This week on March 8th, Dots & Dust celebrated its 4th birthday.

It was four years ago that I took the leap and opened our little Etsy shop with Girl Boss being our very first watercolor set that I sold. I have experienced some wonderful triumphs and some major fails in the lifespan of this small business. And have learned so much along the way.

Today, as I reflect on the past 4 years, I want to share with you some of the things that I have learned and experiences that have made a HUGE impact on how I look at creative entrepreneurship and being a woman business owner.

Asking for help is the smartest thing you can do.

I think one of the traits that entrepreneurs take on when we just get started is that we feel we should do everything on our own.

As women, we are gifted with abilities of being able to “wear many hats,” but for some odd reason we feel like asking for help can make us look “weak” or “not good enough.”

Four years ago, that was my mentality. But what I have come to realize is that people really do want to help. I just have to lay down my pride and ask for it.

My husband, for example, has been a HUGE part of how I am able to do what I love with my business. When I was able to look at him and say, “I really need your help” he stepped in and took on roles that I am forever grateful for. From being in charge of the finances with Dots & Dust to listening to my crazy ideas and helping me organize them into sound projects, he has been a lifesaver. And his help hasn’t stopped at just the “business” part of my life. But it has also been keeping me straight with everything it takes to be a woman of God, a mother, a spouse, and a daughter.

Yes. You are capable of doing things all on your own. But when you do all the things by yourself, you will quickly see that you are doing your business and your personal life a disservice.

You are not alone.

Which brings me to my next lesson. You are not alone in this thing we call “life.” Find your people and hold on to them…tightly.

In the beginning, I felt that since I was an introvert, artist, and business owner, that my life was going to be super lonely. I mean, how was I going to have a social life, be a mom, a wife, and a kick butt business owner all at the same time and find someone who could understand the pressures of all that?

Then I realized that all I had to do was get out of my shell & find the women who were in the exact same boat as me.

Joining a mastermind group of women who are balancing all those different roles and more was exactly what I needed to see that friendships can be found in this new life I have made for myself. These amazing women business owners that I can now happily call my friends could all relate to the stresses, joys, and challenges that can be found in the world of small businesses.

We celebrate our accomplishments together. And we work through challenges together.

It’s like a second family. And I love it!

Start looking at your business in a manner of where you want to go.

Not where you are currently.

This is a big one. A lot of us jump into a business implementing processes that are good for us at the beginning, but lack what we really need to help our businesses grow. So in an essence, we look and focus on the present and not the future and vision for where we ultimately want the business to become.

For example, when I just started Dots & Dust, I chose to open our ecommerce shop on Etsy. At the time I also had a blog on WordPress.

I will never forget what our CPA said to us when she finished our taxes that first year.

“So good news is that you actually made a considerable amount of money this year. Bad news? You would have made more if you were not on Etsy.”

After really diving in and doing our research, the hubby and I realized that with us being on Etsy, they were taking so many fees from our profits that we would have been better off having everything in a website that we owned. So in 2020, we said goodbye to Etsy and moved our blog and our shop to our very own domain.

Now, don’t worry. I am still learning this lesson today. As our business grows from strictly a product-based business to now offering in-person art workshops and, in the future, hosting online courses, I am learning about new software to implement and people we may need to hire as we grow. It’s a lot. But this is why the vision of your business is so important to keep clear in your mind at all times.

Dreaming big is always encouraged with your business. The question lies in have you set up processes and implemented things NOW that will help you succeed in the future?

Sometimes you just need to trust God and do the dang thing.

There are more times than I’d like to admit that I chose not to take on an opportunity because 1) I didn’t consult God about it or 2) I didn’t feel I was equipped with the skills to do that project justice.

My first mistake was one not consulting God. The second was putting limitations on myself which in return means I was putting limitations on what God could do with that opportunity. I chose pride, fear, and comfort over courage, trust, and faith.

I have learned that the more I consult the Lord in my decisions and feel his blessing over it, I am more often pleasantly surprised with how everything turns out in the end. And that very opportunity feeds into another one that brings up my confidence as a business owner.

This past year, I was asked to teach watercolor to the Illustrated Faith community. For me, it was a chance of a lifetime. I would be able to give back to a community that 5 years ago gave me everything. So I was scared, but I prayed on it. I was fearful, but I trusted that this was God’s calling for me. So I did it. And boy, am I glad I did.

Not every experience or thing you say “Yes” to will be a homerun. I have failed at so many things over the past four years in business. But I learn from those mistakes and I move on to bigger, better opportunities. Time is precious. Don’t waste it on paste mistakes.

You are the heart of your business. Treat it well.

Being a business owner is a tough position. You literally have made the decision to turn in your “9 to 5” job for an “around the clock” gig. Burnout is real and can take a toll on you spiritually, mentally, and physically.

Some things that I would keep in mind to stay on top of all of this:

Read books that help inspire and bring you joy.
Take the time to rest but don’t quit.
Take care of your body. Get a good amount of rest each night. Move & exercise everyday. Drink lots of water. Eat cleaner foods that energize and keep you strong.
Find a spiritual or bible study group to help keep you grounded.
Make it a habit to take walks and have the sunshine hit your face.
Schedule time to be with friends and “no work allowed” vacations with your family.
Declutter your home and your schedule.
Stay organized.
Keep your processes simple and easy to manage.

Dots & Dust has a lot of years to come as we grow. I am incredibly grateful for all these lessons that I have learned that have helped mold me into the business woman I am today.

Comment below with what you have learned being a business owner for as long as you have.