What i learned from building two small businesses in my early 20's
When I first started building Kawaiipop and A.M.F LUXE DETAIL I’ll admit that I was way over my head in terms of what skills I needed to have. Everyone made it sound a lot easier than it was and they didn’t mention that if you were doing it alone then you'd have to have at least a little knowledge and skills that companies usually have whole teams for. So I did what I had to and I built the skills that I thought would be the most beneficial along with skills that naturally got better as I used them.
1. I learned how to brand and market from the ground up
With Kawaiipop I learned how to create an online brand. Slowly I’ve been creating a brand identity people could connect with. I taught myself SEO, built a website, designed visuals, and learned how to attract the right audience. I chose Pinterest because the space that Kawaiipop is in relies heavily on visuals and I think that there’s no better platform for this than Pinterest. When I first started posting on it I was just throwing things out there. Around my 40th post an image had gotten super popular and that’s when I started focusing heavily on the analytical side of posting. Now I’ve been able to hold 200k+ monthly views on Pinterest without blindly throwing things out there.
This experience helped me understand how to create a digital experience that doesn’t rely on just throwing things out in the dark but on data that showed exactly what performed best and that led to me being able to drastically increase my website traffic so people could see the concept of Kawaiipop.
2. I learned how to communicate like a pro
Running a service business like A.M.F LUXE DETAIL required me to learn a different set of communication skills I never had to learn before.
- Responding quickly to clients
- Explaining services clearly
- Setting expectations
- Handling problems quickly and calmly
- Building trust
All of these interactions taught me how to better read people, adapt to different personalities, and represent myself professionally.
3. I Learned how to manage operations and deliver results
Both businesses forced me to think like an owner which ultimately helped me think from a customer's point of view. When handling scheduling, budgeting, product quality, time management, customer satisfaction, and process improvement I tried to always ask myself questions like “Is this something that the customer actually cares about?” “Would they be willing to pay a premium for this?” “How can I make this more seamless for them?” This was my first real introduction to the core principles of UX: putting the user’s needs at the center of every decision.
Learning to analyze problems and adapt fast has become one of my strengths.
4. I learned how to teach myself quickly
Every new challenge pushed me into another tool, platform, or skill. Website building, SEO tools, analytics dashboards, design software, marketing strategies, client systems, and more. I learned that I’m good at picking up new tools independently and using them confidently.
That ability is the foundation of every job I pursue today.
5. I learned what kind of work motivates me
Working on the businesses helped me understand what I enjoy most:
- Creative problem solving
- Building something from the ground up
- Learning and applying new systems and skills
- Seeing clear results from my work
These experiences shaped the type of roles I’m aiming for now. Roles where I will grow, contribute, and keep learning.
6. I learned resilience and adaptability
Balancing school, family, work, and entrepreneurship taught me how to stay focused under pressure and stay flexible when things change. I learned to keep moving forward even when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed. Now I try to get at least 1% better in one aspect of my life everyday.
Closing thoughts
Starting businesses in my early 20s taught me more about responsibility, communication, digital tools, and customer experience than my 9-5 jobs. These experiences shaped who I am today: Someone resourceful, adaptable, and ready to grow into a professional environment.
They didn’t just teach me how to build brands. They taught me how to build myself.