Staying true to yourself in business ✨
Star Castle Studio provides soul-centered entrepreneurs with tips and custom-created visuals needed to beautifully run a professionally branded business and make an unforgettable impression online.
When running your own business, the (very accurate) thought: “I’m lucky to be doing what I love” can sometimes blind you to serious red flags. Since you’re not working for someone else, it can be difficult to know what is and isn’t ‘allowed’— making it all too easy to overwork, undercharge, and ultimately lose your sovereignty while on your road to success… but it doesn’t have to be this way!
One of the major perks of starting your own business is that YOU get to make the rules.
As a passionate entrepreneur, you work best when things feel aligned with your values & intentions, but how exactly do you maintain and protect that alignment?
1. Be picky about who you work with.
You’re in charge of who gets the privilege to work with you.
It’s important to curate what type of projects you want to take on and / or what type of clients you feel most called to serve. When you love what you do, it can be tempting to accept any and all projects that come in — especially when you’re just starting out, but if you’re continuously accepting ‘nightmare’ clients, you will ultimately attract more.
By being selective, you’ll be able to provide your (lucky & exclusive) clients with top-notch service and your absolute best work!
Listen to your initial gut feeling about the project you’re considering to tackle— unapologetically saying NO to work that feels heavy, icky or just plain boring is key to staying inspired in the day-to-day. Yes, it may feel counterintuitive to turn down potential clients that are eager to pay, but it’s essential to protect how you feel about your business. This is especially true if it’s something that clashes with your core values.
2. Stand up for yourself
It’s ALWAYS important to stand in your power–
not just as a business owner, but also as an individual.
If a client isn’t respecting your boundaries, providing the information you need, or anything else that’s preventing you from doing your best work — let them know. There’s always a professional way to affirm what’s expected; be gentle yet assertive. It’s best to voice your concerns about when things don’t feel right, rather than to wait until resentment (inevitably) boils over.
If they choose to continue the undesired behavior, stand in your power and step away. You deserve to be treated with respect. Just as HR would handle these types of issues at a large company, it’s YOUR job to ensure these boundaries are upheld as a business owner. Your time and effort are invaluable and if someone doesn’t see that, it’s time to cut the chord.
3. Stay the course — ignoring things that don’t align.
AKA no more shiny object syndrome
Whether or not you’re the ‘face’ of your brand, you ARE the heart of your business.
If your brand aligns with your personal values and preferences, it’s easy to show up and simply be yourself. If your brand starkly contrasts with who you are, you’ll need to focus on staying true to that foundation in order to resonate with your audience (or better yet, consider rebranding to recalibrate how your business shows up with your most authentic self.)
Purposely reject visual trends that don’t align with your dreamiest vision. While you may feel like the only one not taking part in the ‘hot new craze’, you’ll stand out by proudly staying true to what makes your business unique.
This holds true for both visuals and messaging. Just because everyone is posting about ‘X’ on social media doesn’t mean you have to, unless it feels aligned for you & your business. As an entrepreneur, YOU get to write your own rules. Don’t feel pressured to support, share or talk about anything you don’t want to.
4. Never undervalue what you offer.
Whether you’re just starting out or just looking to improve your already working system, there will always be someone ‘better’. More money, followers, experience, whatever… but no one can offer what YOU provide specifically.
You’re above doing free work for ‘exposure’ or taking on a project purely out of obligation… Get clear on how you help people, and don’t let anyone belittle what it is you do.
Your work may not be for everyone, but it’s exactly what your dreamiest clients/customers are looking for – and are happy to pay for.
Become familiar with the incredible (+ unique!) power of what you bring to the table and charge accordingly.
You got this.
I’ll be the first to admit: it’s not easy running your own business.
The number one thing that ALWAYS helps is asking for support when you need it. If you’re ready to stop worrying about how your business is showing up online, I’m your girl.
I offer Magical Maintenance:
5, 10, and 15 hour monthly design retainers
so that small business owners, like you, can get a professional designer on their team!
If you’re truly embodying the tips above and showing up as your most authentic self in your business, please know you have an eager designer in sunny florida waiting to tap into your vision and make custom, impactful visuals for you!
Let’s connect on a free 15 min Castle Call and brainstorm how we can take things to the next level for you :)
