In January of 2021, I started my identity design company Intrstellr, after consuming too much content during the 2020 lockdown about being a business owner in the design industry. I’m not the only one with a story like this. There are thousands, if not millions, of people who started small businesses while they were home in 2020, and many have taken to TikTok and Instagram to document their journeys and encourage others to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams as well.
I think it’s great that so many people have pivoted into owning their own businesses, and I certainly enjoy the content that’s been coming out of their experiences, my favorite being the satisfying packaging compilations. However, is it really as easy to become an entrepreneur as people make it seem? Can you really just decide one day you want to make scrunchies or custom rugs for a living and be an overnight success like the videos suggest?
Spoiler alert, the answer is no.
Starting a business can be easy in the sense that, depending on the business, there aren’t really any barriers to entry because you don’t need any or much money to get started. Additionally, thanks to social media platforms, it’s easier to raise awareness for your venture. Post some engaging content and you could get enough attention to be profitable in the snap of a finger, but sustaining your business is another story. No matter how passionate you are about what you’re doing, there will be aspects of entrepreneurship that you don’t know how or simply don’t want to do. For me, it’s administrative things like writing contracts, doing taxes and things of that nature. Trust me, I didn’t see anything on social media about those things before I started Intrstellr.
I was so excited to get up and running and I still am proud to be a businessowner, but I’d be lying if I said I knew 100% of what I was getting myself into. There’s so much I didn’t and still don’t know. That’s probably the sentiment of many businessowners, especially in the first few years. However, if you’re willing to put in time and effort, and you genuinely enjoy what you’re doing, then go for it. I know there’s plenty for me to figure out, but I love being an identity designer and I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life. While it might be a bumpy road, I don’t regret starting Intrstellr and I can’t wait to see where the journey takes me.
