Just another day in the life of a small business owner

It’s been an interesting year becoming a small business owner. I love what I do. I love helping people. I’m excited about translating the complexities of healthcare to make it easier for all. But man, the set up and administrivia just doesn’t stop!

Businesses need a fair amount of bureaucracy and process invention to run. So every step of the way I’ve needed to learn things or figure things out myself*.

• Regulations for the industry.

• The license. And the test for the license. And registration and renewals of the license.

• Business legal start up tasks.

• Oh, I need a bank account for all this.

• Yeah, I’d better get cards and a brochure.

• Drat, how do I build a website? With what?

• Dang, that looks bad.

• How! Do! I! Get! The! Dratted! Website! To! Let! Me! Get! Paid!

• Ok, what about social media for the business.

• Videos? I’m supposed to do videos?

• How do I edit these stupid videos?!?!

• Ewww. Not like that!

• Ugh. What do I mean I’m out of pre-written social posts!?!?

Every step of the way, I’ve been feeling things out. I’ve been writing and rewriting. I’ve roped in friends to brainstorm. I’ve looked at what other businesses do. I’ve help-filed and googled until I’m cross eyed.

Here’s the thing with starting a business: You have to learn something every single day. Stagnation isn’t a choice.

I console myself that all this learning and designing is great for my brain. In fact lack of mental stimulation is one of the top ten preventable causes of dementia**. For your brain, it really is a case of use it or lose it. This year I have definitely been using it.

And yes, I am fully aware of the irony of complaining about having to use my brain so that I can work with people age 50+ and caregivers. Lead by example, Lynn.

Meanwhile, if anyone has the urge to chat with me about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or optimizing for mobile devices, hit me up.

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* Yes, I can hire people. But I’m a small business and, really, I’m capable.

** AARP. The Dementia Risk Reduction Project: identification of Modifiable Dementia Risk Factors in the US. AARP, 2025.