The realities of being a small business owner: The FLYY BOD journey
Being a small business owner is nothing like what we imagine from the outside looking in. There’s a glamorised image of success, but behind every milestone is a series of real challenges. As the founder of FLYY BOD, I’ve faced my fair share of hurdles – and in the spirit of sharing our story, I’m here to break down some of the realities of building a business from the ground up. Spoiler: it’s not always sunshine and good skincare.
You just can’t dream it
When I first started FLYY BOD, it was all about a dream – combining my passion for First Nations culture with skincare that reflects our rich heritage. But the road from that vision to a tangible product on the shelves was filled with endless research, trial and error and plenty of moments where I wondered if I was ever going to get there.
The hardest part? Not giving up when things felt impossible. Every product I made needed to reflect the culture we represent, and bringing that to life took time, effort and an unwavering belief that I could make it happen. But, when I held that first bottle of FLYY BOD in my hands, it was worth every second of the struggle.
Cash flow woes
Ah, the reality of cash flow. It's a never ending story. Starting FLYY BOD wasn’t a get-rich-quick scheme – it meant making sacrifices. At the start, I was working a 9-to-5 job to fund my dream. That meant saving every spare cent, working extra hours and cutting back on things I wanted to do so I could invest in the business.
I had to borrow money from the bank and lean on the support of a few generous friends to get through the initial stages. Cash flow is always tight, but this is the reality for most small business owners – your dream costs more than you think, but that doesn’t mean you stop.
Juggling the 9-to-5
Balancing a full-time job and a business is not for the weak. The 9-to-5 is your steady income – the thing that pays the bills and keeps food on the table. But it’s also your only way of funding the business without going broke. For a while, I lived in this constant state of exhaustion, running on fumes just to keep both my job and my business moving forward.
The worst part? When you realise that most of the money you make goes right back into the business. But it’s a catch-22 – you need that steady income to keep the lights on, but you also need the business to grow. It’s a grind, but it’s the grind that makes you appreciate every little win.
Delegation station
One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn is that delegating work isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s actually what allows your business to grow. As a small business owner, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you have to do everything yourself.
But eventually, you have to let go of certain things. Bringing in experts on things I am not an expert in actually gives me more freedom. You’ll be able to focus on the big picture while others take care of the details. And trust me, it’s not about losing control – it’s about empowering yourself to do more with your time and energy.
Maintaining integrity for the culture
As a First Nations business owner, there’s an added layer of responsibility. It’s not just about building a business – it’s about protecting and preserving the integrity of your culture. I’ve had to learn to be selective with the opportunities that come my way. There are plenty of “opportunities” that sound great on paper, but they don’t always align with my values or the values of FLYY BOD.
We have an unwritten responsibility to not sell out for the sake of profit, and sometimes, that means saying no to things that don’t feel right. There’s also the added pressure of knowing that every move we make is felt within our communities. But that’s the beauty of being a First Nations business owner – everything we do is for the next generation, for the community and for the culture.
Looking forward
Owning a small business is never easy, but it’s worth every challenge. Every obstacle faced, every sleepless night, every financial struggle – it all comes down to growth. And growth isn’t just about expanding your business, it’s about building resilience, learning from mistakes and making sure your vision stays true, no matter how hard it gets.
So, to all the small business owners out there – keep pushing. The road is tough, but the rewards are real.
Here at FLYY BOD, we’re proud of where we’ve come from, and we’re even prouder of the journey ahead. Keep an eye on us – we’ve got more to come, and it’s going to be FLYY