Lone Wolf or Pack Hunter

Before going into business for yourself, you need to know if you can excel in an "Eat What You Kill" world

This is a tough topic for me, because I really loved going into business for myself. The idea of ditching a boss and a strict schedule sounded amazing—especially after dealing with a micro-manager who had a bit of a trust problem. I LOVED the grind, most people’s least favorite part. Being available to clients 24/7, traveling constantly—it was fun because I was always meeting new people and solving different problems. Plus, I could hit all my kids’ events—tournaments, plays, you name it—because I could always say "no" to work when it was time to prioritize family.

But here’s the catch: to really succeed, you’ve got to be good at every part of the business. And well... I’m *terrible* at marketing. Once I gained a new client, they were hooked. But bringing new people on board? Not so much. I even hired a marketing person, but that didn’t exactly move the needle either. I’d hustle with cold calls, landing a few jobs, but it wasn’t enough to keep the momentum going. So, I decided to try partnerships, thinking they’d help my business soar. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work. What started as supportive collaborations turned into a cutthroat “eat what you kill” setup.

At the end of the day, I learned I’m not meant to be a lone wolf—I thrive as part of a collaborative team, a pack. Although the below list includes far more than my sticking points, you should consider each of these potential pitfalls before taking the plunge into entrepreneurship.