Where do I start? It's been really hard running a business now, I think going on 6 years, for 3 of those we suffered COVID years, and that was only after 1 year of running a business that was not what we thought it was, we bought a motorcycle business.
Now we are struggling through the aftermath of covid. There is light at the end of the tunnel, I'm yet to see it.
The books looked good when we first made an offer for the business, it looked like it was picking up. But in all honestly, it was very, very slow. A quiet business, there wasn't much going on. It had been running for 30 years. But that's all they managed to do is just have a shop, it wasn't going anywhere.
The workshop was, non-existent and mechanic worked 1/2 day a week and didn't really have work. He just brought his own stuff in to do.
We took on this business at a time in life where we were suffering a lot of trauma. My husband had just lost his dad to a good 3 years of sickness, which was just such a traumatic time and my mum had fallen sick the same year we decided to buy the business. We were going through the worst times of both of our lives suddenly losing our parents.
2 months later, the purchase of this motorcycle shop went through, yet my mum was gone. How was I supposed to run a business now? No time to grieve. It was really hard. I also had 2 teenage boys at home needing help and motivation in their schooling. They are my stepsons, and they live with us permanently. I have given everything I had to give these boys a life, a wonderful home, and education. I want them to succeed, so I threw everything into them. Their education, their characters, their clubs, their hobbies, everything to give them every possible chance in life as well as raising our 2 year old daughter whilst the boys were having all their mood swings and I was trying to run a business I knew nothing about.
How did I do it? There's only one way that I managed to get through the first few years. And that was by Faith.
However, about a year ago, I lost my faith. Up until then I would spend every free moment in my Bible talking to the Lord. Every step I took during the day. I asked him what I should do. Where I should go how I should do it. And yeah, it was still hard, business was hard. Life was rubbish, too stressful. Nothing working. There is no time at all, and it just got harder and harder and harder.
But in the background, I held on to my faith. I again prayed and sought guidance from God. And slowly, things started to change. Opportunities came my way, new customers started coming in, and the business started to pick up.
I also learned to prioritize and manage my time effectively. I made sure to spend quality time with my boys, focusing on their education and personal growth. I delegated tasks in the business, sought help when needed, and learned from others who had more experience in running a business.
The eldest got into the Navy, 4 years after first applying. That was another fight. But now there's no looking back. He has found himself.
Most importantly, I kept pushing forward, even when things seemed impossible. I reminded myself of why I started this business in the first place and the dreams I had for it. I refused to give up and kept working towards my goals, no matter how difficult it became.
Running a business during challenging times is never easy, but with faith, resilience, and determination, it is possible to overcome obstacles and find success. I believe that through it all, my faith in God and the support of my loved ones kept me going. And for that, I am grateful.
jbbartram-illu
ellievsbear
jacobvanloon
dailybridgerton