Celebrating Three Years of Clever Hawk Branding
In a world where small businesses face numerous challenges, reaching the three-year mark is a significant milestone. I am proud to say that today marks three years of being in business and I couldn’t be more proud and appreciative to everyone that made it possible. Over the past three years there have been numerous challenges, learnings, and successes of which I am sharing below to encourage other entrepreneurs who may need that added encouragement!
The Challenges
Starting a business is like embarking on a perilous journey, and the initial years come with a lot of uncertainty. According to the Small Business Administration, 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10. Clever Hawk has not only surpassed the critical two-year mark but has thrived against the odds to reach this commendable three-year milestone.
This hasn’t come without my fair share of challenges. Starting a new business without any experience in the midst of a pandemic may not have been the smartest decision. Also throw in having a baby right in the middle of it all and some days seemed next to impossible. But I attribute my and the business’ success on having thick skin, staying open to new opportunities, and surrounding myself with smart amazing people!
Having Thick Skin
In the beginning I said “yes” to EVERYTHING! You need a new website for next to nothing? Sure! Oh you want me to make lead lists and stalk people on LinkedIn. No problem! Manage your social media (which I totally hate). Absolutely. Saying yes was part of why I survived my first year, but it was not sustainable. Hating the work you do every day, taking on more than you can handle, and not finding a niche are all quick ways to fail.
However, during the last three years I have grown my thick skin. Meaning I now am not afraid to say no to potential clients if the work really isn’t in my wheelhouse. I learned to stand strong in my rates and not let someone talk me down in price. And I have on several occasions told a potential client to kick rocks because I couldn’t bear the thought of having to communicate with them long term. One potential client actually told me that given I am from Delaware meant I must not know how things work in big cities so I should go ahead and do some work for him for free to earn his trust. I politely told him he was crazy and wished him good luck in the future!
All of these milestones have made me a stronger businesswoman and have led to me truly enjoying the work I do each day and the people I do it with!
Being Open to Opportunity
Throughout these three years I have reinvented myself countless times. I can honestly say that every single opportunity that came my way to pivot and try something new, I jumped at it. This included everything from starting a side business with a client of mine, pursuing an ecommerce startup with some friends, and partnering with a larger agency to gain better experiences. Let’s just say two of those three endeavors failed miserably, but all of them brought me a ton of lessons learned.
First I learned that I have a really hard time working for other people! Many entrepreneurs know this about themselves as it’s part of the reason you go into business for yourself. However, I didn’t quite know the extent until there were one too many calls with me raising my voice and losing my shit to know that maybe that’s not the right path for me. Some of my qualities that make me good at what I do (passion, commitment to quality, and confidence) also make it really hard for me to compromise when there are multiple people making important decisions. Lesson learned - and now I am very careful about who I partner with and I make sure to set expectations very clearly upfront to avoid any conflict down the road.
I still think being open to new opportunities is critical for any business person. However, I now know that you don’t need to jump all in on every scheme someone throws your way. And believe me - they will throw them your way if you're any good at what you do!
Build a Solid Tribe
My very first client was my very good friends who basically tried to talk me out of working with them because they knew they would be difficult. They were right, they were difficult. But in working with them they single handedly gave me the spring board for starting my consulting business. Without them I would have never survived my first year. I would have never gained the confidence that I can actually help businesses grow. And I wouldn’t have been able to actually be able to sustain myself financially. I am forever grateful for them trusting me with their business and staying friends with me throughout the process!
They were the start of my tribe, but the people I now surround myself with has grown tremendously. My success is due 100% to all of my clients, friends, and family that put up with my lengthy emails, late night stress working sessions, and listening to my crazy ideas. I wouldn’t be celebrating three years today without everyone who has been involved with Clever Hawk.
Looking Ahead
As Clever Hawk Branding celebrates its third anniversary, my focus shifts to the future. The journey may have been challenging, but resilience and adaptability, provides me this strong foundation for what lies ahead. I am excited to continue working with the brands that allow me the honor of helping them grow, and I look forward to continuing to grow my portfolio. As an entrepreneur, I love that I get to focus on small to mid-sized businesses because I understand them at a personal level. I know what it feels like to wear not just multiple hats, but all of the hats. I know what it's like to lose sleep because you want to provide the best. And I know how much pride you take in your brand, because your brand represents YOU!
Cheers to three years of success, tears, sleepless nights, happy hours, and everything in-between. If you are a small business owner, keep on going! If you are thinking about taking that leap - just do it, and go all in! And if you need someone who thrives in chaos and loves a little bit of crazy, I’m your girl - let’s chat!
