Starting your own business is like swiping right on the most thrilling (slightly delusional), love affair of your life. There you are, heart-eyed and hopeful, blissfully ignoring potential red flags in pursuit of that butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling. 

It’s a mixture of head-over-heels passion and a hefty dose of “what the heck am I doing?”. But your naive optimism somehow tricks you into believing that you can conquer the world—or at least, the mountain of tasks ahead. 

Because at the end of the day, the dream is to wake up every morning in LOVE with what you’re doing, right?

But here’s the thing—every great love story has its moment of truth. No matter how swept off your feet you are, there comes a time when the honeymoon glow starts to fade, and the hard work begins. This pivotal moment will challenge you to figure out if your passion for your business is a long-term commitment or just a fleeting affair.

So, the big question is, how do you tackle the inevitable hurdles while keeping the spark of that initial passion alive?

In my experience, I’ve found that cultivating success within your business to create a lasting love story really comes down to these three things: 

Time, Commitment, and Unshakable Belief – so, let’s dive into each. ⬇️

01. Time: Maximizing Your Most Precious Resource

We’ve all heard the saying, “time is money,” but when it comes to your business, I’d argue that time is even more valuable than currency. 

Not all time is created equal, despite what they might tell you—and by ‘they’ I mean whoever decided that saying was a thing. 

It’s true, we all have 24 hours in a day, BUT we don’t all have the same 24 hours in a day, lookin at you Tswift 👀

Some people have kids, multiple jobs, other responsibilities—the list goes on. So, although we can’t necessarily control WHAT time we have, we can control HOW we use it… 

which is why I’ve listed some actionable takeaways to help you use your time wisely rather than get stuck in the loop of blaming time for your poor planning (oof sorry that was a bit harsh, but necessary nonetheless).  

Tips For Maximizing Your Time:

• Audit Your Time: Start by tracking how you spend your time. You might be surprised to find out where your hours are going. This allows you to make more informed decisions about reallocating your time towards more productive tasks. I love using the tool toggl.com to track my time.  

• Prioritize Tasks: Prioritizing tasks can seem overwhelming, but keeping your method simple and actionable is the trick to staying on track. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to prioritize, but two of my favorite methods are the 12 Week Year system, which helps you prioritize based on your long-term goals, and the Eisenhower Matrix which helps you prioritize tasks by urgency and importance. 

• Consider Adopting the “Two-Minute Rule”: The idea with this is that if something takes less than two minutes, do it right away. It’s really is amazing just how much you can accomplish in short bursts of focus.

• Schedule for Productivity: Understand when you work best and schedule tasks that require the most concentration during your peak energy times and don’t be afraid to adjust your schedule based on your current energy, mood, or the busyness of the day. 

I created a simple chart (below) to help guide you in adjusting your schedule accordingly:

Time of Day ⏰	Energy Level ⚡	Mood 🤔	Task Type ✅
Early Morning	High	Optimistic	Creative work, Planning
Mid-Morning	Moderate	Focused	Meetings, Collaborative work
Afternoon	Variable	Variable	Administrative tasks, Emails
Late Afternoon	Declining	Reflective	Review, Low-energy tasks
Evening	Low	Relaxed	Leisure, Family time

Obviously, the chart is meant to serve as a general guide, but I hope it helps you think about how you can structure your day to work FOR you, not against you. 

And lastly, it’s important to….

• Embrace Flexibility: Be prepared to adapt and/or change your schedule when needed. Remember, you’re the boss, so you make the rules! If what used to work six months ago is no longer working, don’t be afraid to switch things up and try something new. I find that my energy levels naturally change during different times of the year, especially around the holidays, so keep that in mind. 

02. Commitment: The Fuel Behind Your Business

I have strong opinions about commitment—so much so, that I wrote a whole blog post that you can read here. 

The gist? When it comes down to cultivating true success in your business, you have to find a way to keep your commitments top of mind and stop using TIME as a scapegoat—she doesn’t deserve it mmmk? 

The truth is, people often think that failing to achieve their business goals is a result of…

• not having enough time
• lack of motivation
• other people getting in the way
• your environment
• [insert other excuses here]

When the real problem is….lack of COMMITMENT. 

You think that maybe if you juuust had a better morning routine or buy some noise-canceling headphones to drown out some of the daily distractions, then maybe, just maybe you’ll be able to actually reach that lofty business goal that you set for yourself. And tbh sometimes those things can help—obviously, I just talked about different ways you can maximize your time. 

