I’ve realized that I cannot make EVERYONE happy. And that bending over backwards to make everyone happy can screw you over in the end. Sometimes I have to pull out our contract and tell clients, look our agreement for the work performed ends here, anymore requests will be charged extra. It feels petty but I have to protect my profits. Also I can’t pay employees what the F500 company down the road is paying, I wish I could and I’m working towards that but my pockets aren’t as deep. It sucks to say I can’t pay you 100% of what you potentially could be earning somewhere else.

I’ve also realized I can’t be too friendly with employees. I have to maintain a level of authority so employees don’t think I’m their equal and they can slack or take off for the smallest reasons. As someone who hated authority and started my own business to do things on my terms, it’s still weird to be The Authority and be the dickhead boss that says no you can’t do that!