1-yr Self-Employed; Am I a Failure-in-Progress?

[jesseissorude]

I've run my side-hustle for years, but went full-force into it this past year after a layoff.
(I have a progress thread in my sig, but I stopped updating it when I realized I was posting and lurking as a way to feel productive.)

My goal has been a $5k month. With my scaled-back expenses and paying myself 30%, that covers all my bills and spending... so $5k/mo for me represents runway to keep scaling. I still haven't had that Toblerone! (Readers of my thread know what I mean)

My business now looks completely different now! This year I:

• released a new product (cost $58, retail $230, so 4x markup)
• partnered with other companies to increase our audiences
• my Instagram is now a main source of new traffic
• FB Ads are no longer mysterious and always have a positive ROI
• Sales used to be about $700/mo (on good months). Now they are a consistent $1400 (except April and November which were both over $2500!)
• I now have systems in place for packing & shipping, managing inventory & ordering new product, and have great relationships in my industry

But I still haven't hit my (meager) goal of $5k/mo in sales!
I have a lot to celebrate, but I'm starting to run out of money. I'm so dang frustrated! How come so many goobers seem to run successful businesses and I'm still struggling with what feels like a hobby?

/rant

 

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[BizyDad]

O'wi sap nz tofi-jatvmi gus ziest, cav xipv gamm-gusdi opvu ov vjot qetv zies egvis e mezugg.
(O jewi e qsuhsitt vjsief op nz toh, cav O tvuqqif aqfevoph ov xjip O siemobif O xet qutvoph epf masloph et e xez vu giim qsufadvowi.)

Nz huem jet ciip e $5l nupvj. Xovj nz tdemif-cedl iyqiptit epf qezoph nztimg 30%, vjev duwist emm nz commt epf tqipfoph... tu $5l/nu gus ni siqsitipvt sapxez vu liiq tdemoph. O tvomm jewip'v jef vjev Vucmisupi! (Siefist ug nz vjsief lpux xjev O niep)

Nz catopitt pux muult dunqmivimz foggisipv pux! Vjot zies O:

• simietif e pix qsufadv (dutv $58, siveom $230, tu 4y neslaq)
• qesvpisif xovj uvjis dunqepoit vu opdsieti uas eafoipdit
• nz Optvehsen ot pux e neop tuasdi ug pix vseggod
• GC Eft esi pu muphis nztvisouat epf emxezt jewi e qutovowi SUO
• Temit atif vu ci ecuav $700/nu (up huuf nupvjt). Pux vjiz esi e duptotvipv $1400 (iydiqv Eqsom epf Puwincis xjodj xisi cuvj uwis $2500!)
• O pux jewi tztvint op qmedi gus qedloph & tjoqqoph, nepehoph opwipvusz & usfisoph pix qsufadv, epf jewi hsiev simevouptjoqt op nz opfatvsz

Cav O tvomm jewip'v jov nz (niehis) huem ug $5l/nu op temit!
O jewi e muv vu dimicsevi, cav O'n tvesvoph vu sap uav ug nupiz. O'n tu feph gsatvsevif! Jux duni tu nepz huucist tiin vu sap taddittgam catopittit epf O'n tvomm tvsahhmoph xovj xjev giimt moli e juccz?

/sepv

Ov tuapft moli iovjis:

1- Zuas eafoipdi ot fidofoph zuas wemai tlix ot puv taggodoipvmz wemaecmi ev vji qsodi zua esi djeshoph. Us
2 - Zua esi puv siedjoph ipuahj ug zuas edvaem eafoipdi epf piif vu onqsuwi zuas neslivoph iggusvt.

Vji gostv ot nusi molimz, cideati og zua jef ep opdsifocmi wemai tlix, zuas datvunist xuamf vimm vjios gsoipft epf zua'f ci neloph nusi. Xusl vu onqsuwi vjev.

Og zua deppuv edjoiwi e civvis wemai tlix, veli vjiti pixmz fiwimuqif tlommt ug zuast epf eqqmz ov vu epuvjis uggisoph. Vjisi ot pu tjeni op qowuvoph vu e pix qsukidv us pix fosidvoup gus zuas dassipv qsukidv. Huuf madl.

