Why Launching a Small Business is a Lot Like Planning a Wedding

Today is May 25^th – one month and a day away from my wedding date. Needless to say, I’m a little stressed out. After two and half years of planning, my to-do list is still four pages long, I’ve got bills coming out the wazoo, and I’m about 98% sure I’ve forgotten to order/arrange/confirm some key part of the day. But just when I thought I couldn’t get more overwhelmed, I did the unthinkable. I up and quit my full-time job as the marketing coordinator for an international editing agency to launch my own online marketing consultancy in Chatham-Kent.

Talk about the perfect storm of stress.

Luckily, wedding planning and entrepreneurship have an awful lot in common (minus the fancy dress). Here’s what I’ve come to discover.

1. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Wedding planning is complicated. From the venue to the colour scheme, there are literally hundreds of decisions and tasks that the bride (and groom to a lesser extent) has to deal with. Some are important, others… not so much. The same can be said when launching a small business. In order to stay sane you’ve got to learn to focus on the big picture – small disasters and roadblocks aren’t going to prevent me from walking down the aisle, nor were they going to close the doors on my business.

2. You’re going to need help.

I’m a fiercely independent person. I like to think that’s why my fiancée loves me, but I know that’s not always the case. When it comes to dealing with problems and accomplishing tasks, I’d sooner work myself to death than ask for help. This isn’t a good idea when you’re planning a wedding, and it’s definitely a bad idea when you’re starting up a business. If you want to succeed at your business, you need to learn how to ask and accept help early in the process. When it comes time for me to tie the knot, I know everything will be perfect, not because I did it all, but because I’ve brought in people to help me do it. Surround your business with knowledgeable people and you’ll have more time to do what you love, which is the reason you started your business in the first place, right?

3. Things will go wrong.

I can guarantee that something is going to go wrong on my wedding day. The flowers will be late, the sun will forget to shine, or my fiancée will forget to pack his tie. I’d prefer if these things didn’t happen, but if they did, I’d get over it. You’ve got to roll with the punches when things like this happen, especially in the business world. Learning how to adapt to unforeseen circumstances or problems is what will keep your company creative, competitive, and on the cutting-edge.

4. You’ve gotta love it.

I wouldn’t have tortured myself for months trying to find “the” dress, “the” shoes, and “the” centerpieces if I only kinda, sorta liked my husband to-be. So why would you work your butt off to launch a business that you’re kinda, maybe a little bit interested in? I’m getting married because I love my fiancée and I launched my business because I’m passionate about online marketing. If you don’t love it, don’t bother. You’re not fooling anyone but yourself.

Need help getting your Chatham-Kent small business noticed online? Contact CIK Marketing for a personal consultation.