My experience starting a business...
Hi guys, I would like to share with you guys my experience starting my first business with an actual product.
I have tried and experimented with a lot of e-commerce businesses before this - none of them worked.
I decided to take a look at my notes and found an idea that has been sitting there for a year. I usually write ideas in my notes - just in case. I was like a typical modern entrepreneur that jumped from one business to another without giving it time or even researching properly.
This time I learnt my lesson. I started work on it instantly, did my research and held it together, even when I saw no results.
My product is called ROCKJAW. It is a natural jawline enhancer that helps to grow the masseter muscles that are located on your jaw.
It's made from Chios mastic gum, originating from Greece - where it is the only place in the world that produces it. It is also the first flavoured mastic gum on the market.
I made a post about it on Reddit before and got great support, which motivated me to push the business further.
You can find out more information about ROCKJAW at www.rockjaw.co.uk.
I am almost 4 months into this business and things are very different.
Sales have been meh, where some weeks are great and some weeks have less sales - but this is business, there is no security and this is not for anyone chasing after security in the early days.
My ads have been a rollercoaster to deal with - Facebook having blocking my account every time I post an advertisement, without explanation. Recently I’ve been chasing them to unblock it - it’s been a month and I’ve had no luck.
Moving on, I have been relying on Google Ads, which is currently the main source of traffic, followed by organic searches. This hasn’t been so bad, but with Facebook, things could’ve been much better - but I guess you have to deal with what you have in the moment.
Anyway, I will talk about some of the things I have faced during these 2 months.
Firstly, burnout is real!
At first, everything was a breeze. High energy, high motivation. Then things changed. I've burned out so many times doing everything A-Z myself. I've not been able to outsource any tasks as I don't have enough money to pay people to do things. I've had days where I've felt extreme fatigue and unable to do anything. But you have to remember the end goal. You're not working for you, you're working for your business, your dream.
It's much harder to put ideas down in reality
Any business ideas you have, it takes weeks and hours of planning to get things going. I felt going with the flow and slowly changing things is so much better and effective, especially if you're the only person working on it. This will cost you a lot of money with no uncertainty. I guess that's the beauty of entrepreneurship.
Motivation comes and goes
On a typical day, I go to the gym then start working on my business. It's easier to stay motivated after working out as you get into the flow. Sometimes you will feel very motivated, sometimes you won’t. Sometimes at night, you can't sleep because you're worried about the next step for your business. But you do eventually fall asleep.
You will change things - again and again
I've changed the packaging so many times in just 4 months. I have improved everything and will continue to do so. It’s the best part. I've made processes efficient for me, saving valuable time. I’ve even changed the way I make the product.
Nevertheless, It's easy to get lost in direction and where you want to take the business. But focus on the end goal and It's then a game of trial and error. You must know when to pivot.
The people you 'are close to' will probably support you the least
From when I started this business, most people brushed over it without showing any support. I've had a handful of friends that showed their support. Then again I've had strangers showing more support for my business then people I am close to. This will happen and your business will test every relationship in your life. It will reveal things you never knew.
To conclude this post
There is uncertainty tied to any business - even life is. Remember, it's better to take the chance now than to look back in 10 years time thinking "I should've done that".
Forget what anyone thinks, this is your journey. When you feel demotivated our burnout, take a step back and give yourself a break.
I apologise for any grammatical errors. If you have any questions, do let me know. Some parts may be cringe but someone had to say it.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
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