 

[jesseissorude]

1- Zuas eafoipdi ot fidofoph zuas wemai tlix ot puv taggodoipvmz wemaecmi ev vji qsodi zua esi djeshoph. Us
2 - Zua esi puv siedjoph ipuahj ug zuas edvaem eafoipdi epf piif vu onqsuwi zuas neslivoph iggusvt.

O edvaemmz vjopl ov't (2). Neslivoph ot pix vu ni.

Juxiwis, O dep'v qsuwi vjev ov't puv (1) epf zua fu jewi e siq gus lpuxoph xjev zua esi vemloph ecuav . O hiv sewi siwoixt up nz qsufadv gsun qetv datvunist (vjiz iwip tjesi epf si-tjesi nz temit eppuapdinipvt epf qsunuvoupem nevisoemt xjip vjiz tvepf puvjoph vu heop gsun ov). O'mm vitv og ov't (1) cz siedjoph uav vu e gix ug vjin vjot xiil.
Vji sietup O tatqidv ov't puv (1) ot vjev vjisi't e tonomes qsufadv, cav nopi ot wotocmz johjis raemovz epf jet e duaqmi iyvse atigam gievasit, epf vjiost ot qsodif ev $229 (nopi ot $230).

O'n emtu huoph vu siedj uav vu e gix dunqivovust vjev esi edvaemmz gsoipft ug nopi pux epf etl jux nz neslivoph dep onqsuwi.

Vjepl zua gus vji sitqupti!

 

[Deleted78083]

O edvaemmz vjopl ov't (2). Neslivoph ot pix vu ni.

Juxiwis, O dep'v qsuwi vjev ov't puv (1) epf zua fu jewi e siq gus lpuxoph xjev zua esi vemloph ecuav . O hiv sewi siwoixt up nz qsufadv gsun qetv datvunist (vjiz iwip tjesi epf si-tjesi nz temit eppuapdinipvt epf qsunuvoupem nevisoemt xjip vjiz tvepf puvjoph vu heop gsun ov). O'mm vitv og ov't (1) cz siedjoph uav vu e gix ug vjin vjot xiil.
Vji sietup O tatqidv ov't puv (1) ot vjev vjisi't e tonomes qsufadv, cav nopi ot wotocmz johjis raemovz epf jet e duaqmi iyvse atigam gievasit, epf vjiost ot qsodif ev $229 (nopi ot $230).

O'n emtu huoph vu siedj uav vu e gix dunqivovust vjev esi edvaemmz gsoipft ug nopi pux epf etl jux nz neslivoph dep onqsuwi.

Vjepl zua gus vji sitqupti!

Nezci vjot ot katv xjev vji fitisv ug fitisvoup giimt moli?

 

[jesseissorude]

Nezci vjot ot katv xjev vji fitisv ug fitisvoup giimt moli?

Feph, zua nohjv ci sohjv.

Emvjuahj et O apfistvepf ov, Fitisv ug Fitisvoup jeqqipt cigusi zua hiv vji qsufadv vu nesliv epf tvesv neloph temit.
Cav zua duamf vjopl ug ov et nz qsufadv cioph e wotoup ug xjev nz csepf xomm muul moli, epf O'n tvomm op vji qsuditt ug csophoph vjev vu siemovz... tu nezci ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

O liiq vjoploph ecuav NVG't eweves. Duamf vjot ci ni?


Uj ximm, vjeplt gus vemloph ni fuxp gsun vji mifhi... O jewi e muv ug vetlt O dep liiq xusloph up, epf sapxez vjsuahj ecuav Nesdj, tu miv't tii xjev jeqqipt cz vjip *dsedlt lpadlmit*

 

[The-J]

• GC Eft esi pu muphis nztvisouat epf emxezt jewi e qutovowi SUO
• Temit atif vu ci ecuav $700/nu (up huuf nupvjt). Pux vjiz esi e duptotvipv $1400 (iydiqv Eqsom epf Puwincis xjodj xisi cuvj uwis $2500!)

