What I'd Tell Myself 4 Years Ago Before Quitting My Job for Entrepreneurship
Share
Let's Get Unsexy Podcast Show Notes
Episode Summary
Girl, let me take you on a journey! In this episode, I'm sitting down with my 2021 self - the woman who was about to leave her university job to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. After four years of building a six-figure handmade business, I'm sharing the real, unsexy truths I wish I knew before taking that leap of faith.
This isn't your typical "follow your dreams" fluff. This is me getting real about the mindset shifts, hard conversations, and strategic moves that would've saved me months of struggle and thousands of dollars in mistakes.
Key Topics Covered
1. Get a Hold of Your Utopia Syndrome
- Stop romanticizing entrepreneurship as "happy, happy, joy, joy" 24/7
- There's no magical revenue number where life becomes easier
- Prepare for equally hard decisions as an entrepreneur
- Embrace the ups and downs - they're building your endurance
2. Lose the Scarcity Mindset
- Stop bending over backwards for every customer out of fear
- Set boundaries to protect your health and business sustainability
- You're not Amazon - embrace your handmade, personalized process
- Boundaries create better customer experiences, not worse ones
3. Overcome Shiny Object Syndrome
- Focus on what's working instead of chasing every new opportunity
- Calculate the true cost: materials, time, energy, storage
- Get sustainable with core products before expanding
- Learn to walk before you try to run
4. Have Hard Strategic Conversations with Yourself
- Ask: "What's the worst-case scenario if I invest in this equipment?"
- Explore payment plans and financing options instead of playing it too safe
- Regularly assess: What's working? What's not? What needs doubling down?
- Stop spreading yourself thin across mediocre efforts
5. The Reality Check: You're Gonna Love It (Even When It's Hard)
- Long hours during busy seasons (hello, December birthday workathons!)
- One-star reviews that'll knock you off your tracks
- Products that fail completely
- $200 left in the bank account moments
- BUT also: hiring your mom, mentoring your godchildren, customer stories that make you smile
Major Lessons Learned
On Equipment Investment: Waited 5 months for a $700 laser, outgrew it in 1 month. Should've invested in the $6,000 laser from the start.
On Business Growth: Revenue heights never imagined, but also lows that tested faith. The grace of God has been everything.
On Identity: Don't define yourself by what you've accomplished - define yourself by who you are as a person.
Practical Takeaways
✅ Join entrepreneurship communities - don't just consume content, actively participate
✅ Set production timelines and stick to them - protect your process
✅ Invest in equipment when you have proof of concept - don't let scarcity hold you back
✅ Focus on sustainability before expansion - master walking before running
✅ Ask yourself hard strategic questions regularly - be your own business consultant
What's Next?
I'm steering this ship toward creating a go-to space for Christian business owners and entrepreneurs. Think devotionals, strategic journaling questions, and eventually a Discord community where we can support each other through the ups and downs of this journey.
Because entrepreneurship can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be. We're building something beautiful here, and I want you to be part of it.
Connect with Dr. Tasia
📧 Email List: Sign up at 316studio.co for encouragement, strategy, and community updates
🎙️ Podcast: Let's Get Unsexy (formerly Rebirth - yes, I went back and forth on that name!)
"The safest place to be is in the will of God. If you are where God would have you, despite the ups and downs, you are exactly where you're supposed to be." - Tasia's Grandmother
Stay blessed, and remember - there's beauty in the unsexy parts of entrepreneurship too! 💕