If It Feels Like Your Business is Failing… Here’s Why It’s Likely Not

Here’s my story in a nutshell. Its arc follows the same trajectory as have most other business owners I know!

I founded Sela Vie in 2017 from a personal need for flexible job I could take anywhere—this was before remote work was the norm. See Point 1—it was just me, hustling and trying to learn, and not even yet working as a designer! At that time, I was contracting virtual assistance services to businesses owned by a few family members and friends, and never could’ve imagined that such a thing would one day bloom into a fully operational design studio with a team of talented women whom I LOVE.

And, as you can see, that transformation certainly didn’t take place overnight—small business ownership is typically NOT a smooth or linear journey. IYKYK. It’s full of highs, lows, and bumps in between.

 Two years in, I was actually designing (yay!), but was the literal definition of overworked, underpaid, and lacking the freedom that was supposed to have been the whole point. See Point 2—a real low.

 Three years in, I’d formed a repeatable-ish process, was booking bigger projects, and was semi-routinely shutting my computer before 9 pm. See Point 3—a comparable victory! Sela Vie was doing fine, but was not yet the well-oiled machine for which I hoped. At least, though, I could pause long enough at that point to consider how to level up.

 With some much-needed help from wise and experienced people (shoutout to my business coach, Morgan Rapp), I then slowly started to scale my operations AND regain my joy. I took a risk and hired part-time support! With that support, I could do more, so revenue increased, but now I had people to pay, so profits were slim. See Point 4.

 Inching forward, it became more possible to make greater investments in both tools and talent that increased Sela Vie’s service quality and speed and afforded opportunities to increase prices. See Point 5—profits finally scaled, I started to get my life back, and it finally felt like the freedom for which I started this whole journey was within reach.

Then, to keep up, I hired more help, and profits stalled accordingly. See Point 6—it’s a dance, y’all.

Through all this time, I and my team learned how streamline our efforts to provide clients with everything brand- and website-related they need, and nothing they don’t. We were known for offering engaging and effective branding, messaging, and website design that scaled ambitious founders to industry front-runner status, AND for carefully stewarding clients’ appropriately-priced investments. Everybody loves that; see Point 7—we expanded! Revenue increase! Yay!

And then here we arrive closer to present-day… As a B2B operation, when a recession hits, it almost automatically means higher expenses and lower revenue. See Point 8—another stall in profits.

But we have the history to know that the cycle repeats! See Point 9 and beyond—it always will. So, going forward, be cautious and strategic, but don’t give in to hopelessness.

Remind yourself on occasion to zoom out your perspective and appreciate the upward trend that takes place over time. And then don’t quit. It’s usually not those with the best talent or tools who win, but those who stay in the game.

Here’s a great book on this topic if you’re interested.

Rooting for you, friends!