I think the moment you become an entrepreneur, growth begins. When you develop a business, there is a passion and drive behind that decision. It is significantly different from changing careers or starting a new job. You are assuming risk, and you must have full confidence in that decision.

The beauty of this journey is that you don’t suddenly grow into an entrepreneur the day you start your business. Instead, you authentically go through experiences that shape you into one.

Although this is my first business, I believe this is true even for experienced entrepreneurs. There are always new experiences and challenges that teach you something. Each one reinforces adaptation, resilience, and growth. Ultimately, cultivating success is the end goal.

                           But how do we take these experiences and grow with them?

This week, I found myself reflecting on attracting my ideal clientele. Over my time as an entrepreneur, I have learned that it is okay to have some clients go elsewhere. It is also okay for me to refer them elsewhere if I know it is the better fit. When I complete consultations, I am open, honest, and very forthcoming about the results clients can realistically expect. I also discuss what they may experience or require following treatment. I don’t sugarcoat things. After completing a full assessment, if the area a client wants injected is not necessary or will not complement the symmetry and shape of their face, I simply won’t inject them. Learning to trust my gut in these situations was part of my learning curve.

I have learned that not all money is good money. Going against my ethical values as an entrepreneur will never take me very far. I have grown into my craft as an injector. Growth has come through experience. The opposite is also true. If a client chooses to go elsewhere because another clinic is offering a deal or because they want larger lips than I recommended, then they have simply decided that I am not the injector for them. No matter the outcome, that is part of being an entrepreneur.

At the end of the day, if a client cannot respect you in your craft, they most likely don’t respect you at all. When that happens, the client relationship is often doomed from the start. Working in a client-service industry means those relationships are foundational to your business growth and long-term success. Setting yourself up for success benefits not only you, but your clients as well

Owning your craft also means knowing your worth. As I continue to grow and invest further in my business, education, and training, my value also increases. Raising prices is not about greed. It is about experience. There is often a reason why an injector in another town or city charges half of what I do. Either they are injecting a questionable product, or they are trying to build clientele because they are newer to the industry. Of course, when I first started my business, my prices were lower. However, I was honest about why they were lower and transparent about the amount of experience I had.