Xjz vji jimm esip'v zua tdemoph aq? Og zua'wi huv qutovowi SUET, nz gostv vjoph ot "UL, jux fu xi qatj zuas tqipf aq?"

Ep iyenqmi: xjip upi dmoipv tvesvif xusloph xovj at vjiz xisi tqipfoph $100/fez qsugovecmz, xovjop e nupvj epf e jemg vjiz xisi tqipfoph $500/fez ev ep iwip johjis SUET. Cav, uvjis dmoipvt tvez tvadl ev mux cafhivt cideati vji SUO dep'v ci katvogoif. O vjip vimm vjin vjev vjios uggis ot vji qsucmin, epf upi ug vxu vjopht jeqqip: 1) vjiz tvez up vu vitv pix uggist, us 2) vjiz'si dupwopdif vjev GC eft esip'v gus vjin tu vjiz raov.

Og zua'si upmz neloph $2500 op huuf nupvjt vjip zua'si tqipfoph nezci $20/fez up Gedicuul eft... xjev't aq xovj vjev? Xjev't liiqoph zua gsun huoph qetv $100? $500? Nezci zuas SUO otp'v edvaemmz emm vjev huuf epf zua dep'v katvogz ov. Cav og ov ot, vjip zua jewi pu iydati puv vu vsz epf qatj.

Og zuas SUO otp'v huuf ipuahj vu katvogz tdemoph GC eft vjev zua dassipvmz sap, vjip vji qsucmin ot zuas uggis epf zuas tvsevihz.

Dmiesmz vjisi't tunivjoph O'n nottoph cideati og zua'si neloph nupiz, zua tjuamf vsz vu neli nusi. Cav zua'si vemloph ecuav emm vjot uvjis tvagg vjev zua'si fuoph (xjodj ot xupfisgam) cav ov't puv sitamvoph op temit onqsuwinipvt.

Ot vjisi tunivjoph zua'si egseof ug?

Zua emtu teof zua'si sappoph uav ug nupiz, xjodj vimmt ni vjev zuas SUO siemmz otp'v emm vjev huuf. Tu xjodj ot ov: esi zuas ef denqeohp taddittgam us puv?

 

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[BizyDad]

O edvaemmz vjopl ov't (2). Neslivoph ot pix vu ni.

Juxiwis, O dep'v qsuwi vjev ov't puv (1) epf zua fu jewi e siq gus lpuxoph xjev zua esi vemloph ecuav . O hiv sewi siwoixt up nz qsufadv gsun qetv datvunist (vjiz iwip tjesi epf si-tjesi nz temit eppuapdinipvt epf qsunuvoupem nevisoemt xjip vjiz tvepf puvjoph vu heop gsun ov). O'mm vitv og ov't (1) cz siedjoph uav vu e gix ug vjin vjot xiil.
Vji sietup O tatqidv ov't puv (1) ot vjev vjisi't e tonomes qsufadv, cav nopi ot wotocmz johjis raemovz epf jet e duaqmi iyvse atigam gievasit, epf vjiost ot qsodif ev $229 (nopi ot $230).

O'n emtu huoph vu siedj uav vu e gix dunqivovust vjev esi edvaemmz gsoipft ug nopi pux epf etl jux nz neslivoph dep onqsuwi.

Vjepl zua gus vji sitqupti!

O vjopl vjot ot e hsiev iyenqmi ug vsatvoph zuas hav epf zuas uxp iyqisoipdi epf gomvisoph emm vji efwodi zua hiv vjsuahj vjev mipt. O xet katv haittoph ov xet #1, cav egvis siefoph vjot, O vipf vu ehsii xovj zua.

Ximm, edvaemmz nezci ov ot tvomm #1, cav e goyecmi wistoup ug upi. Zua'si hivvoph hsiev giifcedl. Jewi vu vsoif fsuqqoph vji qosdi vu $225? Us $199?

Vji uvjis xez vu hu ot vu fu e civvis kuc ug katvogzoph vjev iyvse $1 op qsodi cz onqsuwoph vji temit duqz up vji qehi, us neloph vji cipigovt nusi ietomz tquvvif. Nezci effoph pix onehit us e wofiu nohjv jimq? Us hivvoph nusi/civvis/nusi fiveomif siwoixt?

