What did you want to be growing up?

An astronaut, a lawyer, maybe a pet doctor?

I wanted to be a writer. When I was 10ish, I started writing childish horror stories. I still remember my handwriting, the notebook, and how much I enjoyed watching my friends feel the story. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but I do remember the one about the neighbor who happened to be a vampire.

Fast forward to the present.

I was invited to share my entrepreneurial story on Mirasee’s Making It Podcast. And the questions? Wow, did they bring back memories… It was more like a call with a coach, rather than an interview. For the first time in a long time, I was able to connect the dots and see that my story actually began a long, long time ago.

I’ve been an entrepreneur for a long time.

So long that I sometimes forget that I do run a business.

I’ve been a beginner who had no idea where the next client would come from. Wasted so much time saying YES to every little bit of work that would bring in cash flow.

I’ve been an in-house contractor a few times throughout my career.

I’ve done my fair share or cold outreach AND to my surprise… it worked and I got the client.

I’ve pivoted so many times I’ve lost count: SEO writer and consultant, ghostwriter, blogger, content strategist, Marketing manager, PR manager, sales rep, website designer, growth hacker, visibility coach, life coach, email marketer, business and marketing consultant/coach, social media strategist and writer, graphic designer, email marketer, sales funnel hacker, project manager, copywriter.

I’ve started quite a few businesses. Some I still run to this day. I had a photobooth service. I designed custom-made wedding decor. I was a photographer. I started my own lavender farm and sold wedding favors. I created the first floral confetti service in Romania. I turned my paper passion into a seasonal business that I run to this day. I hosted art & hobby workshops for kids, adults, and companies. I designed my own affirmation coloring book (it’s still available on Amazon). I almost started a Pinterest management agency after consulting and running accounts for other people for a while. I had one or two Etsy shops selling printables – nothing beats the feeling of earning while you sleep.

I’ve had to overcome so many of my mindset limitations to get where I am today… Imposter syndrome, money beliefs, scarcity mindset, not being good enough, fear of being judged, hating the sound of my voice, worrying about my English accent (I’m not a native), learning to set boundaries with clients, learning to say no, protecting my health and time (still learning), learning to trust strangers, thinking I’m too average to achieve anything, worrying that specialization or niching down will mean losing my clients.

I’ve worked in many industries, with so many niches, trying so many different marketing channels. From selling books to writing SEO content for an SEO agency, to running the marketing department and co-running the sales department for two fashion brands, from working with fashion designers, photographers, to authors, marketing experts, one shoe-maker, breath work expert, to top course creators. Fashion, education, marketing, alternative healing.

I’ve had the honor to work with amazing clients and visionary leaders. I’ve also had the chance to work with clients who were not that great, doing work that I hated (I kid you not, for one month, I wrote click-bait headlines and artist profiles for a p*orn website).

But all of that made me who I am today.

And after so many years of entrepreneurship, here’s what I’ve discovered…

• My business isn’t about making money anymore. It’s about a mission that’s bigger than who I am. It’s so intense, sometimes I worry I won’t be able to accomplish my goals. It’s all summed up in one big word: Impact. And as strong as it is, it still sounds vague, like it lacks substance. What is impact?
• My life isn’t about building a business anymore. It’s about figuring out how best to use my time, skills, and authority to create that impact.
• Learning remains a constant. In 2023, I hired a PR podcast agency. They created a profile for me, trying to sum up all of my entrepreneurial experience in a few words. They ended up with something that baffled me:

With more than 25,000 hours of hands-on marketing experience over 13 years, the biggest course creators in the world hire her to optimize their email marketing efforts.

To this day, I keep reading like a maniac everything that interests me (and everything other people find boring): everything from consumer behavior to marketing books, entrepreneurship, biographies, self-help, and the occasional crime novels. This constant learning does something to my brain that I can’t properly explain in words. Each page is an idea that could take my copy or life vision in 10,000 directions. And I love that.

In 2022, I enrolled in school again. I am now halfway through my second year as an Advertising student at the University of Bucharest. In case you’re wondering, I’m 36. This wasn’t planned. But it’s happening and I am loving every minute. Even the ones spent in classes that are boring me to tears.

• Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. Yes, you have freedom and a flexible schedule. Yes, you get to decide. But there’s so much more that comes with being a small business owner. It’s a responsibility that becomes a burden when you’re living in economic uncertainty, when you have employees, or when you’re just starting out. Took me a while to realize, that I don’t have to be the one who has all the answers or that I could take timeouts.

This was a me blog post. I don’t normally post this kind of content.

But I think from time to time, we should put our professional hats aside, and become vulnerable again. After all, in entrepreneurship we thrive when we share what we learn.

So I hope this episode will inspire you as well.