It’s been nearly 6 years since launching dovetail digital (f.k.a Dovetail Group). I have experienced the joy of building something from the ground up with the level of excitement, challenges, and rewards I know I’d never have experienced if I had stayed in the corporate world – although, sometimes, that really does seem like the easier option. I am no stranger to the struggles that come with owning your own business and I’d be lying if I said it’s been all chocolates and roses – the facade never tells the real story of what it takes to keep things operational and looking, feeling, great! On the contrary, with global pandemics, recurring self-doubt, and a lack of consistent financials, I have certainly questioned the rollercoaster ride I committed myself to back in 2017.
The need for constant motivation, passion, and energy can certainly feel overwhelming. As such, I wanted to capture some of the thoughts and feelings I’ve experienced along the way and how energy is often the forgotten driving force behind any business and accept the importance of seeking external assistance to navigate the highs and lows of doing it yourself.
The need for constant motivation, passion, and energy can certainly feel overwhelming. As such, I wanted to capture some of the thoughts and feelings I’ve experienced along the way and how energy is often the forgotten driving force behind any business and accept the importance of seeking external assistance to navigate the highs and lows of doing it yourself.
The Spark and the Struggle
The idea of starting my own business was planted around 2009. I have always been someone who wanted to make a difference and dovetail digital was fuelled by this passion. As small to mid-sized business owners, that initial spark is what ignites the fire within us to take risks, pursue our dreams, and build something meaningful. However, along the way, we encounter challenges that can dim that flame of motivation and drain our energy.
Maintaining Motivation
Finding and maintaining motivation is bloody hard when you are doing it yourself! It’s harder than you can ever imagine when you’re “working for the man” in the corporate world. It may seem to be a “romantic” and exciting idea but the reality is, it’s daunting. I’ve learned to accept the natural experience of the ups and downs but, it is essential to develop your own ways to keep that flame burning. Setting goals, both short-term and long-term are helpful and will provide a sense of direction and purpose but the reality is you will stray from these, regularly! But, don’t beat yourself up over it! Don’t forget to stop and celebrate the small victories – this can go a long way to help re-fuel your energy and just keep “punching“.
The Power of Passion & Energy
The Power of Passion & Energy
Some people say “passion” is overrated. Personally, I think it’s the equal most important “superpower” (along with energy) to exude to help you achieve what you’ve dreamed of. For me, passion and energy go hand-in-hand. If you have a passion for something, you need the energy to exude it. If you have the energy, then you need to be passionate about something to exhaust it – one really fuels the other – even in the face of adversity. I am truly passionate about dovetail digital and how we can help small to mid-sized businesses achieve what the “big boys” have been doing across the digital landscape, for years.
I’ve found that running my own business I’ve needed to become comfortable with being uncomfortable as it’s not uncommon for my energy to flicker – rarely does my level of passion change. In these moments, I try to reconnect with the reasons why I started dovetail digital and remind myself of the positive impact we have had, which helps re-fuel my energy.
Seeking External Help
If you own or manage a business, you should never feel like you have to go it alone – the reality is though, you will! I’ve certainly learned to seek external help to overcome obstacles or move toward the future of getting things done in a timely manner. This in itself can help maintain your energy levels, allowing you to focus on the business strategy, business development or whatever it is you really love doing.
Seeking support from external people or businesses is a strength, especially when you reflect on the achievements you have made. Find and connect with other businesses passionate about helping You. Consider external business partners that don’t have 10s of 10s or hundreds of clients and can really help alleviate you of the essential, yet time-consuming tasks – we did this ourselves earlier this year by partnering with our new team of web developers, SEO and social media specialists each bringing the energy required to execute our plans in a more efficient and timely and cost-effective manner. We now have a schedule of work that is executed with more consistency and effort. Surrounding ourselves with the right people who understand the challenges we and our clients face provides the motivation and support we need to keep pushing forward with the growth of dovetail digital.
Seeking support from external people or businesses is a strength, especially when you reflect on the achievements you have made. Find and connect with other businesses passionate about helping You. Consider external business partners that don’t have 10s of 10s or hundreds of clients and can really help alleviate you of the essential, yet time-consuming tasks – we did this ourselves earlier this year by partnering with our new team of web developers, SEO and social media specialists each bringing the energy required to execute our plans in a more efficient and timely and cost-effective manner. We now have a schedule of work that is executed with more consistency and effort. Surrounding ourselves with the right people who understand the challenges we and our clients face provides the motivation and support we need to keep pushing forward with the growth of dovetail digital.
Outsourcing and Delegating
As business owners, you will often hear that you have to wear multiple hats while juggling various responsibilities simultaneously. Not a truer spoken! I will stand by this because the reality is it’s hard work! No one cares more about your business than you! However, thinking you can do everything yourself will lead to burnout and a lack of energy. Learning to let go and delegate or outsource certain functions to trusted professionals will free up your time and headspace, allowing you to focus on your strengths and the core aspects of our business. Recognising that you don’t have to do it all but instead leveraging external expertise can be the difference between energy and success and energy-sapping failure.
Recharging and Self-Care
Business ownership can be all-consuming, leaving little time for self-care, family and recharging. I’ve needed to remind myself on many occasions that neglecting my well-being has a detrimental effect on my energy levels and overall performance – late nights and not switching off when the family has, is not cool for you or your family. Taking regular breaks, engaging in activities that bring us happiness and prioritising your self-care are not negative signs of your commitment to your business but rather essential components of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Sustaining the energy necessary to navigate the highs and lows of business ownership requires the ability to nurture your physical and mental well-being.
The Final Words…
Being a small to mid-sized business owner is a flux of incredible highs but also some lows filled with both triumphs and challenges. While the struggle to maintain motivation, passion, and energy may seem daunting, it is crucial to remember that it is not a journey to be undertaken alone. By recognising and embracing the profound impact of energy, you can unlock your business’s true potential, driving growth, innovation, and ultimately your own measurement of success.