But here’s the thing: without COMMITMENT, none of that really matters!

You can optimize your morning routine until the cows come home, but if you’re just going through the motions without actually taking the necessary time to figure out the WHY and the HOW of following through and actively COMMIT to your goals, then your efforts are basically useless 👀

If you want to make real progress and have any chance of achieving those lofty goals you’ve set for yourself, then you have to commit. Period.

And I don’t just mean think about it for two seconds and then move on.

I mean…set a timer, write it down, and create an actual roadmap for making it happen.

Then, once you’ve done that, you need to choose to recommit to that goal every single day—NO EXCUSES!

Okay, I get it Lorin…but HOW do I stick to my commitments? 

I’m so glad you asked…

How to Practice Commitment in Your Business:

• Understand Your “Why”: You started your business for a reason…WHY? Figure that out and then remind yourself again and again. Knowing your why will keep you focused and motivated, especially on challenging days.

• Set Clear, Achievable Goals: Break down your big-picture vision for your business into smaller actionable steps—be sure to physically write them down. Doing this will not only make things feel less daunting but will also provide a clear roadmap to follow. Need help breaking down your goals? Check out my free Notion template here. 

• Create a Support System: Surround yourself with people who “get it” whether that’s a mentor, peers in your industry, or other entrepreneurs. Having a solid community will help keep you accountable, provide support, and give you that extra boost of encouragement on tough days.

• Stay Consistent: Your business is a big relationship that requires a lot of time, energy, and dedication. Commit to carving out a little time every day, week, or month to work on your business. Consistency breeds habit and habit breeds success. Remember, consistency is whatever frequency works best for you, so don’t compare yourself to other business owners! 

• Celebrate Small Wins: Take time to recognize your wins—big or small, they all matter. Taking a moment to celebrate your wins will help you appreciate your progress and stay motivated to honor your commitment to your business. 

03. Unshakable Belief: The Heart of Your Business

Imagine every great love story you’ve ever heard. What’s the magic ingredient? Belief. Belief in each other, in the adventure ahead, and in the dreams you’re chasing together. 

Guess what? The same goes for your business. To truly cultivate success, you have to find unshakable belief…in your vision, the value you’re bringing, and, most importantly, in yourself.

I’m not going to lie, mindset is EVERYTHING when it comes to owning your own business and some days are more challenging than others. The comparison trap is real and failure is always a possibility.

So, how do you keep that belief strong, especially on the tough days? 

Here are a few things that have worked for me…

How to Practice Unshakable Belief:

• Dream a Little (or a Lot): Visualization practices might sound a little woo-woo, but I’m all for it! Take some time every day to visualize your success—and when I say ‘success’ I mean what success means to you. Everyone’s definition is different. Define your version, visualize it, and figure out the steps you need to make it a reality.  

• Be Kind to Yourself: Positive affirmations are an entrepreneur’s best friend. They might sound a bit out there, but they can genuinely help boost your confidence and belief in what you’re doing. What you say and how you talk to yourself really does shape your world. Embrace the pep talk—if you believe it, you can achieve it.

• Never Stop Learning: Spoiler alert—starting a business comes with the uncomfy feeling of learning ALOT…about your industry, entrepreneurship, and yourself. Sometimes it can feel a bit overwhelming, but embracing the idea of being a lifelong student can help shift your perspective. Honestly, knowledge isn’t just power, it’s confidence! It helps fuel your belief in yourself and what you’re doing.

• Feedback is Your Friend: No feedback is ‘bad’ feedback in my book—it’s all valuable. Knowing what is going well and maybe not so well, can help you refine your processes. Also, getting positive feedback from clients is just the best feeling and provides that reassurance that can help keep you going.   

• Embrace the (Inevitable) Bumps: Try to see every challenge as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block. Building grit and resilience is key in this wild journey of entrepreneurship. It’s like working out— the more you do it, the stronger you get. 

How’s Your Relationship With Your Business? 

As you can see, cultivating a successful business is the same as nurturing any relationship. It requires time, commitment, and an unshakable belief in the journey. 

Yes, there will always be days when it feels more like work than love, but remember, every challenge is an opportunity to deepen your passion and commitment to your dream.

As a brand and web designer, I understand the importance of loving your business. It’s why I’m dedicated to helping entrepreneurs (like you!) create a brand and online presence that not only reflects your passion but also attracts the success you deserve. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level with a brand and website that tells your unique love story, let’s chat!