If you’ve ever stepped out of your comfort zone, it’s likely you’ve felt a dose of imposter syndrome. Especially if you’ve started a business from the ground up.

Feeling like an imposter as a first-time business owner is a common experience! But it doesn’t need to end there. You can take steps to build your confidence in your leadership role.

Here are some strategies to help you become more confident as a first-time business owner.

Self-care is not just a luxury; it's an essential component of running a successful business.

As a micro or small startup business owner, you might feel tempted to prioritise your business over your personal well-being, but neglecting self-care can have detrimental effects on both your health and the success of your venture.

Incorporating self-care into your routine doesn't mean neglecting your business responsibilities. Instead, it empowers you to be a more effective and resilient entrepreneur.

By valuing your well-being and practicing self-care, you're not only benefiting yourself but also creating a solid foundation for the growth and prosperity of your business.

Here's why self-care is crucial for business owners.

Here are three somewhat simple, actionable steps that I’m wanting to incorporate into my weekly schedule this year. For a creative who hates maths, I think I’ve come a long way when it comes to managing and understanding the importance of finances in my business. I hope that these tips are insightful for you — and if you have anything to add that I’ve missed — definitely let me know as I know the advice will probably do me well too :)

All in all, I think anyone can learn to be financially savvy — especially when running a business. And this financial literacy is a skill that will ensure the long-term success of your business, and mine too.

I find the word failure really strange.

I believe that the people who never failed never tried. There have been moments in my life where I’ve tried, and “failed” — because I’d never done something before, or I’d set the bar too high for myself, or I was juggling too many things, or I just wasn’t well-equipped to accomplish the task set before me.

But the next time I’d try that same task — whether it’s hosting an event, singing live at a gig, going on a great date, or starting a business from scratch — I’d always have so much more confidence, wisdom, insight and skills to do a better job.

So many of us are afraid of failing, because we see it as final, or fatal. Life-defining. But it’s not. It’s only a very, very small step in our journey to growth, wisdom and success. There are so many ways “failing” can benefit you in business. Here are a few.

Mistakes aren’t final, or fatal, or life-defining. But there are a few mistakes that save a lot of time, stress and money as a business owner. They might seem simple in theory, but can be a little more complex in practice. Like all good things in life. Here are some mistakes I’ve made that would be good for you to avoid in your business.