Turning the Wheels: 12 months of failing, falling and standing again!

February 28, 2021

The month ends here.

But few memories ran down my adrenaline from 2020.

I was running. From Sonipat to Delhi. Changing metros. To the busy lanes of Chandni Chowk. With hope. Hope to make it big. With my product --- a personalized cake topper designed in calligraphy. And finally prove to everyone, my parents, and everyone around who judged me.

I had given myself one last deadline. It was either do or die. If this works, I'm going to pursue it otherwise, shattered dreams and a failed creativepreneur would make her way to a 9 to 5 job. And eventually, I quit.

With a bank balance of $0, I had dreams of millions.

Yeah. I was a mere starving artist a year back.

I borrowed money from my friends, mom, and uncle.

Ran Instagram ads. Found few customers. Sent out 5 cake topper orders and tadaaa I won! Right? Naah.

The nightmare hit when I started receiving complaints. From one. and then two customers. My cake toppers got damaged whole delivering. To one it reached later than the expected date because of COVID and broken. To another, it reached on time but broken. The third order never got delivered, I received it back (I still have it!).

I was crushed.

And I quit.

But, the creativepreneur bug has bitten me hard.

I changed my route. Started relearning things from where I left in 2018.

Restarted my career as a Content Writer.

After being terminated from a job. After getting selected for 2 internships and then thrown out without knowing the reason, I finally landed my first internship.

And that was the beginning of my learning. Yet another phase of my life.

From interning to landing gigs, I started freelancing in August.

And here I am today. Looking back at March 2020. After failing at one, I'm here with yet another venture. Running a freelancing business. From $0 to $163 every month now in the bank account is an achievement for me since then. (I feel I'm growing every day!)

From February 2020 to 2021, I have learned a lot!

And I also learned about the 5 big blunders that stopped me from growing:

1. Never believe in "things will work out".

Those who tell you, "things will work out for you" if you are passionate about it is CRAPPP! I used to believe it too. But it's not. To have a successful business you need to have a plan to start with. Have goals in place. Have a visualization of your business and targets set.

2. Not having a backup plan

My biggest mistake. Or say, I was stubborn to make my calligraphy business work. Alas! It didn't. I had no backup plan. Give up your job only if you think your side hustle is bringing your profits.

3. Don't envy those who are successful

There is a difference between being jealous and being envious. I have been the victim of both. While I still get jealous, I realized how being envious is harming me. I compared my failures with one of the successful calligraphers. I admired her. But I was envious too.

"How has she made into calligraphy?"

"How is she running such a successful calligraphy business?"

I was emotionally harsh on myself for not being able to make things work for me.

4. Move on

TWO HARSH WORDS. They still are to me. If your passion is not bearing your money, after trying day and night, you are going nowhere, it's time to move on. Move away. Because you are hitting your head at the wrong place.

5. It's okay if things are slow.

It's okay if things are slow for you. They are for me. But one thing that you need to do is, be consistent. Learn from the mistakes. I learned. I have always been someone who wants to do things on her own. Self-learn things. But no! Now I invest in paid courses too. I have mentors in place who are guiding me in the right direction. I'm learning from people.

And that's how 2020 to 2021 became such a big relearning lesson:)