It’s Not All Candy & Rainbows

“Being a business owner is hard. It’s not all candy and rainbows. There are going to be sacrifices, especially in the beginning.” – Amanda Berry, FranNet

Amanda Berry, has a purpose and that purpose is in helping others find their passion. As the owner of FranNet of Kentucky that is exactly what she does. She works with aspiring entrepreneurs to find their purpose and explore franchise opportunities that align with the strengths. She works with all different types of clients but has a clear love for supporting women in achieving their dreams.

Amanda’s love for wealth building started at a very young age. Her father taught her early that money doesn’t buy you happiness, but it does buy you options. It’s about having the control and freedom to do what you want and not be a slave to the nine to five, paycheck to paycheck, life.

Taking that advice, and after spending ten years working for the federal government, she realized that although she was making good money, she wasn’t generating any wealth for herself. With the full support of her husband who told her, “Well, if that’s what you want to do, I know you won’t fail,” she went to discover “what she wanted to be when she grew up.” And then she jumped and she’s so happy she did.

“One of the biggest challenges women have when it comes to business ownership is that they don’t know how to get started,” Amanda said. “For any entrepreneur starting out,” she continued, “The worst thing I’ve seen is those who severely underestimate how much capital they need to get started. Then they start making decisions based on desperation instead of what’s in the best interest of the business.”

“Whatever the funding strategy is, though, it has to be right for that person. And it has to be within the scope of what they feel comfortable doing. It’s going to be slightly uncomfortable, but it still needs to be within the range of your risk tolerance,” she continued.

Amanda draws from her own experiences to help her clients. “Starting out,” she said, “in order to be successful, when you don’t believe in yourself as much as others do, you have to find a cheerleader. Someone who has the ability to look you in the eye when you are at your worst and say “No, you’ve got this. I believe in you more than you believe in yourself at this moment.”

Most people don’t know their own strengths. When they are just naturally good at something, they think everyone has that skill and it’s not true. She works with her clients to find out what they are already naturally good at and builds a business model around that. You can’t change who you are, so you use it to your advantage. If you’re not giving yourself the opportunity to exercise your skills and your strengths, you’re not going to be happy in the long run. Finding something you’re going to enjoy is going to give you back what you want out of it and give you a path towards wealth and success. “Otherwise, what’s the point,” she emphatically feels.

Amanda cautions that “Being a business owner is hard. It’s not all candy and rainbows. There are going to be sacrifices, especially in the beginning.” It’s even harder for women in business who are often not given the benefit of the doubt like their male counterparts. But women know it’s all about getting the job done. Eventually you build a reputation and you are no longer underestimated. You develop a thicker skin and you become just a little smarter each time. Confidence is key. You must be confident in yourself and in your voice, because no one else has your perspective and can add value from that perspective.

I asked Amanda her best advice for those who want to start a business. She told me that most people who consider it determine it is not right for them, and they must figure that out before they leave their current position. She told me that the thing that makes any business owner she knows ultimately be successful is grit. You have to be willing to show true grit. On those really bad days, you have to take a deep breath and realize that this is just a moment, not forever. Business is a cycle and there are going to be good days and bad days.

Amanda says that on those bad days you have to be kind to yourself. “Give yourself a time limit, because you can’t wallow, unpack, and live there. My advice is to acknowledge it, sit with those feelings for just a bit. Appreciate them. Move on.”

To find more information or to connect with Amanda Berry:

Go to www.FranNet.com, or email her directly at Aberry@FranNet.com