10 Things I've Learned In My First Year In Business

This month, Mee & You Beauty turned one! It’s been an incredible year & while there have certainly been some challenges, it’s been one of the best ones yet, & it’s all thanks to the beautiful community that surrounds our Paddington salon. So if you’ve booked a treatment at Mee & You Beauty of stopped in to say hi, thank you!  

I’ve been reflecting on this big milestone & the last 12 months & wanted to share some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I know the Mee & You Beauty community is made up of are self-employed biz owners, side hustlers & corporate girl bosses, so I wanted to share the lessons I’ve learned in my first year in business. I hope you find it helpful! 

Lesson #1

Don’t be afraid to ask for help – No one expects you to know everything or be able to do everything on your own especially if it’s your first business. I have found people are more than willing to help even if it’s just by listening to you vent over coffee! 

Lesson #2

OUTSOURCE, OUTSOURCE, OUTSOURCE – As a self-confessed control freak this was one of the hardest lessons for me to learn. Realising that you can’t in fact do everything (or at least do everything well) was a tough pill for me to swallow but has saved me so much time & money! 

Lesson #3 

Get yourself an accountant that you trust – It was important to me to have someone looking over the finances so that I’m kept accountable & reminded of all of the pesky bills like GST that pop up at the most inconvenient times!

Lesson #4

 Plan ahead where you can – There have been many times throughout the year that I have simply run out of time to implement certain activations, promotions or newness due to a lack of planning. My big goal for 2020 is to plan ahead where I can & be able to capitalise on all opportunities that I’m presented.

Lesson #5

 The importance of routine – In particular a morning routine.  I’ve never been a routine person until this year, it has seriously changed my life. Waking up, exercising & eating a decent breakfast has been a big game-changer for my energy levels & mental clarity in the morning.

Lesson #6 

 Learn to say no – This is a hard one, particularly for people who thrive off of making people feel good! Early on in the year I would agree to meet every brand rep, attend every function & do every free treatment for people to ensure I didn’t upset anyone! I quickly realised that I was wasting a lot of time in meetings & at functions that I knew I wanted nothing out of. Learning to respectfully say no has meant I have been able to say yes to things that will benefit me & the business. 

Lesson #7

Surround yourself with people you trust & admire – This whole process would have been a million times harder without the friends & family I am lucky enough to have to support me. I have also fostered some really amazing business (& personal) relationships with a number of women whose outlook & attitude towards business & work I really admire. They drive me to constantly improve. 

Lesson #8 

Celebrate the small wins – there is no denying that opening any small business is bloody hard. More than 60% of small businesses close their doors within the first 3 years. This is why it’s so important to give yourself a pat of the back, even if it’s just the beginning of your journey! I’m lucky enough to have an incredible husband that reminds me constantly that I’m doing a good job & need to be super proud of what we’ve achieved this year!

Lesson #9 

Enjoy the slow periods & remember to take time off – It’s very easy to get stuck in the #hustle bubble in the early stages of new business, the need to feel like you’re always “on” is something I have definitely felt. I have had to teach myself to enjoy when it’s slow & take advantage of the downtime because the next week you could be run off your feet! 

Lesson #10 

Finally – NEVER PAINT A SPRAY TAN ROOM WHITE – As aesthetically pleasing as it is, it’s just not practical. 

Thank you to all of the beautiful clients who continue to support Mee & You Beauty & visit us in the salon for all of your beauty treatments. Whether we see each other a couple of times a year or every month, I’m so grateful!