Our Story: Business Learning
When I first started thinking about running a business, I thought the hardest part would be coming up with ideas. I imagined parties, events, and creative themes unfolding perfectly, and assumed the rest would somehow follow. What I didn’t realise at the time was just how much learning, shifting mindset, and self-discovery it would take - not just about running a business, but about myself, my energy levels, and what I’m capable of.
Building a business is not at all straightforward. For us, it has been full of challenges, pauses, and lessons that seem to be coming slowly, but always have an impact on me. Over the past few years, I have identified some key resources that have guided me through my struggles of “what to do next” and “how to get motivated,” helping me navigate the overwhelm and find clarity.
Facing the Challenges
One of the earliest challenges I encountered was something I hadn’t expected: ME. As an introvert, the idea of putting myself out there felt terrifying. Social media, email marketing, blogging, content creation—it all seemed like a spotlight I wasn’t ready to stand in. I wanted to share my business and my work, but the thought of constantly promoting myself felt exhausting and uncomfortable. I am not a social media person!
At the same time, I had to figure out the practical side of business life: how to plan, how to budget, how to make sure what I was doing was sustainable. I knew that without a having this understanding, I wasn’t going to get anywhere! The ideas were there, the want was there, but the plan? Nope.
That’s when I began looking for guidance, inspiration, and tools that would help me build without burning out. And that’s when I discovered some incredible resources that changed everything.
There are no affiliate links in this post, these are just references I found useful, and hope you might too!
Introvertpreneur
Marketing for Introverts
*Image snipped from Spotify
I stumbled across the Introvertpreneur podcast through one of my many Pinterest rabbit holes (yes, I’m addicted, I admit it!). At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect, I don’t usually do podcasts. But the early episodes immediately resonated with me. It was reassuring to have someone telling me that there is a way to make marketing and self-promotion work for introverts like me.
The podcast showed me that I didn’t have to force myself into uncomfortable spaces to promote and engage. Instead, there are systems that can be adapted to suit your personality and energy. One of the key takeaways that got me started was the focus on four main sources of marketing:
Pinterest: creating content that quietly works for you in the background.
Instagram: sharing authentic visual stories, in manageable doses.
Email marketing: building deeper, more personal connections with your audience.
Blogging: writing longer reflections and sharing insights that matter.
Alongside these practical tools, Introvertpreneur also stressed something just as important: the need for boundaries. Burnout comes so easily when you’re trying to do too much. Learning to say no, stepping back, and managing my energy has become a central part of the journey, particularly with long covid recovery. This was a revelation—the ability to work this through in alignment with who I am.
I’m still mapping the episodes along with our business journey, and I haven’t listened to them all yet—but already, this podcast has helped me see that building a business doesn’t have to be loud, chaotic, or exhausting.
The Humble Penny
Finding Clarity
*Image snipped from their website
Another resource that had a huge impact on me came, unsurprisingly, through Pinterest again: The Humble Penny. I was trying to figure out my personal finances and stumbled across their website. What started out as curiosity quickly turned into a deep dive into learning about focus, planning, and financial clarity.
I began with one of their free email courses, a 42 week challenge. I realised it wasn’t just about managing money—it was about learning to ask myself the right questions:
What do I really want from life?
How does my current financial situation reflect those priorities?
Where am I getting in my own way?
What I love about The Humble Penny is that it is about setting yourself up for financial freedom. This course challenged me to think beyond budgeting and bills and “how to make money” and helped me see the bigger picture of planning for a balanced life.
After that, I took part in one of their free live courses, Rocket Your Income. This challenge gave me valuable tools and a framework for creating focus. It helped me see that a business isn’t built in bursts of inspiration—it’s built in consistent steps, guided by clear goals. For the first time, I felt like I could bridge the gap between where I was and where I wanted to be. This is where my motivation for this business really sparked into life. Asking the right questions, reflecting on the why? This was the pivotal moment between really trying to make this work or giving up, putting it in the ‘too hard basket’.
Financial Joy Academy (FJA)
Community and Coaching
*Image snipped from their website
Following on from Rocket Your Income, I decided to sign up to the Financial Joy Academy (FJA), a sister company and subscription service of The Humble Penny. I have committed for the year, I see this as an investment in myself and my financial learning.
FJA has been incredible. They provide access to a range of personal finance courses, business masterclasses, coaching, and a supportive community, with value being at the very heart. The content is practical, flexible and easily accessible, offering guidance for people like me who are juggling multiple priorities, but with the shared goal of attaining Financial Joy.
FJA is a resource I genuinely believe in and I would recommend it to anyone motivated enough to take their financial growth seriously. It’s a guide, a support network, and a collection of tools that make the journey clearer.
My key take aways
Looking back, these resources have taught me more than just marketing or financial management. They’ve shaped how I approach my business, my mindset, and even my life:
You don’t have to do things the extroverted way. There are quieter, gentler, and equally effective paths.
Financial clarity is freedom. Knowing where you are and what you want helps to make better choices for your life, including your business.
Community matters. Learning alongside others, even virtually, keeps you accountable, inspired, and less alone.
Boundaries are essential. Protecting your energy and saying no when you need to prevents burnout and ensures sustainability.
Small steps, taken consistently, add up. Listening to podcasts, completing courses, and joining communities lays the foundation from which momentum can build.
Learning and reflection
I’m still learning, trying to figure it all out, and I will continue to do so, undoubtably. This is a story of slow, deliberate growth and development. I am finding out what works for me, learning when to step back, and building at my own pace.
Podcasts, blogs, and courses have given me guidance and inspiration, helped motivate me when I’ve felt overwhelmed, or ready to give up. They remind me that I don’t need to do everything all at once; this has been a particular learning point for me, to focus, hone in, start small. The small steps really do count, a little bit of work is better than no work and that compounds. When I reflect on where I was a year ago and compare it to now; no, we are are not an ‘overnight success’, no we haven’t made any profit, but the progress we have made is huge in terms of learning, development and portfolio-building.
I don’t have all the answers, far from it. But I do know this: learning is part of the journey, and growth—even slow, imperfect growth—is still growth. That’s why I will keep moving forward, step by step, day by day, towards building the business I’ve been working on for so long.
If you’re in a similar place—dreaming of starting something, feeling overwhelmed by the unknown, or worried you’re “behind”—I hope this post reminds you that progress comes in many forms. Growth doesn’t have to be obvious or ‘in-your-face’. Sometimes it looks like small sparks of understanding, clarity, and confidence that gradually build into something bigger.
Here’s to continuing the journey, embracing the learning, and keeping the dream alive!
*This post is AI supported using ChatGPT for formatting
