When I started my own business and opened Nothing Past Nine, I was confident that my education, knowledge and determination would make the business side of the equation easy! All I would have to worry about was creating products and taking pretty pictures of them! HA! If only it were that simple.

Building a functioning business is easy. Building a brand that stands for something you believe in is hard work that makes you question everything and always strive for more.

As an entrepreneur, you have the benefit of working for no one but yourself. Flip side is that there is no one else there to pick up the slack when you’re tired. There is no one to blame when something isn’t done, or isn’t done well. Everything you do is a reflection of yourself and as people judge your work, they are determining the value of a piece of you.

Going into my second year as a small business owner I’ve decided to dive into building this brand and this business to be something I’m proud of and not simply something I do to make money. I’m taking the time and energy to think about why I do what I do, and how all the different pieces of my brand align with that. They might mention the importance of this congruity during MBA classes, but putting your heart and your passion into words that resemble a mission statement can be daunting! Much less making sure that every post, tweet, image and description align perfectly with your vision!

If you are a business owner or thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, I challenge you not to neglect the hard work of laying a firm foundation for your brand. Not only will you be more content with the image you are communicating, but you’ll be reaching the people that you are aiming for; the people that want to do business with you.

When I started my own business and opened Nothing Past Nine, I was confident that my education, knowledge and determination would make the business side of the equation easy! Now I know that understanding my motives and the reasoning behind my actions is what makes decisions and next steps easier and easier. Which means I can enjoy more time creating and taking pretty pictures!

Follow along on social media (especially Instagram!) @nothingpastnine to see how this small business builds its brand. Share your story too! We’re in this together, my friends.