Dear Business Launch Diary
Four years ago, I embarked on the journey of building my own business. I was so excited but quickly overwhelmed. Everywhere I looked—social media, blogs, experts—everyone had their "silver bullet" for success. Tips, tricks, and guidance were everywhere, but everything felt like it was in pieces. I had to figure out how to put all those pieces together—client acquisition, digital marketing, service delivery, customer experience—and honestly, even with years of business management experience, I was exhausted. Juggling a full-time corporate job, being a wife and mom, and trying to make entrepreneurship happen just wasn’t working. So, I hit pause.
Six months ago, I reached my breaking point with corporate life. The return to office, the lack of flexibility to work abroad and visit my family—it was suffocating. I needed freedom. But not freedom from work—I love working. I wanted to build something meaningful, to be my own boss, but on my terms. I wanted to pick up my kids from school, travel while working, and just have more control over my life.
It all really clicked when a friend came to me, struggling with the same thing I went through—trying to launch her service business but only focusing on one piece of the puzzle. She was stuck. Helping her put all the missing pieces together made me realize: I can do this for other women too. With my background in IT and business, I could create something to help women like me—corporate women who want to launch service businesses without the overwhelm.
Where am I in the process now? Two months ago, I started building my business, and yes—I’m still employed. But not because I’m unsure what to do—it’s because I’m carefully planning my exit from corporate life. I’m setting things up for a smooth transition, and I’m using my own framework to make sure everything works.
I’ve been testing my approach by helping some amazing women as beta testers, guiding them step-by-step through launching their service businesses. It’s so rewarding to see the process work for them, and I want to make sure everything delivers value before officially launching my main services.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and looking for a straightforward plan to launch your service business, I’m here to help! I’m now offering 1:1 Business Strategy Sessions, where you can book time with me to create a personalized business strategy and actionable plan. Let’s get you started on your journey!
See you in the next update! 💜
Ana De Oliveira [APO.CO Digital Ventures]
#EntrepreneurJourney #CorporateToCEO #ServiceBusinessLaunch
