3 Years Later: 3 Things I’ve Learned About Being In Business
We recently had our 3-year anniversary here at red vine (prior to simple sprout). I guess that means we’re officially out of our terrible 2’s!
Three years in business means a few things. It means that we’re effectively one year closer to avoiding the awful business failure statistics. (50% of businesses fail within the first five years.) It also means that we’ve learned quite a bit.
Here are just three things I’ve learned in three years of business.
1. It really is who you know.
They say in business – and in many things in life – it’s not what you know, but who you know. After three years, I’ve come to see that’s more than true.
For red vine – and more specifically the marketing services at red vine – it’s best to complete SEO or blogging projects while a new website is concurrently being created. So our collaborative external network of developers is very important to the success of our business.
It makes sense that since we offer services that their web design/development only shops don’t, we can lean on one another for certain projects.
I’m eternally grateful for the relationships I’ve built – and continue to grow – over the past three years and beyond.
2. Things will always change.
No matter what business you’re in, the industry, your customers, your products and services, and any variation in between will change. They will grow and evolve over time.
The important lesson for business owners is to be not only willing to grow and change with the times, but able to as well. For the second you start becoming unwilling and unable to learn and change, you might as well close up shop.
(Personally, I love that things change. Life would be boring if everything was always the same!)
3. You will be as successful as you want to be.
This last one is a more recent revelation for me.
For many entrepreneurs who stay in business long enough, you will reach a certain point where you can become as successful as you want to be.
You can choose to only work for 20 hours a week, but you will only be that successful.
You can choose to put only half your energy into your work, but you will only be that successful.
You can choose to make only small risks, but you will only be that successful.
Running a business comes with plenty of rewards, benefits, and flexibility…but not without its risks, downfalls, and hard times. You and you alone have the opportunity to be as successful as you want to be.
Here’s to the next three years for red vine web studio!