5 Tips for Surviving Your First Year as an Entrepreneur

Embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship can feel intimidating and uncertain, however, there is no better feeling than taking that leap of faith and officially launching your business. Once you’ve made the jump, the decisions you make in the first year can determine the trajectory of the next five.

Here are some tips on ways to survive the first year of entrepreneurship:

1. Be Persistent – Create a daily routine and set weekly goals so that you’re taking small steps each day towards building your business.

2. Stay Curious – Getting and staying educated about your industry is vital to the success of your company. Whether it’s taking a course, reading a book, attending a conference or simply having coffee with an industry expert, it’s important that you’re up to date on all things that can have an impact on your business.

3. Give Yourself a Break – Oftentimes, once you’ve hit a stride with your company you’ll start to overwork and put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Remember, balance is important, and you must be gracious with yourself and take a breather from time to time.

4. Surround Yourself with Like-Minded People – The first year as an entrepreneur can be lonely, and it’s easy to lose inspiration. Being in environments with other entrepreneurs and surrounding yourself with like-minded people can fuel resilience and give you that push you need to keep going.

5. Be Optimistic - As a business owner, you will likely experience setbacks and disappointments, but don’t be discouraged. Remember why you started the journey and give yourself positive affirmations to keep pushing forward. You got this, don’t give up!