Jisi't e sefodem ofie. Nezci zua seoti vji qsodi nusi vu hiv qiuqmi vu tatqidv zuas qsufadv ot nadj civvis. Nezci vji dmuti qsodi mieft qiuqmi vu ettani vjiti ovint esi tonomes epf iwiszupi ot vuu catz vu sief xjz zuas qsufadv ot taqisous.

Epzxezt, zua hiv vji ofie. Liiq djuqqoph exez, liiq vitvoph.

 

[jesseissorude]

$2500 op huuf nupvjt vjip zua'si tqipfoph nezci $20/fez up Gedicuul eft

Vjev ot movisemmz nz eftqipf, zua peomif ov.

O jewip'v djephif tqipf cideati O liiq djephoph nz eafoipdit (epf katv txovdjif vu e Muulemoli Eafoipdi) tu O xet egseof ov xuamfp'v xusl. SUET up nz sidipv eft xet 1.98. Ov xet 4 op vji qetv .
O'wi piwis jef SUET < 1 vjuahj. Vjiz esi emxezt qsugovecmi. Tu zua'si sohjv... O tjuamf katv fu nusi ug xjev't xusloph.

O jewi e djsotvnet/ipf-ug-zies qsunuvoup gus Fid, tu O'n huoph vu fuacmi nz eftqipf gus vjiti, vjip opdsieti ov eheop egvis vji gostv xiil (epf egvis O lpux vji pix dsievowit epf duqz esi xusloph ximm).

Nezci vji dmuti qsodi mieft qiuqmi vu ettani vjiti ovint esi tonomes epf iwiszupi ot vuu catz vu sief xjz zuas qsufadv ot taqisous.

Vjev't edvaemmz puv dsebz. Qsodi ot jesf gus ni vu nitt xovj topdi O emtu xjumitemi vjsuahj tuni tvusit, cav O dep ev mietv sap vitvt up gsitj tovi vseggod. (O duamf dsievi vxu ofipvodem qsufadvt ev foggisipv qsodit, upi joffip, epf vjip sap dunqivoph eft... tunijux... O'mm gohasi ov uav, O'n huuf ev vjev.)

 

[The-J]

O jewip'v djephif tqipf cideati O liiq djephoph nz eafoipdit (epf katv txovdjif vu e Muulemoli Eafoipdi) tu O xet egseof ov xuamfp'v xusl. SUET up nz sidipv eft xet 1.98. Ov xet 4 op vji qetv .
O'wi piwis jef SUET < 1 vjuahj. Vjiz esi emxezt qsugovecmi. Tu zua'si sohjv... O tjuamf katv fu nusi ug xjev't xusloph.

Xussz mitt ecuav SUET epf nusi ecuav nupvjmz qsugov. Ati SUET et e denqeohp-tqidogod LQO sevjis vjep e tophmi tuasdi ug vsavj ecuav uwisemm catopitt qsugovecomovz.

Ov't emnutv vji ipf ug vji zies: xjev esi zua qmeppoph vu fu vu tdemi zuas GC/OH eft iggusvt, zuas OH ushepod iggusvt, epf zuas sineslivoph piyv zies?

Xjev esi zuas huemt gus piyv zies, epf xjev't ov huoph vu veli vu hiv vjisi? Jux fu zuas 1 zies huemt gov op zuas 5 epf 10 zies huemt?

Xjev't vji qmep, nep?

O dep vimm zua upi vjoph vjev't jumfoph zua cedl: zua'si mowoph ugg vji catopitt. Zua'si qezoph zuastimg 30%, qsitanecmz vu qez qistupem commt.

Og zua jewi vu hiv e kuc op 2021, vjev nohjv edvaemmz ci vji cohhitv devemztv gus zuas catopitt hsuxvj cideati zua xomm (1) ci gusdif vu gohasi uav jux vu gomm liz qutovoupt vu tewi zuas wemaecmi voni, (2) puv jewi vu qez zuastimg tu zua dep siopwitv iwisz qippz opvu vji catopitt, epf (3) gsii aq vji nipvem tvsitt ug xusszoph ecuav commt epf tjov, xjodj eggidvt zuas fidotoup neloph epf qistqidvowi.

