The end of the year always brings about a sense of reflection and introspection. We often think of goals we had set in the beginning of the year, what we have accomplished, and how far we have come. After this especially challenging year, we have often found ourselves looking back on the journey that got us to this point. 

Just a few short years ago, BLME founder and CEO Beth Lawrence found herself at a crossroads. She had just been laid off from her job and could either set out to find another corporate job in its place, or take the less-secure, riskier route of doing what she always wanted to do - start her own company. While the road of being an entrepreneur hasn’t always been easy, we are so grateful that Beth decided to go with her gut and forge her own path in the form of BLME.

Below, Beth pens a letter to her 2017 self, right after she had been laid off and was standing at a fork in the road. With the wisdom, hindsight, and experience of 2020, read on to see Beth give her past self the encouragement she needed to take a leap of faith. 

Dear Past Self…

“Dear 2017 Beth,

I know you’re scared. You feel like a baby bird who’s been pushed out of the nest, without all of the protections of your comfort zone. I’m here to tell you— just as John told you on that day—they gave you a gift. This has been what you’ve been working toward for your whole career and in a lot of ways, your entire life. The next few days, weeks and months will be difficult and confusing. You’ll receive full-time job offers that you never thought you would, in rapid succession, which will almost tempt you to give up your entrepreneurial dream. You’ll take a few days off, and then you’ll be right back to it.

You are going to go through and grow through all of the stages of grief. You’ll meet with people from all along your journey so far, and some will give you great advice. They’ll talk to you about strategic pricing, recommend books, podcasts, or connections that can help you along the way. Some, though, will try and discourage you. They’ll say, “Why don’t you just take a full time job? You can make a lot more money that way,” or “Oh, you’re becoming an event planner? That market is so saturated. Why not work for one of these big companies?”

You’ll smile and nod, ever the people pleaser, and you’ll try and explain your reasoning. I’m here to tell you: Don’t waste time explaining yourself to people that aren’t meant to get it. This isn’t their journey, and they won’t stay with you on yours. You’ll even take ‘partnership opportunities’ and opportunities for ‘exposure,’ when neither align with your expertise, experience—or, let’s be honest, financial status. You’ve officially strapped into the rollercoaster, and there’s no getting off now.

Two months after this day, this experience, that changed your life forever, you will sign your first two clients. You’ll undervalue yourself and undercharge, and you’ll neglect to specialize in anything, because you want the highest chances of award. You’ll quickly figure out which clients and projects align with you, and which don’t. You’ll learn lessons the hard way—like having a great relationship with a client who never winds up paying you—and learn from others who are on the same journey with you.

Over the next few years, you’ll continue to grow through and glow through every single client project, every single yes, every single no, every break and every busy season. You’ll be on top of the world and at rock bottom in the same week. And, you’ll be challenged to stay relevant and revenue-generating in the world’s first global pandemic of your lifetime, which at first looks like the end of your industry as you know it.

There are lessons you’ll learn that you would never learn otherwise, and there are days where you think it’s all just too much. That you are just too much. That you’ll never get it right. That you’re failing, or flailing, or an imposter. Grow through those days. Let the lessons sink in, and do better in the future.

As the most chaotic, stressful, rest-filled, terrifying, invigorating year of your life comes to a close, you’ll be left reflecting on all the years before it. The people who helped you—and those who didn’t—along the way will naturally gravitate closer or fall away. You’ll be ending the year with a whole new perspective on the event industry’s past, present and future, and with more confidence in yourself than ever before. You’ll be so grateful for every single client who has trusted you this year and years before it, and armed with knowledge that can take you, and them, to the next level.

Remember, the rollercoaster never stays at the peak, and the entrepreneurial experience is found in those dips, those valleys, and those days—and years—that are chaotic, stressful, terrifying, and invigorating all at the same time. Never stop innovating, and the rest will fall into place.

Sincerely,

Beth Lawrence, 2020”

The phrase “hindsight is 2020” has never been more accurate. (Pun intended.) While Beth wishes she could go back and give her past self this letter as a navigation guide for the future, she knows she had to experience all of the peaks, valleys, and growing pains to get to where she is today. In sharing this, we hope that we inspire other potential entrepreneurs to make the jump and chase their dreams. 

If this article has you feeling inspired to start your own freelancing or solopreneurship journey, fill out this interest form to be the first to hear about our brand-new course for aspiring entrepreneurs, launching in 2021 :)