I never really planned to run my own business. It just… sort of happened. At first, it was a side project. A “let’s give this a shot” kind of thing. I didn’t study business, I wasn’t an e-commerce expert. I just had this weird curiosity — a feeling that maybe I could build something of my own.
Fast forward a few years, and here I am — running an online shop from my living room in New Zealand (and sometimes from the kitchen table depending on where the sun is). And honestly? I love it.
It’s not always smooth. Some nights I’m replying to customer emails half-asleep, or staring at a spreadsheet wondering why the numbers aren’t adding up. There are times when shipments get delayed, or when something sells out right after someone places an order (the guilt is real).
But you know what? I’d still choose all of this, any day.
Because it’s mine.
My mistakes, my ideas, my choices, my little victories. I don’t need permission from anyone. If I want to try a weird promo, I just try it. If I feel like redesigning the homepage at midnight while eating instant noodles? Who’s stopping me?
And the learning — wow, the learning never stops. One week I’m figuring out Instagram Reels, the next I’m buried in tax rules. I’ve Googled things like “how to write a refund email nicely” and “what exactly is net margin” way more than I’d like to admit.
But weirdly, all of that makes me feel… alive. Like my brain is actually firing. It’s hard to explain.
And then there are the really sweet moments.
When a customer leaves a kind review and I screenshot it and send it to all my friends. When someone says they tried a product I recommended and now they’re hooked. When I hit a new sales record and do a little pajama dance in the living room, all by myself.
Those moments? They’re gold.
So yeah, I love running my own online shop. Not because it’s easy — but because it’s real. It’s mine. And if you’re thinking about starting something — anything — I say do it. Start small. Make mistakes. Learn. Tweak. Try again.
You’ll be amazed at how far curiosity (and lots of Googling) can take you.