I’ve been doing this lash business coaching gig for a hot minute now and I ask all of my current and prospective 1-on-1 coaching clients what is holding them back from just killing it in their own eyelash extension business.

The Top 3 obstacles holding most lash artists back from starting their own lash business are:

1. Money
2. The Know How
3. Fear of Failing

#1- Financial Strain

Losing money when starting up any business is a valid concern and one you need to address with open eyes. Taking out loans and borrowing money from friends and family can be a huge source of stress and pressure to make your business work.

If you’re not in a position to fail financially (and honestly, who really is), then you have no choice but to succeed. You can look at the financial pressure to succeed in business ownership as a means of motivating you to give it your all and never give up. It’s likely people are depending on you to make ends meet and this is your chance to provide financial stability for those around you so that they can take risks and pursue their dreams. Even being in a corporate job is not a guarantee of financial stability as you are not in control of your paycheck.

 LASHPRENEUR LIGHTBULB

The benefit of being your own lash boss is that you can’t get fired, laid off, or retired early. You are the one who’s in the driver’s seat of failing or succeeding. The question is “Are you ready for that challenge?”

 #2- Lack of Business Experience or Know How

The majority of lash artists do not have a previous business training or education, much less a college degree to fall back on. Yet there are thousands out there who are figuring it out, learning as they go and crafting a business that works for them. There can be a steep learning curve and some costly mistakes along the way but there’s never been a better time to be a lash business owner than right now. Especially with lash specific business programs like the ones offered thru www.thelashpreneur.com that exist to help fill in the gaps of your business knowledge and give you the step by step training, education, and support you need to not only succeed at having your own eyelash extension business but to thrive in it.

#3- Letting Others Down

This was probably my biggest fear before opening up my lash business. My dad has been his own boss and business owner my whole life and it was always assumed I would go to college (and major in Business, which I did… I know, shocking right?!), and then work a corporate 9-5 job punching a time clock. Man did I throw my parents for a loop when at the ripe old age of 28 I left all corporate career pursuits and signed up for beauty school.

Fast forward to contemplating opening up my very own business and being the sole provider for my family at that time, I’m not 100% sure either of my parents or my husband was super excited about the timing of my decision (husband had just gotten out of the military and my son was 10 months old), but I knew I had to explore what entrepreneurship would look like for me because the alternative was going back to the corporate world to get a “stable” job that would suck the soul right out of me. The fear of letting those who I love the most down was on my mind constantly and somedays, going back to employee life sounded like a joy ride compared to the ups and downs on running my own business. But honestly, the fear of settling in my life for a career I hated and that brought me no joy or fulfillment was even stronger than my fear of letting others down if I failed at my lash business. I could always go back to a “whatever” type job if I failed, but I would never have the “what if I pursued being a lash business owner” question haunt me if I at least gave it my all.

Ok, so what are you really fearful of?

I give you permission to walk down the “what if” path of failing and to write down what exactly would happen if you failed at what you set out to create. Would life be over as you know it or would you be right back where you are now? What would life be like if you never pursued being your own boss? Do you think you could create a plan that would address your fears and give you a plan of attack if they started to show their ugly heads once you’ve committed to jumping all in?

Maybe part of that plan is building up some extra savings before you launch your lash business. It could be committing to learning everything you can about business through an online coaching program like The Lashpreneur Group Coaching Program or 1-on-1 Private Coaching . You could even have an honest conversation with those who matter most to you and let them know that their approval and support in this adventure of business ownership is key to your success as -most- of your loved ones want to see you thrive and be fulfilled (and maybe just dump the ones who don’t, cause ain’t nobody got time for that).

 If fear of failing is what’s holding you back, I’d love for you to share with me why. What obstacles are standing in your way to pursuing a lash business of your very own? What is it that you can’t figure out enough to feel comfortable to the leap? Do you have anyone in your corner cheering you on and believing that you can do it? You can privately email me your fears of failure at hi@thelashpreneur.com (they come straight to me).

Have a good one,

Tara Walsh, The Lashpreneur