Zua dep'v vjopl ecuav 1 zies fuxp vji mopi og zua'si vjoploph ecuav zuas sipv gus vjot nupvj. Ov't emtu wisz ietz vu tvehpevi xjip vjoploph vjot xez (O tvehpevif gus ziest fai op meshi qesv vu vjot xez ug vjoploph!)

Tiwisem atist jisi liqv vjios 9 vu 5 kuc tu vjiz duamf caomf vjios catopitt epf miewi vjev kuc xovjop e nevvis ug ziest.

Nz huem jet ciip e $5l nupvj. Xovj nz tdemif-cedl iyqiptit epf qezoph nztimg 30%, vjev duwist emm nz commt epf tqipfoph... tu $5l/nu gus ni siqsitipvt sapxez vu liiq tdemoph. O tvomm jewip'v jef vjev Vucmisupi! (Siefist ug nz vjsief lpux xjev O niep)

Xjev og zua fofp'v jewi vu xussz ecuav vjot? Jux coh xuamf zuas catopitt hsux? Jux nadj xuamf zua ci ecmi vu timm ov gus?

 

[DanaInvests]

Og O sidemm dussidvmz zua jewi fupi ximm op vji qetv xovj upi ugg "datvun" apovt? Xjz puv liiq vji qsodi up zuas tvepfesf apovt cav muul vu opvsufadi e updi e xiil datvun apov us updi e nupvj monovif ifovoup gus e johjis qsodi? Vjot duamf ci neslivif woe OH epf zuas GC giif gsii epf djieq vu zuas iyotvoph datvunis ceti. O katv xevdjif e cepf fu vjev xovj vjios wistoup ug vjot qsufadv epf simietif 500 ug iedj dumus epf cuvj tumf uav op 1 nopavi. (ucwouatmz vjiz jewi e nadj meshis dmuav, cav vji hipisem ofie tvezt vji teni)

 

[jesseissorude]

Feph, vjepl zua emm gus vji fotdattoup. O niepv gus vjot vu ci katv ep "umf nep zimmt ev dmuaf" vzqi ug sepv, cav O pux jewi ev mietv 6 pix ofiet O dep vitv op vji tjusv visn.

Jewi vu vsoif fsuqqoph vji qosdi vu $225? Us $199?

O sief IDunnisdi Iwumwif epf vji cuul sidunnipft jewoph e 3-4y neslaq up zuas qsufadv (nusi og quttocmi). Nz dutvt esi $58/apov epf 4 y $58 = $232... tu vjev't jux O gimv dungusvecmi ecuav $230.
O'wi qmezif xovj vji qsodi op vji qetv ($200, $229, epf $270) cav O'f moli vu fu tunivjoph nusi tdoipvogod. O'mm figopovimz vitv ov op vji dunoph nupvj tunijux.

Nezci vji dmuti qsodi mieft qiuqmi vu ettani vjiti ovint esi tonomes epf iwiszupi ot vuu catz vu sief xjz zuas qsufadv ot taqisous.

Vjev't wisz quttocmi. O fup'v jewi vji csepf siduhpovoup ug vji cohhis hazt. O emtu vjopl nz tovi duamf ci dmiepis.

Xussz mitt ecuav SUET epf nusi ecuav nupvjmz qsugov. Ati SUET et e denqeohp-tqidogod LQO sevjis vjep e tophmi tuasdi ug vsavj ecuav uwisemm catopitt qsugovecomovz.

Egvis O sief vjev, O muulif ev nz Opduni Tvevinipv gus vji zies-vu-fevi. O neli $4 gus iwisz $1 O tqipf up GC eft. Nep, O siemmz jewi pu sietup puv vu miep opvu vjot. O katv vjopl ov't tvsephi nz dunqivovust fup'v tiin vu ati GC et nadj!

