The Reality Behind Entrepreneurship, Being a Personal Brand, and Maintaining a Healthy Family

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I can appreciate the perceived glamour of entrepreneurship and personal branding, it’s what I do. It’s what we do…. but here’s what you don’t see:

The struggle. And it is REAL.

Here’s what they don’t tell you as you grow, and grow fast:

You’re going to work MORE because the demand for content is higher… And the TYPES of content will constantly evolve, and it will be beyond your capability, so you’ll be hiring out.

Your income will increase, but so will cost…. employees, ad spend, marketing, taxes…. you’re going to have to emotionally detach from money and get used to writing checks because you’re going to be lucky to keep 1/3 of what comes in… and those margins will continue to get smaller as you scale.

You’re going to become a tad narcissistic, not because you are so full of yourself, but because you are growing your brand.. which is you… and you can’t turn it off. At best, you manage it through proper habits, coaching, and mindset.

You’d better put your partner as PRIORITY, because they are going to feel as though they’re competing for your time. This will pass as it becomes more normal, but not at first. So you better make SURE you have your priorities straight. Your kids could care less about your growing platform… they want you on the floor playing and talking them through first dates.

You run the risk of isolating yourself in a bubble of other “hustling” “grinding” “innovators,” which can either be beneficial or detrimental. Choose your circle wisely. The margins of your integrity will be tested, and your soul is on the line.

You don’t “find what you love and never work another day in your life.” You find what you love and become obsessed with it…. again, there is no balance in life, only priority. So create healthy boundaries and priority NOW while you’re on the climb.

You won’t know everything, but you have to pretend like you do. This will lead to some cognitive dissonance, so get someone in your corner (paid) that can be OBJECTIVE in the journey, hold you accountable, and keep you to your word, integrity, and mission.

All that said, you have to do this. You know that. It’s your call, your mission, your purpose. That THING that burns inside of you, that PASSION…we need it. We need you FULLY ALIVE at your HIGHEST CAPACITY.

So take this, run with it, do amazing things, and create an impact and legacy that is true on AND off social media.

And to Kala, thank you. Thank you for making our house a home. Thank you for being the Oz of ETL, running the books and prioritizing time and schedules, hosting clients and creating content.. all while leading your own brand, coaching your own clients, and being a SUPERMOM and SUPERWIFE. YOU are the REAL MVP….even when (especially when) we have to fight THROUGH the growing pains in public while on a photo shoot.

Cheers to the outtakes from the highlight reel.

If you feel me in this, let me know below.

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Previously published on Facebook.

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