Taking Life One Day at a Time

Taking Life One Day at a Time

I want to start by sharing a little about myself. I’m a mother and a full-time teacher, juggling the demands of my family and job while building my candle business. Thankfully, I have a wonderful boyfriend who assists me with making candles. While my spare time is limited, my determination to make this business succeed keeps me moving forward. This entire process has been a journey—a learning curve that I’m excited to share.

Running a business is about more than just creating a product. While I’ve mastered the science of crafting beautiful pillar candles using various waxes and molds, there’s so much more to learn. From understanding business plans, securing licenses, and navigating insurance to mastering taxes, pricing strategies, and profit margins, the to-do list can feel endless. And then there’s the all-important question: how do I sell my products?

For me, the answer lies in the digital world. Selling online feels like the natural fit, but it brings its own set of challenges. I’ve spent countless hours researching hosting providers and template designs. After much deliberation, I chose a platform based on user-friendliness and a long-term promotion that fit my budget. But the real work began when I started designing the website.

Let me tell you—it’s been a journey. Designing a website has been a steep learning curve filled with trial and error. If you visit my site today, you’ll see it’s still a work in progress—a “hot mess,” as I lovingly call it. There have been countless moments when I made changes without realizing their full impact, only to scramble to fix them later. And the “coming soon” section, a vital piece of my business plan, still awaits my attention.

Now, I’m diving into advertising, albeit on a shoestring budget. This has led me to the fascinating—albeit complex—realm of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Okay, maybe not fully fascinating, but it is challenging. Learning how to optimize my website for search engines feels like unlocking a new level in the game of running a business. It’s tough, but I’m hopeful it will pay off when I see progress, even if it’s just a small step forward.

Taking things one day at a time has become my mantra. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with so much to learn and do, but I remind myself that every successful business started somewhere. Progress, not perfection, is my goal. I’m embracing the journey, knowing that every stumble and triumph brings me closer to building the business of my dreams.

To all the other parents, full-time workers, and budding entrepreneurs out there: it’s okay to take it slow. Learn as you go, celebrate your wins, and give yourself grace for the inevitable missteps. We’re all figuring it out one day at a time, and that’s perfectly okay.