5 Lessons I Learned in My Small Business This Year
This year taught me more than I expected. Some lessons came from watching my clients navigate their businesses. Others came from my own stumbles, pivots, and moments that went less-than-planned.
But all of them shaped how I’m thinking about business moving forward.
So instead of giving you a prescriptive “do this, not that” post, I’m just going to share what I learned this year. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and let’s all walk into 2026 a little wiser than we were in January.
Small Business Lesson #1: People Want to Connect In-Person
People in our industry are craving real-world, in-person connections more than ever. And I mean craving. Like, “I will travel across the country to attend this conference” levels of craving.
With the state of the world feeling extra heavy and an industry where many people feel like they can’t trust creators the same way anymore, personal connections are leading to more business and opportunities than ever before.
The rise of in-person events and conferences isn’t a coincidence — people are LOVING it. They’re showing up, making real connections, and building relationships that turn into clients, collaborations, and opportunities.
Why this matters:
People hire people they know. And there’s no better way to know someone than meeting them in person. A 10-minute conversation at a conference can do more for your business than six months of DMs on Instagram.
So if you’ve been on the fence about attending (or hosting) an in-person event? This is your sign. The ROI on face-to-face connection is real.
Small Business Lesson #2: Stop Worrying About Aesthetics Online
I can relate more to the woman using a piece of broccoli as her microphone, sitting in her car talking about business than the woman with a cocktail by the pool in her mansion. And I’m not alone in that.
We’re all starved for realness. For content that feels like it’s coming from an actual human, not a perfectly curated Instagram feed that screams “I have my life together” (when we all know nobody actually does, because we are all, in fact, human beings).
The thing is, your people don’t need you to be polished. They need you to be real.
They need to see you figuring it out in real-time. They need to know you’re also struggling with the same things they are. They need to feel like you get it because you’re living it too.
That said, if you want pretty content, do it! If aesthetics bring you joy, that’s more than okay. But don’t stress about it. Don’t let the pursuit of perfection stop you from showing up. Your messy, real, unfiltered content will resonate more than you think.
Small Business Lesson #3: Having a Nice Place to Work Matters
I painted and redecorated my office this year after four years of being in my condo. And I’m now realizing that I put it off for way too long.
Why didn’t I do it sooner? Because:
- I’m lazy
- It never felt important enough
But now that I’ve done it? I get why people put so much passion into their offices. I’m genuinely excited to enter my workspace every morning. It feels like a place where work happens, not just a corner of my apartment where I happen to sit with my laptop.
What it taught me:
Your environment matters. Not in a Pinterest-perfect way, but in a “you should actually enjoy the space you spend 40+ hours a week in” way.
So paint your office. Hang up some art. Or just light a candle. Do something to make your workspace feel intentional. It helps inspire your CEO brain. And on the hard days (because there will be hard days), walking into a space that feels good makes it just a little easier to show up.
Small Business Lesson #4: Use AI With Intention
I think we all know this, right? AI has already changed the game in every industry, and it’s been incredibly impactful for some of my clients’ businesses. But I’ve also seen it hurt people’s businesses by over-relying on it.
Everyone in the online business space is chronically online. Which means we’re better at spotting the AI BS than anyone else.
We can tell when a caption was written by ChatGPT. We can tell when an email sounds like it was generated by a robot. We can tell when you’re phoning it in because you let AI do all the heavy lifting.
And it doesn’t feel good.
So here’s my take: Use AI as a tool in your creative business, not a replacement. Instead, use it to:
- Brainstorm ideas when you’re stuck
- Draft outlines to get you started
- Speed up repetitive tasks that drain your energy
- Analyze trends in your launch metrics
But don’t use it to:
- Completely replace your voice
- Generate content you don’t even read before posting
- Avoid doing the strategic thinking your business actually needs
- Decide what your audience wants you to create (let them tell you 😉)
AI is powerful. But it’s only as good as the intention behind how you use it. So use it with intention — just like anything else in your business.
Small Business Lesson #5: Strategy is Where the Money is
We’re not paying for generic templates and one-and-done solutions anymore. Clients and customers are paying for real, in-depth strategic support now. And offers are shifting in that direction.
Here’s what I’m seeing:
People don’t want another course they’ll never finish. They don’t want another template that doesn’t actually fit their business. They don’t want surface-level advice that sounds good but doesn’t translate to anything tangible in their business.
They want someone who understands their business, their challenges, and their goals. They want someone who can help them think strategically about what to do next. They want support that’s tailored to them, not a generic solution that works for “most people.” And honestly? Thank God. That’s the kind of thing we’ve been needing for a long time.
If you’re buying services in 2026…invest in strategy. Invest in people who take the time to understand your business and give you advice that’s specific to your situation. Because that’s where real transformation happens.
Your Business Will Teach You What You Need to Know if You’re Paying Attention
Some of these lessons might resonate with you. Some of them might not. And that’s okay. But if there’s one thing I hope you take away from this, it’s this: Your business (and your life) will teach you what you need to know if you’re paying attention.
Ready to Start 2026 Strong?
If these reflections got you thinking about what you want to focus on in the new year, I have some resources that might help:
- Create a Contingency Plan for Your Small Business
- 3 Shifts You Need to Make to Go From Solopreneur to CEO
- How to Scale a Small Team Effectively
- 7 Things You Can Do If You Can’t Hire an OBM Right Now
Here’s to a year of real connections, strategic thinking, and businesses that feel good to run. Let’s make 2026 the year we stop doing everything and start doing what actually matters.