31/01/2026
Please remember this when you see your self employed friends or family who donāt always seem themselves.
āThe unfortunate truth of owning and running a businessā
Running a business is extremely hard.
What they donāt tell you is that it can cause severe stress and anxiety, and drains you mentally to the point of depression in even the most laid back people.
People will talk about you, compare you to others, use you, they will view you as a service and not a person anymore.
People expect you to be available 24/7 and at the drop of a hat because āyou work for yourself so you can make timeā unfortunately this is not the case most of the time.
Friends and family will expect discounts and people will value you and your hard work less than a big chain store.
You have to worry about if you forget to email/message someone back, are they going to think it was on purpose? Did you disappoint them? Will they hold that against you? When in reality you just canāt get to everyoneās messages and emails.
Starting up and running a successful business puts incredible strain on personal lives and relationships, many of which fail because there is just often no work life balance. You need to be the director, the worker, the admin, the marketing team, the accountant, the cleaner..... All whilst being a parent, a husband or a wife, family support, friend... itās one of the hardest things you will try and balance ever.
Thereās a reason you donāt see many people succeed in small businesses after 5 years. If they are successful they are overwhelmed. It takes a toll. Itās freaking exhausting. Especially the past couple of years when so much has been out of our control.
Hereās a small reminder that we are just normal people with hectic lives. Be kind, be patient, support small businessesā¦ā¦.and hopefully more of us will stick around!
2026- supporting small business ā¤ļø
Dealing with customers who refuse to pay or ghost you after receiving services is one of the most stressful, aggravating, and common challenges for freelancers and small business owners. It often feels like a personal violation, especially when you have invested time, effort, and money to deliver quality work.
Here is a breakdown of the frustration, common scenarios, and advice gathered from business owners experiencing this (including Reddit and Facebook forums):
The "Rant": Why It's Infuriating
"Respect the Hustle": It is infuriating when clients treat small business invoices as optional, even though they wouldn't try that at a retail store.
The "Lie & Ghost" Combo: Customers who promise to pay, only to ignore follow-ups and go "no contact," are a major source of rage.
The Audacity: Some clients will try to pay months laterāonly after they need another favour or when the service is urgent againāhaving completely ignored previous messages.
The "Double Work": Small business owners often spend hours crafting, producing, or designing items, only for the buyer to disappear, forcing the owner to, for example, "re-po" the items and deal with the lost time.
Common Excuses & Realities
"I Never Got the Invoice": A common delaying tactic, often used when they have no intention of paying immediately.
"Waiting on My Own Client": They are using your services to fund their own cash flow, which is not your problem.
