I have a confession to make. Actually, I have two. My first confession is that I am probably the only person I know who is grateful that the timing of the economic downturn happened when it did. I’m serious. If it would have happened six months earlier, I would not have been brave enough to leave my well-paying corporate America “dream job” to follow my passion for cooking.

Even though three years of planning my escape included “the worst case scenario,” the scenario turned out to be worse than I thought.

Did my passion cloud my better judgment and practicality? Do I have any regrets after being in business for myself for almost a year? I think not.

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So my second confession — which won’t come as a shock to many of you — is that starting my own business has been the most difficult, rewarding, frustrating and fulfilling thing I have done so far.

OK, now that I feel better about confessing this to all of you, let me offer some life lessons that may help some of you — or at least make you feel better!

Life lesson No.1 –

Starting a second career may be harder than you think

So, you left your career of 30+ years because you wanted to follow your passion. You left the security of “corporate America” but you are definitely ready to move on. You’ve got your business plan in hand, Website set up and collateral materials printed. You think you are ready. And then “it” happens. You walk into a room with other like-minded people but you know no one. You say to yourself “What am I doing here?” “Everyone is going to know I am a phony!” “Everyone knows so much more than I do.”

It is only after you get that first job in your new career and then a second, and so so on that you realize you are going to do just fine.

Life lesson No. 2 –Networking is a ‘necessary evil’

While all of us are not natural-born sales people, if you can’t “sell” your business or what you have to offer, you are in trouble. And the way to sell your business, among other things, is through networking. Networking is a key component to your business plan. There are a lot of networking groups in Tucson. There are also a lot of great organizations too, including chambers of commerce and women’s organizations such as the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). Get out there and join up!

Not sure which organizations or groups to join? Do “test drives.” That way you can decide which groups make the most sense for you and your business. Keep in mind that while the objective of networking may be to sell your business — and you will — it is also a great way to meet new friends and gain support.  

Life lesson No. 3 – Women

like helping women

I’ll bet that most of you have been very lucky to have supported and been supported by a number of outstanding business women throughout your career. But when you become an independent business woman you may fear you’ll lose that support. After all, isn’t it an “every person for themselves” kind of world? Thankfully, that isn’t the case. Even if you are a business of one, you will find you will be surrounded by so much support and encouragement from other women business owners just like yourself.

Someone recently said to me “women like helping women.” They were right!

Life lesson No. 4 – You will

give away a lot of your time

Make no mistake about it, when you first start out as a new business owner, you have to put in a lot of unpaid time. Chock it up to a marketing investment. The more “you put yourself out there,” the more people will get to know you and understand the services you provide.

Some of the ways to do this is to donate your service to help some of your favorite nonprofit organizations raise money. It is a win-win situation. My grandmother had a saying that went something like “I’ve got more time than money.” She was a very wise woman!

Life lesson No. 5 –

Be true to yourself

As a new business owner, you will experience amazing “highs” and “lows.” There will be days when you are so busy; you wonder how you are going to get everything done. And then you’ll have other days wondering why the phone isn’t ringing. Just remember this, at the end of the day, don’t give up and be true to yourself. Also know that anything is possible!

Contact Mary Ann Brody-Heyl, owner of Kissed By An Italian personal chef and catering business, at mab@KissedByAnItalian.com or (520) 256-8459. Brody-Heyl is a member of the Greater Tucson Chapter of the National Association of Business Owners (NAWBO) and a former marketing executive. Women in Business is a new feature that will appear in Inside Tucson Business the fourth week of each month.