Becoming a Business Owner

Beyond Paperwork...Becoming a Business Owner

A Shiny Business Services Guide to Building Yourself Before You Build Your Company

Starting a business isn’t just about getting the right licenses, opening a bank account, or designing a logo, it’s about becoming the kind of person who can lead something bigger than yourself.

Most entrepreneurs begin with an idea and a burst of motivation, but few stop to prepare themselves for the emotional, mental, and practical demands of ownership.

The truth is, your business can only grow as much as you do.

Below are the foundational steps, both practical and personal, that every aspiring business owner should focus on, plus curated resources to guide you through each stage of growth.

1. The Practical Foundation: Setting Up for Success

You can’t build a house without a foundation. Before you design a logo or print a business card, start here:

• Choose the right structure: LLC, S-Corp, or sole proprietorship —each affects taxes and liability differently.

• Open a business bank account to separate personal and company finances.

• Register for necessary licenses and local permits.

• Set up systems early: Use QuickBooks, Wave, or FreshBooks for bookkeeping; ClickUp or Asana for project management; and Google Workspace for email and file organization.

• Create a simple business plan: It doesn’t have to be perfect — it just needs to clarify who you serve, what problem you solve, and how you’ll stay profitable.

📘 Read:

• The Lean Startup by Eric Ries — learn how to start small, test, and pivot intelligently.

• Profit First by Mike Michalowicz — a brilliant mindset shift for managing money wisely from day one.

  
  

🎧 Podcast:

• How I Built This by Guy Raz — inspiring stories of how iconic companies began with ordinary people who figured it out as they went.

2. The Internal Shift: From Worker to Builder

Becoming a business owner means shifting from doing the work to building the system that does the work.

If you’ve always been the go-to person, the designer, the marketer, the cleaner, the problem solver — it can be uncomfortable to let go of control. But delegation and structure are what allow you to scale.

Start by asking yourself:

• “What are the things only I can do?”

• “What tasks could someone else handle with the right instruction or automation?”

That’s how you start thinking like a CEO, not an employee.

📘 Read:

• E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber — a must-read on why so many small businesses fail and how to fix it by building systems, not chaos.

• Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz — practical methods for designing a business that runs smoothly without you doing everything.

🎧 Podcast:

• The Tim Ferriss Show — listen to how top performers streamline their time and energy.

• Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn — for learning how to build efficient systems and processes.

🧠 Tool:

• Use ClickUp, Notion, or Airtable to document your workflows and standard operating procedures (SOPs) from the start.

3. The Mental & Emotional Core: Building Resilience

Entrepreneurship tests your patience, endurance, and self-worth. Some days you’ll feel unstoppable; other days you’ll wonder why you started. That’s normal.

To sustain yourself, you need routines that protect your energy and mindset:

• Sleep and Nutrition: A tired or over-caffeinated mind can’t make wise decisions.

• Exercise: Even a 20-minute walk resets your focus.

• Boundaries: Protect your creative time and personal life fiercely.

• Reflection: Journaling or meditation keeps your emotions from running the business.

📘 Read:

• Atomic Habits by James Clear — build habits that support your goals automatically. Bonus: It has a workbook to accompany it!

• The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest — learn how self-sabotage often hides under perfectionism or fear.

• Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins — for when you need grit and perspective.

🎧 Podcast:

• Dare to Lead with Brené Brown — on courage, empathy, and leading with heart.

• The Mindset Mentor by Rob Dial — short daily episodes for motivation and focus.

🎶 Music:

• Try “Deep Focus” or “Lo-Fi Beats” on Spotify, or Brain.fm to help sustain deep work periods.

🧘 Tool:

• Use apps like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer to develop mindfulness habits that steady you during tough weeks.

4. The Emotional Intelligence Edge: Leading People, Not Just Tasks

Leadership isn’t about being the loudest or smartest person in the room. It’s about creating trust, clarity, and calm in chaos.

Strong leaders:

• Listen before reacting.

• Communicate clear expectations.

• Set a tone of confidence and gratitude.

• Hold people accountable with empathy, not ego.

This applies even if your “team” is just you and a virtual assistant — the habits you build now define how you’ll lead when your team grows.

📘 Read:

• Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves.

• Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek.

• Radical Candor by Kim Scott — a practical guide to honest, respectful leadership.

🎧 Podcast:

• The Ed Mylett Show — for balancing confidence with humility in leadership.

🎶 Music:

• “Good Days” by SZA or “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine* — songs that remind you to stay grounded and hopeful through challenges.

5. Building Purpose & Vision: Finding Your “Why” as a Business Owner

When money gets tight or motivation fades, your why is what keeps you going. Ask yourself:

• Why does this business matter to me?

• How will it make life better — not just for me, but for others?

When you’re clear on that, your decision-making becomes easier. Every product, post, or client relationship either aligns with your purpose or doesn’t.

📘 Read:

• Start with Why by Simon Sinek — the foundation of purpose-driven leadership.

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho — a poetic reminder that purpose is something you become, not something you chase.

🎧 Podcast:

• On Purpose with Jay Shetty — deep, encouraging conversations about meaning and balance.

🎶 Music:

• “Eye of the Tiger” for the fire.

• “Weightless” by Marconi Union for calm focus (scientifically proven to reduce stress).