Building a Business While in School: Challenges and Lessons Learned
Jemila MacauleyBalancing Books & Business: A Journey of Growth and Grit
From juggling assignments and content to term papers and product launches, running a business can be overwhelming. It might sound like a recipe for burnout, but I’m here to tell you how I manage it all.
For a long time, trying to build Topical Blends while navigating the demands of school was a challenge. There were weeks I felt like I was on a productivity streak, crushing deadlines in both areas, only to completely lose the plot shortly after. It can be frustrating and honestly, a little disheartening. Why is it so hard to maintain consistency?
Through a lot of trial and error, late nights, and early mornings, this business has helped me learn a lot. Pursuing two demanding paths at the same time can make organization feel impossible, but through all of that I’ve become extremely detail oriented and learned to thrive off of more than just motivation. If you’re someone trying to run a business or if you’re just curious about entrepreneurship, I’m here to share the five biggest lessons that shifted my entire approach. This is what helped me turn sporadic bursts of motivation into sustainable growth. Plus it’s inspired by one of my go to books, Atomic Habits by James Clear.
The Sooner You Get Comfortable Troubleshooting, The Faster You Grow
Being a student entrepreneur means you have two jobs where your success is highly dependent on your problem-solving abilities. In school, you solve academic problems like writing research papers and completing projects. In business, you solve operational problems like website malfunctions, shipping delays, and issues with suppliers.
The simple truth is, there's no boss telling you how to run your business and checking in on deadlines, and there’s no professor extending a deadline just because your email marketing sequence broke. At the end of the day, it’s on you to hold yourself accountable.
Learning to embrace the hiccups and roll with the punches is crucial to your success in the long-term. You never know what obstacle you’ll face next, but as you troubleshoot issues that come up, you’ll learn to better handle unexpected situations along the way. Every time you troubleshoot a tech issue, improve your content workflow, or solve a customer complaint, you’re building the resilience and skill set required to lead a thriving business. You might already be a leader in your academics, but now you’re also leading your business. As a result, you must stop viewing problems as roadblocks but rather as practice in handling challenges.
Hard Work Looks Invisible Until It Doesn’t
When you're in school, you're conditioned to see relatively immediate results. When you study for a test you get graded on it, when you complete an essay, you get feedback and critique. Business doesn't always work that way. This was one of the hardest lesson I had to learn. I’d spend hours on social media content, tweaking my website, or formulating products just to be met with no sales. It can feel like pouring all your effort into a black hole.
However, you have to trust the process. Many of the "little things" that you are doing now including consistent content creation, daily engagement, and behind-the-scenes organizing, won't produce results immediately. The results are the kind that you see compound over time which may end up being much, much later. That blog post you're writing today might attract a new customer six months from now. That email you sent to a potential collaborator could lead to a partnership next year. Consistency builds momentum, and momentum over time pushes you until you later see that visible and measurable change. So you have to keep showing up every day, even when it feels like nothing is happening, because those small actions that seem invisible are growing into something significant.
Motivation Fades, Systems Keep You Moving
For a long time, I wondered why I would have weeks of consistency where I would feel proud of myself but then suddenly crash. While I knew I should be doing more to remain consistent, I still couldn't get myself to start. I was relying purely on willpower and motivation.
The problem wasn't a lack of desire though, it was a lack of systems and routine. Willpower is a finite resource, once it runs out you’re left on your own. However, building systems and creating routines that set you up for success is better in the long-term. With systems designed to keep you moving forward even when your motivation dips, you can prevent yourself from completing falling off course even if you are struggling with consistency. Systems hold you accountable and even more important, they pick you back up when you feel stagnant or unsure of how to move next. You might think you’re just being lazy but sometimes the process you are using relies on you being inspired. Don’t wait for the inspiration or motivation to come or you might just never continue. The true key to being consistent is to build the framework for your success.
Goals Give Direction, Systems Build Momentum
Just as we have systems we rely on for school, the same can also be true for business. For me, I rely on a syllabus, class schedule, and my trusted study methods. The same way I rely on these frameworks is the same way you should build your business. Create the syllabus to your business and follow along with it. You set goals to identify where you see yourself in the future, but you have to create the systems to lead you there.
Instead of just setting a goal like "post on Instagram daily," I created a system and follow it. For me that looks like batching content by having a day for brainstorming, a day for updating my content calendar, and dedicated times during the week to do content research. It’s especially important for this time to not be clouded by doom scrolling online. I also set aside time for editing and scheduling posts. Without the right tools however, and the dedicated time blocks for these activities, I wouldn’t be able to juggle both school and business.
By treating the time I dedicate for Topical Blends like another non-negotiable class time, I am able to better hold myself accountable. This is especially important as a solo entrepreneur. Systems remove decision fatigue, automate repetitive tasks, and ensure that your business keeps progressing, even during exam week. They turn "I should do this" into "This is what I do."
A Journey of Dual Growth
Building a business while in school is undeniably tough. It demands a lot from you including your time, your energy, and your focus. However, it’s also an incredible incubator for growth, resilience, and learning. By embracing problem-solving, understanding the long game, prioritizing consistency, and most importantly, building robust systems, you can not only survive this journey but truly thrive.
What are your biggest struggles or triumphs in juggling multiple demanding paths? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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