Figure it out
Thinking of starting a business? You’re going to need three little words even more than money: figure it out.
Need to post something fun on social media? Learn how.
Don’t know how to edit video clips? Time for YouTube University.
Need to stack a pallet? There’s a tutorial for that, too.
Even if you’re well-funded, you’re better off learning the nuts and bolts before hiring someone to do it for you. Ever work in a restaurant? The best owners are the ones who’ve done every job—bussed tables, washed dishes, mopped floors. They know what good work looks like because they’ve done it themselves.
No matter what kind of budget you start with, it will never be enough. Everything costs more than you think, and every time you grow, you’ll need even more. So why spend money on things you can learn yourself?
Now, there is a catch-22. You shouldn’t spend your days doing things you could pay someone else to do, if your time could be earning more elsewhere. For example: paying someone $15 an hour to label jars might free you up to chase new wholesale leads worth hundreds. That’s smart business.
But in the early days, when time is your biggest asset, learning how to do everything—graphics, shipping, sales, social media—makes you stronger and more self-sufficient. You might start out fumbling through a design app like Canva, but soon you’ll be whipping up labels, flyers, and holiday cards like a pro. That knowledge saves money and builds confidence.
About 40% of businesses fail within the first three years. Some had funding. Some had great ideas. But many didn’t understand every piece of their own operation. They ran out of steam—or cash—because they couldn’t “figure it out” fast enough.
There’s no guaranteed formula for success. But there is one constant: resilience. When you can do every job in your business—from marketing to mopping—you’re never stuck waiting on someone else to make it work.
Because when the dishwasher doesn’t show up, the true business owner knows how to roll up their sleeves and keep things running.
That’s how you make it—and that’s how you prove it.
Wendy Kushel is the owner of Wendala’s LowCountry Sugar Scrub, LLC based in Bluffton, SC. Drawn to the Beauty & Personal Care Industry Wendy founded her company in 2020. Her background includes stand-up comedy, film, TV and a lot of sales and marketing. For more information about Wendala’s® LowCountry Sugar Scrub visit www.lowcountrysugarscrub.com or call/text 843-949-8933.
