5 Lessons I Learned From Running My Business
What entrepreneurship taught me about leading, growing, and letting go with grace
I didn’t go into business knowing everything. In fact, I started with a whole lot of heart, a clear vision, and the willingness to figure it out as I went. And if you’ve ever built something from the ground up, you know exactly what I mean.
For three years, I ran a boutique both online and in our small Midwestern town. We styled women, hosted events, created community, and curated pieces that helped people feel confident in their everyday lives. But behind the scenes? I was growing, too. In ways I never expected.
Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned didn’t come from books or business plans. They came from experience — from leading, stretching, showing up, and making decisions even when I wasn’t sure I had it in me.
Here are five lessons I didn’t expect to learn — but I’m so glad I did.
1. Leadership Isn’t Loud — It’s Listening
Running a business put me in the role of a leader long before I felt ready for it. From managing part-time employees and handling vendor relationships to serving hundreds of women in our community — I was constantly in the middle of conversations, decisions, and expectations.
What I found was this: leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions and being willing to listen.
I didn’t have a background in people management, but I cared deeply. Sometimes, that mattered more than anything else. Listening — really listening — helped me support my team, learn from my customers, and grow into a better version of myself.
2. Your Gut Is Smarter Than You Think
There were moments in business when I made decisions that didn’t make sense on paper… but they made sense in my gut.
Whether it was buying for a new season, choosing to open our brick-and-mortar location, or even eventually deciding to close — those decisions weren’t always perfectly “strategic.” But they were intuitive. Almost always, they turned out to be right.
Running my business taught me that intuition is a skill — and the more I trusted mine, the stronger and more confident I became. You can gather all the data in the world, but if something feels off? Listen to that. Your gut knows.
3. Every Role You Hold Shapes You
Entrepreneurship is humbling. One day you’re the CEO, the next you’re sweeping the floors and troubleshooting Shopify. I wore every hat in my business:
Buyer
Stylist
Content creator
Event planner
Team lead
Community connector
Accountant (kind of 😅)
Looking back, I see that each role taught me something different. I learned resilience from the late nights and heavy seasons. I learned confidence from making big calls and backing my brand. I learned grace from the times I had to pivot — or ask for help.
Running a business is the greatest crash course in personal growth I’ve ever had.
4. Growth Can Be Quiet
Not every win showed up in the numbers. Some of my proudest moments didn’t happen during a record sales week — they happened in the small, steady moments.
When a regular customer brought a friend in because she “just had to see the store”
When a young girl tried something on and lit up in the mirror
When I felt exhausted, but still chose to show up with heart
Growth isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s just quietly becoming someone you’re proud of.
5. You Are More Than Your Business
This one took the longest to learn.
For a long time, my identity was wrapped up in my business. I was the boutique. The brand. The face behind the counter.Don’t get me wrong — I was proud of that. However,when I started to feel called into something new, I had to untangle myself from the idea that my worth was tied to what I did.
Closing the store didn’t take away my creativity, my value, or my drive.
It reminded me that I’m still me — still inspired, still full of ideas — even without a storefront.
Now, I’m building something that feels more aligned with where my life is now. I carry these lessons with me into every part of it.
Final Thoughts
If you’re running a business (or dreaming of starting one), just know this: You are going to grow in ways you can’t even imagine. The process will stretch you, teach you, and shape you. Sometimes it will feel heavy — but it will also feel worth it.
If you’re ever in a season of shifting or letting go, I hope you remember:
You’re not walking away from your success. You’re walking toward what’s next.
Here’s to growth that changes us — and to the lessons we carry with us.
xo,
Riah Jane