We all know that the online world is chaotic and glorifies reality. Words like FOMO are created because we idealize these online personas that just aren’t real.
Sometimes, social media can portray entrepreneurship as a walk in the park, smooth sailing. Entrepreneurship is not a game you just jump into because it looks fun and free.
Sure, controlling your own schedule and success is great, but it is f*cking hard work. It requires you to make unimaginably hard decisions.
I’ve been there, babe.
Entrepreneurship needs to stop being glamorized- full stop.
We all like to share good news on social media, and many make their lives look more appealing and more perfect than they really are- no one wants to talk about the darker, more stressful aspects of life- we need to normalize having those types of conversations.
I’ll start by sharing a snippet of the stress I’m dealing with in my own life-
My current reality that you don’t see on Instagram?
I am forced to stay in the US until I get my E-2 Visa Interview (which I had to invest over $100,000+ into my business to just QUALIFY for it). Covid has delayed this over 6 months. I am now missing life events with loved ones that I quite literally cry almost daily over.
It’s stressful, challenging, and mentally draining.
When you’re an ambitious woman, you may not be comfortable sharing the struggles and pitfalls of everyday life with the world, let alone even those close to you. Being vulnerable may not be the most natural for you, and when you lack a community to share these struggles with, it’s easy to feel lonely and overwhelmed. Isolated.
And when you’re an entrepreneur, you’re not only emotionally vulnerable, but you’re putting everything on the line.
Entrepreneurship is a huge risk:
– It requires a massive investment (emotionally and financially).
– Immigration/Citizenship is your responsibility (and let’s not even talk about intercountry/inter-province/inter-state complications or taxes).
– Security is not given. Income is not guaranteed.
– You don’t get tax slips, employee share purchase plans, or retirement packages.
– You are responsible for your own medical/dental/life insurance.
– You manage all finances, expenses, taxes, cash flow, PnL investments, loans, banking and are SOLELY responsible for maintaining healthy profit margins and ROIs.
You have to be your own CFO, CMO, COO, CSO, all while delivering exceptional results for your clients.
It is f*cking hard work.
So here’s to not letting the online world glamorize entrepreneurship. Be extremely proud of yourself for what you are accomplishing, and remember that you’re NOT alone in this. You are one in a million, babe, and you are already a Million Dollar Woman for it.
