Looking Back on Year One with The Kalon Life!

Better late than never, but it’s time to recap all the lessons, learning’s & let-downs from Year One at The Kalon Life! What a wonderful year it has been, full of exciting ups and downs, learning curves and new adventures.

Over a year ago, when I really decided to do this thing, I don’t think I totally understood what I was getting myself into. And now, as I navigate this new world of running a business, I have a profound sense of duty to see my vision through to the end. Reflecting now, there is an indescribable sense of accomplishment; realizing I was not only able to work for myself & follow my dreams but also not totally go broke in the process!

I wanted to share a few things I learned along the way, as well as a few of my favorite memories with all of you. Enjoy 🙂

Scrapes, Bruises & a Can-Do Attitude: Key Learnings from Year 1:

1. Time management is key! Having clients at different times every day, maintaining a consistent workout regiment, plus cruising through emails at a coffee shop would be nearly impossible without a fool-proof plan of attack. Even if you spend most of the day by yourself, hour block your day to create a sense of urgency or risk losing another day to this whirlwind we call life.
2. Read all the positive, encouraging, & inspiring materials you can! It’s not always an easy road, especially alone with yourself in your own head doubting your abilities. Reading inspirational books and quotes always kept me motivated and focused. The best ones always made me feel like they were speaking directly to me! There are so many wickedly smart and successful people out there who have been down a similar road, so why not learn from them!
3. Know your stuff +Fake it till you make it. These concepts may appear to be in opposition but the beauty of creating something new is being free from the preconceived notions others have around the “right way”, so do it YOUR way. If you don’t know the answer yet, be honest but then figure it out and move forward. People are a lot more forgiving and encouraging then I realized, so give people the benefit of the doubt and trust that they’ll understand.
4. I was stronger and more capable then I thought. While every entrepreneur’s journey is different, I believe there are a few universal experiences. One such experience in my opinion, is: every entrepreneur will wrestle with doubt. While I still have days where doubt creeps in, I have to acknowledge this IS working and I AM doing what I love. The message of self-acceptance + self-improvement is real, true and pure. This message is what keeps pushing me and TKL forward. And if you are struggling on your own entrepreneurial journey, do not feel discouraged!! Believe in yourself and you will learn more through this process than you could ever imagine.
5. Comparison is the thief of joy. In a world where we constantly compare ourselves to millions of ‘feeds’, showing us person after person posting the most magical parts about their lives, it can feel as if we have nothing figured out. Stop comparing your journey to everyone else’s, cheer others on, and know that there is room at the top for you too. When we learn to be happy for the people around us, we in turn find it easier to be happier too. There is no formula for the perfect life, business, or body so figuring out what works best for you is key and you can’t do that by constantly looking to see what everyone else is doing. Stay in your lane and be confident! There is undoubtedly someone looking at your life and drawing similar conclusions. One of my favorite quotes is “The things your take for granted, someone else is praying for”. If we took more time being grateful for what we have, and less time being envious of what we don’t, the world would be a much better place.
6. I undervalued what I had to offer. If you don’t believe you are worth it, no one else will. Work your butt off so you know what you are talking about and then make sure you market yourself appropriately. If you constantly doubt if what you offer has value, you will hinder yourself and fail to realize your true potential.
7. Contracts are actually really important. I want to believe the best in everyone, and I really do think that for the most part people have the best intentions but that doesn’t always mean things will work out for the best. You first and foremost have to protect yourself and your business, so get things in writing and don’t be afraid to stick to your guns if someone pushes back. This is your business and it should be taken seriously.
8. Knowledge without hustle is a recipe for disaster. As I mentioned earlier, I truly love reading inspiring books and learning how to be a better boss and business owner BUT if I never put any of it into action then it’s just wasting my time preventing my success. I can get so caught up in making things perfect or trying to please everyone that I just don’t put the content and ideas out there. So just do it, even if it’s not perfect, it probably never will be.

Last but not least, here are a few of my favorite memories from this last year! Thank you to everyone who gave me advice, encouraged me, trusted me with their dreams, believed in me and pushed me. I am here because I am lucky enough to have a network of people who stood by me and cheered me on, and I am beyond grateful for that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank YOU so much for your support! Let me know what you would like to see for year two 🙂