How Renovating a Fixer Upper is Like Running a Business

Our New Home!

My husband and I recently bought our first home, and while we have experience in property management and real estate already, everything is different when it is your own home. The parallels between this experience and the experience of running my own business are stronger than I ever thought they would be.

Lesson 1: Everything changes when something is one's OWN. Whether this is for business or a home, doing something on your own terms and for your own life is much harder than giving out advice to others. The financial and emotional risks I have to take for my own business, and for this house are mine to face and live with. I have to sleep at night knowing that I am comfortable with the decisions made, and I have to accept and celebrate the consequences of those decisions.

Lesson 2: Sometimes things don't turn out the way you may have expected, for better or for worse. As I said in Lesson 1, accepting and celebrating the consequences of a decision made is vital to growing (and sleeping at night), however there are many things in life that are out of our control. I could not have known what was underneath the carpet (bonus: original hardwood!) in our new home until we got possession, just as much as I could not have known that I would be as happy and challenged as I am running Schmooz. As much as risk management, planning and strategic project execution are vital to the success of both my business and renovating our home, being flexible and able to roll with the punches are just as important.

Matching Sledgehammers

Lesson 3: Sharing success and failures with the people that love and care about you in life make the journey that much better. Every day is not an amazing day, and to know that there are people to turn to when something didn't go the way you had hoped, makes the experience that much better. Without the stress, I wouldn't appreciate the purely joyful moments where I feel on top of the world. Without the joy, I wouldn't know what I'm working for. I'm lucky to have ups and downs, and I welcome them more than I used to. I am grateful to have a strong support system and a wonderful husband to share life's adventures with.

Lesson 4: Some decisions are more important than others. As a business owner, you have to use your time wisely. Getting stuck on a decision can cost you a relationship, money or an opportunity. I try to listen to my gut as the Founder of Schmooz Media, while playing out the pros and cons in my head. Should I write this blog first or should I finish something for a client? Both important items, but not a decision that should take a long time. I'm going to get it all done before lunchtime, either way. However, a business decision like: "Should I hire another employee or not?" needs careful consideration.

So what does this have to do with home renovations? Exactly the same thing applies when making decisions. Should I spend the money on a new window for the kitchen or should I get hardwood floors? Can I even compare these two items? Are they even important? What if something else goes wrong and I've already spent the money?

It's very easy to get caught up in the what if's, and I can't say that the what if's aren't important. Many of my "what if" moments have led to better decisions. However, many of my "what if" moments have led to unnecessary worry. Sometimes, you just have to make a decision and live with it.

Home Office: The Before Shot

For those of you who haven't seen, I've updated my Pinterest boards recently, and will continue to do so. This includes a new board about home offices. I can't wait to continue designing my home office, and to show you pictures of the before and after. My business and my home are constantly evolving, and I could not be more excited to see where it all leads.

Have you ever done a renovation? (To Your Business or To Your Home?) Tell Schmooz Your Story!

More Importantly, do you have any suggestions for the home office? I need your help!

Thanks for Reading!

-Zoe Share, Chief Executive Schmoozer