2024 marked 10 years for Laina Minervino Communications, LLC. It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been running my own company for so many years. Here are five things that I learned during this journey:

Taking a risk is scary but worth it.
I was raised to believe you needed a traditional job for stability. So, at 21 new college degree in hand, I set out on that path. Once the corporate world wasn’t working the way I dreamed, I took a leap into being a solopreneur. This gig is not easy, but I have learned a lot and gotten to work with some very spectacular people.

Who you know helps you get known.
My business grew because of my contacts with previous leaders and companies. I made sure along the way never to burn a bridge. Word of mouth was crucial to my success. Never forget the value of your network and doing an excellent job to begin with so people remember you!

Sometimes things get tough. Don’t lose your why – why did you start on this journey?
When people tell you that there are ups and downs in being a freelancer/solopreneur, believe them. You need to hustle to get the clients, do the work, and run the business. And yes sometimes it is tough. That’s when I’ve learned it’s time to go to the basics. Why am I doing this? Because I love to write and be strategic. I value employee communications and ensuring the messages are clear.

You need to be a kind boss – you are your boss.
I recently read somewhere that when you are working for yourself, you are the CEO – Chief of Everything. Take a deep breath and slow down sometimes you will be better for it.

Keep growing.
Growing the business is critical. Growing your own skills is essential. Growing your network is powerful. Even if you hate marketing/selling do it.

If you run your own business, any lessons to add? If you haven’t made the leap yet, what’s stopping you?