 

Not every collaboration or invitation to share your work will feel right. You generally get a feeling in your body whether something is aligned or not. Listen to your intuition. You learn to feel more content with saying no the more you have experience in working with people and in spaces that light you up. 

You can’t be good at everything

Running a business means wearing many hats. More than you realise before you start! It would be crazy to think you’ll be good at accounting, planning, hosting, designing, strategy, copywriting, data analysis, research and creative ideas. So you’re not a bad business owner if you find some parts of running a business hard. 

I realised my strengths early on and I’m not afraid to admit the areas I struggle in and pay for support. That might not be possible for you at the start due to finances. It’s normal to try to do everything on your own and it's a good experience to have as you might learn that you’re actually better at some areas of running a business than you originally thought. 

There are no failures, only learnings

Don’t be hard on yourself if things don’t go to plan. It happens to everyone! Even if at the time it doesn’t feel like it, it helps your business grow. I’m more of a trial it out and see person rather than a strategic planner. I’ve made mistakes along the way. Many things I thought would work haven’t but I see them as learnings instead of failures. 

Running a business requires you to spend money not knowing if you’ll make anything back in return. That’s the risk but it can also be fun when those ideas do work out. It’s through trial and error that you learn what works for you and your business. If you wait for everything to be crystal clear and planned out before you begin, you might find that you never make the jump to actually start and learn the lessons that help you grow.

Don’t be put off if you’re not an overnight success

A business takes time to build and consistency is key. We rarely get instant gratification, however nice that would be! It’s hard to know at the start whether your blog posts, social posts or website are reaching people and making a difference. The impact of everything you’re doing in your business can be hard to measure, but trust that over time all of your efforts have been worthwhile. It’s hard to keep showing up some days, but no one else is going to show up for you. We have to be our own biggest cheerleaders! 

It’s like planting seeds. Things take time to grow and flourish. Someone may have been following your posts for a few years but not made it to one of your offerings. You’re still on their radar. One day they will become a client and they’ll tell you they’ve been quietly following and inspired by what you share for a long time. 

Just to put it into perspective, I always wanted to be found on Google through organic search, not ads. It’s taken me almost 5 years and now I get enquiries through Google. If I hadn’t continuously posted new content and kept my website up to date, this might not have been the case. The small actions add up. Keep showing up even when you think no one’s watching. 

5 years later and all these (and many other!) lessons learned, I can still say that starting my business was the best thing I ever did. It gave me the freedom to live life my way and the fulfilment of earning a living doing something that matters to me. Each day, I feel like I’m making a small difference. I’m having a ripple effect of good on the world, whether someone discovers the power of crystal singing bowls through my posts or I’ve helped a practitioner choose a new bowl for their next sound bath. 

Whatever stage you’re at in your wellness business, I wish you all the best. I’m here to support you. I offer mentorship sessions which are an hour where you can ask me anything about crystal singing bowls, sound baths and running your own wellness business. Whether you are just getting started or you’ve experienced a confidence dip, this is an opportunity to talk to someone who has been there and reconnect to your bowls and your business.