Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Larissa Russell, owner of Creative U Business, located in Edmonton, AB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Creative U Business is a different type of business learning for heart-centered online entrepreneurs who are struggling with doing business in the same way that everyone else seems to be doing it. The hustle and mind games of marketing or the do-all-things expectation are often difficult for those who want to share their healing, their creativity, and their heart-centered work. So, what can you do differently? Learn to build your business in alignment with your own ethics and morals so you can live the life you want and grow a business that you love.
Tell us about yourself
As a healer and a creative myself, I wanted to share with the world, and I wanted to bring women together in collaboration to share their gifts, and from that, I built Creative U Healing. But, I learned along the way that even though I would often get caught in "shiny object syndrome," it was not sustainable. I could not continue to do all the things, summits, courses, coaching, book writing, community building, social media, podcasts, and more all the time, and something had to give. First, it was me, I gave into burnout, and then I had to reevaluate what I WANTED to do, the reason I got into business vs. the income, and I thought it was one or the other, but what I learned was it was not a choice. I could have a thriving business on my own terms and still make money. So, in that switch, I knew I wanted to catch women before they got too burnout or gave up their business because it was all too much. I wanted to help them before they hated what they were doing.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment has been to take a step back and reevaluate instead of giving up or walking away. I now have two businesses that I love. That was hard to do. I had come from an all-or-nothing belief system and had to learn to find that place in the middle while staying strong to make the switch. It is surprisingly hard to step away from pieces without stepping away from all. Some I had to learn to delegate, some to give it all up together. I had to choose what brought me joy and then figure out how to do more of that while making money.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I think when you become an entrepreneur, you just want to share what you love, but then you find out that you are a full-time student in a hands-on MBA program, you have so many things to learn, and you think you have to do all the things. Maybe you think you can't afford help or that you are not good at something, or will never be able to do something else. It is all very overwhelming, and many women don't even start because of that overwhelm, or they get part way in and quit. I know I did many times earlier on in my life. You do not have to do it alone, you do not have to do ALL the things, you are capable, and it can be done without overwhelming.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Align your business to your beliefs, your values, and how you want to live your life. Don't let others tell you there is only one way or they know the best way. Unless you live and work in alignment, it is not sustainable.
- Do not compare yourself to what others seem to be doing. Compare yourself to yourself yesterday, last week, last month, or last year. That is the only place where you should compare yourself. And as long as you keep moving forward, even if it seems like baby steps, you are heading in the right direction.
- When you don't know what to do, stop and breathe. Feel into what feels right for YOU. Do what feels right. Yes, you will make mistakes, and that is okay, too. We learn from our mistakes. I have built a whole business on doing all the wrong things, and now I can show other women how NOT to do the wrong things.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.creativeubusiness.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissa-russell-86b08210/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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