The Real, Ugly Side of Entrepreneurship: It's Not All Sexy and Glamorous

Everyone thinks being an entrepreneur is this glamorous, high-flying dream job. You see the influencers posting polished photos from their home offices, the sleek websites, and the curated “behind-the-scenes” clips of their businesses thriving. Sure, in theory, it all looks sexy and exciting, but let’s be real—there’s a lot of ugly, behind-the-scenes action happening that no one tells you about when you’re starting out.

Take this for example: promotional items. I recently placed a large order for a bunch of things to send to my community—thank you cards, stickers, and other fun little freebies to make my customers feel appreciated. Because, you know, that’s a thing you’re supposed to do when you’re building a brand. But I’m here to tell you... no one talks about how expensive that all is! Sure, I calculated the cost of the actual product I’m selling, but all of those little touches? They add up quick. It’s easy to get lost in the excitement of offering a nice gesture, but those “small” details are a big cost when you add them to your budget.

Packing orders, buying custom packaging, keeping inventory of these extra items—it’s a lot of work. And, trust me, that’s just one part of the equation. There’s the marketing, the late-night emails, the constant hustle to create content, the endless meetings with suppliers, the customer service headaches... Honestly, it’s a lot of things people don’t talk about when they glamorize being a business owner.

As I’m diving deeper into this entrepreneurial journey, I’m realizing that for me to be truly successful, I’m going to have to get organized. And here’s the kicker—organization is the one thing I struggle with. I’m the kind of person who thrives on creative chaos, but, in this world, that doesn’t always work. At some point, I’ll have to take control of the business side of things—tracking expenses, creating systems, maintaining inventories, and making sure everything runs smoothly behind the curtain.