Your Business Isn't Stuck. You Just Don't Trust You
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Let's Get Unsexy Podcast Show Notes
Host: Dr. Tasia Eraseren
Episode Summary
Girl, let me take you back to May when I was still working from home, about to make the scariest and most faith-filled decision of my life. This episode is pure story time - the real, unfiltered journey of how I went from praying and fasting in my university office to building a six-figure handmade business.
But here's the thing - this isn't just about quitting your job. It's about that moment when you realize your business isn't actually stuck... you just don't trust yourself enough to make the moves God has already equipped you to make.
The Story Behind the Decision
The Prayer and the Approval
- Been praying and fasting about starting my business
- Got the most important approval: my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
- Grandmother's wisdom: "The safest place to be is in the will of God"
- When you're where God would have you, despite ups and downs, you're exactly where you're supposed to be
The Professional Exit
- Gave my boss several months' notice because I valued my colleagues
- Wanted to train my replacement and help with university deadlines
- Boss was supportive: "We can keep this between us in case you change your mind."
- But girl, I already had that resignation letter drafted and ready to send
The Family Reaction
- Didn't tell anyone I was thinking about this
- Mom's response when I said I prayed about it: "That's all I need to hear."
- Mom revealed: "The Lord told me once that Tasia gonna be an entrepreneur"
- Those words became my anchor during the ups and downs
The Wake-Up Call: What I'd Tell My 2021 Self
1. Get a Hold of Your Utopia Syndrome
Girl, stop crafting this imaginary ideal world where entrepreneurship is "happy, happy, joy, joy" 24/7. That's not real life!
Reality Check:
- There's no magical number (1,000 sales, 5,000 sales) where life becomes easier
- Sometimes life becomes harder and more complicated as you grow
- You'll face equally hard decisions as an entrepreneur - it doesn't stop at quitting your job
- Equipment investments, warehouse decisions, revenue ups and downs - it's all part of the journey
The Truth: Entrepreneurship is a blessing and it's beautiful, but there will still be ups and downs. You're strong enough with the help of the Lord to conquer them all.
2. Lose the Scarcity Mindset (This One's Big, Y'all)
I used to bend over backwards, sideways, front, back, and around for customers because I was scared of losing a sale.
What Scarcity Looked Like:
- Working around the clock with no boundaries
- Rush orders because "time just escaped me, mom brain, I need this by Saturday"
- Trying to be Amazon when I'm one person doing handmade, personalized items
- Burning myself out to the point where I started resenting my business
The Mindset Shift:
- I am NOT Amazon - and that's perfectly fine
- Boundaries create better customer experiences, not worse ones
- If I'm burnt out, I'm no good to my business
- Setting boundaries protects my health mentally, emotionally, and physically
3. Overcome Shiny Object Syndrome
In four years, I kept seeing something and thinking "Oh, look at this! Let me add this product, and this product, and this product."
The Real Cost:
- Not just introducing one item - it's purchasing ALL the materials
- 15 different color options means keeping up with 15 different inventories
- Time that could be spent on marketing what's already working
- Money sitting in cutting boards that aren't moving (yes, that's me right now!)
The Better Way: Get to a place where you're sustainable, then be strategic about what you introduce. Learn to walk before you try to run.
4. Have Hard Strategic Conversations with Yourself
I wish I had sat down and asked myself the tough questions:
Equipment Investment Example:
- What's the worst-case scenario if I invest $5,000-$6,000 in this laser?
- Can I do a payment plan? What financing options exist?
- Instead, I bought a $700 laser, waited 5 months for it, and outgrew it in 1 month
- I could've been further ahead if I'd just invested in what I actually needed
Regular Check-ins:
- What's working? What's not?
- What do we need to double down on?
- Am I doing a bunch of things mediocre instead of focusing on what matters?
- Where do I really want to direct this ship?
The Beautiful Parts (Because They're Real Too)
You're Gonna Love It, Even When It's Hard
- Working long hours during busy seasons (December birthday? What birthday!)
- Customer stories that make you smile
- Pictures of kids holding your items
- Hiring your mom and paying her (even when she says "baby, you don't have to give me anything")
- Godchildren working summers, gaining experience for their first professional jobs
- Creating your own schedule and pouring into people you love
The Tough Stuff That Makes You Stronger
- One-star reviews that knock you off your tracks
- Products that completely fail
- $200 left in the bank account moments (yes, that happened)
- Learning you're tougher than you think
- Trusting your God-given ability instead of just following what others are doing
Where This All Leads
Your Mode of Genius
You excel when you look at the marketplace and ask:
- What's missing?
- What can I add?
- What would I love to see that I'm not seeing?
That's where your genius lives, girl.
The Podcast Journey
- Started in the most unsexy way (me in the kitchen, looking all greasy and hot)
- Went from "Rebirth" to "Let's Get Unsexy" (and yes, I questioned myself)
- It feeds my spirit because I love pouring into people
The Ministry Mindset
This business isn't about gatekeeping - it's about allowing God to use this as a ministry to encourage and uplift others who are exactly where I was in 2021.
The Real Talk Moment
2021 Me asking 2025 Me: "So what have we got for the next four years?"
2025 Me responding: "Girl, that's a good question. We're still learning, still growing. We need to have a conversation about where we really want to direct this ship. But with our higher ed experience, entrepreneurship experience, and the Lord on our side - we're gonna be okay."
Key Takeaways
✅ Define your identity by who you are, not what you've accomplished
✅ Trust the process - if God equipped you, He'll see you through
✅ Boundaries don't make you mean - they protect your sustainability
✅ Focus on mastering what works before chasing shiny objects
✅ Have regular strategic conversations with yourself
✅ Remember: there's beauty in the unsexy parts of entrepreneurship
What's Next
I'm building something beautiful here - 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 this journey.
Because entrepreneurship can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be.
Connect with Dr. Tasia
📧 Email List: Sign up at 316studio.co
🎙️ Podcast: Let's Get Unsexy
💭 Coming Soon: Discord community for Christian entrepreneurs
"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." - Dr. Tasia Grandmother
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31
Stay blessed, and remember - your business isn't stuck. You just need to trust that God has already equipped you for this journey! 💕