The reality of business was nothing like what I expected

You know, when I first thought about running my own business, I had my expectations of what it was going to be like. 

I’d look at other business owners, and women in business, and think, “wow, they’ve really got their sh*t together”, and I wanted that too.

It seemed like everything I could’ve wanted, free time to spend with my children, holiday’s, relaxation time and lot’s of earnings, but I didn’t have a clue what the realities of being a business owner were like. 

Before I dive in, let me introduce myself.

I’m Kim, single mum of four boys and owner of Options Care, a Day Opportunities Service for Adults, based in Stamford, Lincolnshire. 

I started my business in 2021, after working for four years on my own as a Support Worker and Personal Assistant for young people, primarily on a one to one basis.

I always knew I was capable of doing what I did, and doing it well. I loved making a huge difference to the lives of adults and young people with additional needs (and still do, of course!), so with that my self-employed role was great for me at the time, but I knew I could do even more.

But little did I know what I was getting myself into

Like I said earlier, I thought I’d be going into a ‘glitz and glam’ lifestyle, with loads of money, a ton of free time, and the flexibility to do what I wanted, when I wanted. But the reality of running a business was nothing like this, and was much harder than I expected it to be.

I was expecting to be a power dresser, with a Louis Vuitton bag and a pair of stilettos, just like you see in the movies. I thought I’d have my sh*t together, have a good work-life balance along with my dream car, and be that person with a perfect household and lots of money in the bank.

But I found myself, a mum of four, trying to maintain a long distance relationship whilst running a business, feeling lonely, stressed, and overwhelmed by all the challenges I came across day to day, both personal and professional ones. 

So what is the reality?

I was always thinking about how I’m not a ‘businesswoman’, or the type to be that. I kept thinking that I just wasn’t cut out for this lifestyle, and felt like giving up at times. But I realised that there shouldn’t be a box that a businesswoman fits into. I also realised that a lot of the stuff we see online is probably rubbish, and that most people only show the good parts of their life and business. So in reality, every other person who owns a business was probably feeling the same way as me, or at least had done at some point during their journey.

All we see is the posh cars and holidays, and the huge houses and latest gadgets in the hands of influencers and business owners online, but there’s so much more to business than that, a lot that doesn’t get shown.

The reality is I wear a pair of vans and a nice pair of jeans most days, and I love it – they’re so comfy!. I carry pretty much everything in my back pocket, no LV bag here! At least it’s easy access, right? I drove a Corsa, and upgraded to a SEAT… nothing fancy, but it gets me where I need to go, and I’m grateful for that. I cry A LOT. I get stressed, A LOT. I am always finding it hard to switch off, and I feel guilty when I do… and we can’t forget about mum guilt.

The point I’m making is that business isn’t all it’s made out to be. It’s hard work, it’s stressful, and it’s cracked up to be something that it’s not. But with all the mistakes I have made I am learning day after day more about myself, my strengths and weaknesses, and how to run my business and a happy household at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, it has its challenges and it always will, but I’m certainly getting better at navigating everything.

Am I crazy for loving business?

What’s important is that no matter how stressful things get, I still love what I do. I’ve gone from a self-employed, solo Support Worker, to the owner of my own successful business with a team of 5. Day after day we help adults and young people learn, grow, and have fun, ultimately to lead fulfilling lives that they love. Whether it be our day trips to the zoo, or doing karaoke, a chilled coffee morning, or maybe even a good arts and crafts session, the stress of business is all made up for by the joy that comes with those we work with.

Even after learning that I was completely wrong about what being a businesswoman was like, I still love it. The work we do at Options Care is so rewarding. Yes, it has its ups and downs, like anything in life, but I am constantly learning and growing personally and professionally.

… that’s not to say I wouldn’t mind a nice bag and a holiday too! 

But, if you’d like to learn more about how we support adults with additional needs, check out our services here.