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| Burnout has been a challenge in the earlier years, it has gotten better now as I have a team and a more balanced approach towards work and personal life but definitely, that has been a big challenge. |
Well, I am Lovely, and am the founder of Social Delight. It's a social media agency through which we help business owners, coaches, consultants, and founders build their online presence and a magnetic personal brand! I started in 2020, during COVID-19 I saw that my family was in a bad financial situation. I was in my final year of graduation at that time.
At that time because there weren't many things to do, I used to be on social media all the time. Somehow through a friend, I came to know about an online marketing course. I checked it out and at that moment I was hooked! I decided to take the course but unfortunately we didn't have that kind of money in our account. It costed 42K, and my father said that they have a LIC which is supposed to mature 2 months later so I should wait, and then the insurance amount turned out to be so much less but he gave it all to me and I invested in the course.
I had my final exams the next month but I got so invested in the course and started learning. Eventually, 20 days in, I secured my first client. Even though the first project didn't go so well but somehow got a start and that's how the whole journey began.
2. How did you come up with this idea and go about executing it?
Well, I started as a freelancer in 2020. Things started moving, and I started getting clients. Clients were impressed with the work and they started referring to others. Eventually, I decided to hire more people and started my agency Social Delight. And, kept learning so much in the process. Working as a freelancer and running an agency is different. There are so many things you need to understand, people management, client flow, system, and 1000 other things! So yes, kept learning and implementing and it's been almost 2 years that I have been running this agency!
3. What has been your biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that?
Well, there have been countless challenges in the journey of 3.5 years. From learning everything from scratch to finding clients to being overworked, to name a few. Burnout has been a challenge in the earlier years, it has gotten better now as I have a team and a more balanced approach towards work and personal life but definitely, that has been a big challenge. By having proper plans, to-do list, planning in advance, outsourcing as many things as possible, taking care of my health I have been managed to fight with this challenge.
4. What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful entrepreneur?
Well, success is very subjective but what I feel is for anyone to become successful what is very important is passion, the hunger to do something, to become better! Other than that willingness to learn new things, being adaptable & flexible to situations is very important. And, people management, being good at communication also plays an important role as you have to communicate well to put your point across in a room full of people.
Also, one needs to be disciplined as you are building something big and it won't happen if you don't have a plan and you are executing it. And, most importantly one has to be a solution-oriented person, because as an entrepreneur you will face so many problems but you can't waste your time by cribbing about it. Your approach should be to find the solution to the problem! This attitude itself will make half things easier for you.
5. What are some of the most important factors for running a successful business?
Honestly running a successful business requires several key elements. A clear vision and mission to begin with. You have to find a genuine problem, a gap in the industry and a solution to that! Customer focus is critical for delivering value and driving loyalty. Strong leadership can set the tone for company culture and performance. Also, effective financial management will ensure sustainability in the long run. Adaptability to market changes keeps the business competitive. Continuous innovation will keep you hooked in the process! And most importantly a successful business can't be built alone. Building a skilled and motivated team can take your organization's success to the next level. Finally, strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and partners can build trust and loyalty, and are very essential for long-term success.
6. What are your tips for first time and aspiring entrepreneurs?
For first-time and aspiring entrepreneurs, my primary advice is to start with a clear vision and a solid business plan. Understand your market thoroughly and identify your unique value proposition first! The market is crowded, you have to find out how you can stand out! And remember, building a network is crucial; connect with mentors, industry experts, and other entrepreneurs who can offer guidance and support.
Don't just wait for the right time because when you start is the right time! Embrace resilience and be prepared for setbacks, because I won't lie but the journey is not going to be easy but take everything as learning opportunities. Give value to your clients & always be honest with your approach. You will do well, just have that belief in yourself. And, last but not the least enjoy the journey, it's this process that really stays with you.
7. How can one overcome a hurdle of lack of funds when starting up?
Overcoming a lack of funds when starting up requires creativity. I don't believe you need a huge funding to start. And, if it at all does start by bootstrapping—utilizing personal savings or income from a side job to fund your venture. Always, look for cost-effective ways to launch your business, such as using free or low-cost digital tools and working from home. You don't need a fancy tools or a big office to begin with.
But, if your vision is really big and you need a significant fund for that consider seeking out grants, competitions, and incubators that provide financial support and mentorship. Building a strong pitch and business case study can help attract angel investors or venture capitalists once you’ve demonstrated initial traction. Just be sure of your material, validate your claim with adequate data and make your business investable.
Bio:
Hi, I am Lovely. A 24-year-old.I am an MBA student and an entrepreneur running a marketing agency Social Delight, where we help coaches, founders, business owners build their online presence and create a magnetic personal brand! I am managing both my education and my business together and love to share the learnings from my experience with others!
Interviewed by - Adhokshaja S S
Edited by- Arunangshu Chatterjee
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