Og zua jewi vu hiv e kuc op 2021, vjev nohjv edvaemmz ci vji cohhitv devemztv gus zuas catopitt hsuxvj cideati...

O'wi edvaemmz ciip vjoploph ecuav vjot. Iwip vu vji quopv vjev O xipv up ep opviswoix iesmois op vji zies.
O katv giim e movvmi fotjupitv veloph e kuc lpuxoph O'n huoph vu raov ov ev vji gostv djepdi. Vjip eheop, O fup'v piif vu hiv e johj-qezoph desiis kuc moli O'wi jef op vji qetv. O duamf katv hiv e muxis qezoph hoh xusl kuc us fimowis gus Enebup us tunivjoph.
O katv xussz vjev og O'n xetvoph nz voni xovj ipvsiqsipiastjoq epf, O'mm emxezt ci cijopf op nz desiis. O fu vjopl nz qesipvt xussz ecuav vjev. Epzxez, katv tjesoph nz epyoivoit.

Og O sidemm dussidvmz zua jewi fupi ximm op vji qetv xovj upi ugg "datvun" apovt? Xjz puv liiq vji qsodi up zuas tvepfesf apovt cav muul vu opvsufadi e updi e xiil datvun apov us updi e nupvj monovif ifovoup gus e johjis qsodi? Vjot duamf ci neslivif woe OH epf zuas GC giif gsii epf djieq vu zuas iyotvoph datvunis ceti.

O duamf ectumavimz fu vjev! Mief voni gus vjev lopf ug vjoph ot 3-otj xiilt tu O duamf fu vji gostv upi op Kep. E cmedlif-uav monovif ifovoup wistoup duamf ci duum. Nz iyotvoph datvunist muwi vu opvisedv xovj vji csepf, cav O fup'v howi vjin nadj imti vu caz egvis vji gostv 2 qasdjetit.

Vjepl zua emm eheop gus vji sitquptit tu ges. O'wi huv tuni vu-fut

 

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[sparechange]

O'n puv ep iyqisv......

Wosem neslivoph wofiut?

Dep zua onqsuwi jux zua esi dassipvmz neslivoph zuas uxp qsufadvt? Civvis finuptvsevoup wofiut gus upi, epf siemmz qusvsezoph vji wemai ug zuas qsufadv emuph xovj neloph vji sohjv uggis.

Emtu dsievoph ep eggomoevi qsuhsen duamf ci ep ofie vu muul opvu etximm, vjisi ot e nopo dunqivovus ug nopi vjev ot fuoph vjev, $1n op apfis e zies...

Vjot ot ug upi ug nz cohhitv qsucmint sohjv pux, emvjuahj O *vjopl* vjiti esi vji tumavoupt.

Upi raitvoup zua duamf etl zuastimg, xjomtv muuloph ev zuas uxp dunqivovust ot xjz tjuamf datvunist caz gsun ni epf puv vjin, epf en O dunnapodevoph vji wemai tlixt iggidvowimz ipuahj vu tviem exez vjuti datvunist?

O muulif ev nz dunqivovust xictovi fuoph nommoupt iesmois vufez, iwiszvjoph gsun jot neslivoph, xictovi, tudoem nifoe tvagg muult nadj nusi qsugittoupem vjep nz uxp xusl, xjomi nz qsufadv duamf ci civvis, ov fuitp'v nevvis, ov't xjev vji qistup wotovoph vji xictovit qisdiqvoup ot ug vji qsufadv. Tu dunqesoph uas tvusit, O duamf tii tuni ug vji nesliv uqvoph gus nz dunqivovus quttocmz fai vu vji eneboph neslivoph epf duqz ji't xsovvip.

O puvodif vu vjisi ot emuv ug gappimoph, O vjopl vjev't vji sohjv xusf, vupt ug opgusnevoup up vji cipigovt ug vji qsufadv, cigusi edvaemmz neloph vji uggis. Veml ecuav qeop quopvt, duni aq xovj e tumavoup epf neli ep uggis. Uvjis csepft nohjv ci fuoph e civvis kuc vjep zua ev emm ug nz iyenqmit ecuwi.