Running a Business Is Personal, Here’s the Honest Truth About What I’ve Been Feeling Lately

This blog post isn’t polished. It isn’t strategic. It’s just real.

I’ve been sitting with a lot of anxiety lately. And truthfully? I didn’t plan on posting about it. But I’ve always promised to show up with transparency, and I know these are the kinds of posts that make me feel less alone when I see them from others. So here we are.

These are a few things that have been weighing heavy on me lately:

1. Feeling like I’m not good enough

Owning a small business is so much more personal than people realize. Even when you try to separate yourself from the day-to-day, it still feels like you are the business. So when things go well, it feels amazing. But when something slips or doesn’t land the way you wanted? It’s hard not to take that personally.

And when you’re the one behind every single task? It’s easy to feel like you’re failing at something. Or everything.

2. Guilt from trying to “do it all”

Lately I’ve been feeling like I’m constantly letting someone down.
I think a lot of small business owners feel this, especially if you’re also a parent, a partner, a pet owner, or just a human being trying to juggle all the things.

I feel like:

• My dogs deserve more attention

• I should be doing more focused learning with Wes

• I need more quality time with my husband

• My own business backend needs love

• My bookstagram is collecting cobwebs

It feels like when I give to one thing, I take from another. And it’s exhausting.

3. The messy house

This one’s small, but it’s not.

When I’m trying to manage work and life and motherhood and everything else, my house definitely takes the hit. With a two-year-old who can undo a clean room in 60 seconds flat, sometimes it feels like even trying is a waste of time. But then I spiral. Am I a bad mom for not staying on top of it? A bad adult for not having it all together?

I know I’m not alone in this, but in the moment? It feels like I am.

4. The future

Classic worrier here 🙋🏼‍♀️ I can spiral fast. One “what if” leads to a hundred more. And lately, the future just feels like one big question mark.

If you’re a business owner, you probably know this feeling well the uncertainty, the pressure to make all the right moves, the fear of slowing down or messing up.

5. My own social media growth

Yes, even as a social media manager.
This is a weird one to admit out loud. But I’m not immune to the same worries you have. I worry about:

• Whether my content is resonating

• Why I’m not growing faster

• Comparing myself to other creators or business owners

I know I coach you through these things all the time. But I think it’s important to be honest: I feel it too.

If you made it all the way to the end here, thank you. Truly.

We all need reminders that we’re not alone in the hard stuff. That the pressure and self doubt and burnout are sharedexperiences, especially in the world of small business ownership.

So if this post resonates with you, I hope you walk away feeling a little more seen and a little less alone.

Take care of yourself this Thanksgiving season. I hope you find small moments of rest and joy, and know how incredibly grateful I am for you, today and always. 💛

Sending love,
Brandakin 🫶