That gut-punch feeling when business is hard – and how to keep going
There’s that moment every entrepreneur knows only too well. It’s the moment when you put something out into the world, something you believe in, something you know could help people, and … nothing.
Maybe a little interest, a comment here or there, but nothing that says: This is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for.
That feeling has been lived and lived well, unfortunately.
Right at the start of my business, I introduced packaged designs. Because sometimes, you don’t just need one design at a time; you need a full, cohesive set to keep your brand consistent and visible.
It made sense. It was a no-brainer. And yet … they never really took off.
Oh, there was interest. Some interesting and hot conversations were had. There were some conversions, but nothing that had my bank manager sit back and go … yeah … she’s got her sht together!
Some “this looks amazing” messages. But nothing that made me feel like I’d struck gold. That bank manager never really sat back.
And that gut-punch? It took the air out of me. It made me doubt myself and my business model in a BIG way!
I still offered design as a service, but that lingering feeling … why didn’t this work?, it stayed with me.
The comeback (even when you don’t see it yet)
Fast forward to just recently. I was chatting with a LinkedIn coach, and suddenly, it hit me: I’m beyond that gut-punch now.
The mindset work has been done. Growth is taking place almost daily! And more importantly, I now have the right voice and the clear direction I didn’t have back then. Your voice, or in this instance, my voice, was a little louder, a little more refined. And a heck of a lot more clearer on what the actual I was actually offering!
Now? It is time. And that’s the thing about setbacks: they feel final when you’re in them, but they’re just a pause. A shift. A moment of redirection.
Resilience isn’t just “pushing through”
Feel the fear and do it anyway. When people tell me to do that, I want to punch them because feeling the fear and doing it … no flipping way!
I tell myself that because being tough with me is the best way for me to operate.
It’s about deciding: Will this define me? Or will I use it to be better?
Many MANY moons ago, after a childhood filled with unspeakable trauma, I had two options. I could stay in the pain; remain a victim, or I could choose to rise above it. Guess which one I made?
The choice was mine and it was made and one I’d make again and again. Because business, like life, will always hand you moments that test you.
And when that test comes, I want you to remember: Nothing lasts forever.
Not the setback. Not the frustration. Not the feeling that you’re failing.
You’ve already come this far.
You’re inches away from your breakthrough. Have you seen that meme … the one where the digger gives up just before he reaches the motherlode?
*image credit – copied from the internet. No copyright information found.
That’s where you are. Inches away.
And just in case no one’s said it lately: You’re not behind. You’re not bad at this. You’re not ‘not creative.’
You’re just tired. And I see you.
So, keep going. Or …
And if Canva frustrations are adding to the overwhelm…
That struggle of feeling stuck? Been there, done that …
And I also know that sometimes, the stress of design is just one more thing on an already full plate.
This part of my love for *Canva, this service, is designed to take the frustration off your shoulders. You’ve got enough to focus on without having Canva act as another roadblock for you.
Reintroducing packaged designs, because now I know why I’m doing it and what you’ll get out of it. The design packages work like this:
Get started on social
This is for 1 platform resized to 1 other platform (if needed)
X1 LinkedIn Banner
X2 featured post graphics
X3 social post graphics
= 6 designs for NZ$295
These designs will be delivered to you in 7 business days. Terms and conditions (of course) apply
Consistency is key on social
This is for 1 platform resized to 1 other platform (if needed)
X12 social post graphics
The beauty of this one is that it is also available on retainer.
A one-off 12 social post graphics = NZ$540
As a retainer, X12 social post graphics = NZ$500. 4 posts can be carried over to a max of 4 per month for no more than 2 months.
These designs will be delivered to you in 10 business days; terms and conditions apply (of course).
Take me seriously on social
This is for 1 platform resized to 1 other platform (if needed)
X1 LinkedIn Banner
X4 Featured post graphics
X16 Social post graphics
= 21 designs for NZ$840
These designs will be delivered to you over 25 business days; terms and conditions apply (of course).
There is no fancy sales page set up for this (yet), so you will need to schedule time with me to discuss your needs.
We’ll talk about your goals, not push you into a package. This is a no-pressure space.
And just on the off chance that you WANT to go it alone, but with a little help, schedule your personal (and recorded) one-to-one time with me here.
Wrapping it up: you’re STILL in the game
It is normal AF for setbacks to shake your confidence. But DON’T let them have the final say.
Whether it’s a launch that flopped, a post that went unnoticed, or an offer that didn’t land, none of it means you’re failing.
It means you’re trying. It means you’re learning. And most of all, it means you care deeply about the work you’re doing.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I know how heavy it can feel when things don’t go the way you hoped. But I also know how it feels to come out the other side … with more clarity, a stronger voice, and a renewed sense of direction.
So, Ima gonna end this now coz I feel in a bit of a ramble mood. I’ve got you, schedule some time with me, or just send me an email. You will always be responded to, coz that’s just how I roll.
*Canva – affiliate link. I receive a small commission when you sign up for Canva Pro using this link. You do not pay more. Canva simply rewards me for referring you.