5 Things I’ve Learnt Since Starting My Own Business

If there’s one thing I’ve realised since starting That ‘Kini, it’s that running your own brand is basically a crash course in everything. From design to marketing to customer service - and a lot of late-night “what am I doing?” moments in between.

So, here are 5 things I’ve had to learn (and sometimes re-learn) since starting my own small business 👇

1. You’ve Got to Push Yourself Out of Your Comfort Zone

Starting a business means doing things that make you mildly terrified at least once a week - from taking risks with money, to speaking on camera to strangers on TikTok.  

But every time I’ve pushed myself a little bit further, something amazing has come from it. Whether that’s a new opportunity, a collaboration, or just realising “oh, I can actually do that.” Growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone - and honestly, I’ve stopped trying to stay there.

2. “Finished Is Better Than Perfect”

I heard this on Grace Beverley’s podcast recently, and I’ve never related more.

As a designer, I could tweak things forever: change a stitch here, move a cut-out there, edit this video for another hour - but being a perfectionist is such a time killer.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t give something your all (trust me, I’m all about the details), but there’s a point where “making it perfect” turns into procrastination. Sometimes you’ve just got to hit post, send the email, or launch the product - and learn as you go.

3. You Actually Don’t Care What People Think

When you first start, it’s so easy to overthink everything.

“What if people think it’s cringe?”

“What if it flops?”

“What if no one buys it?”

But here’s the thing: once you see people loving your designs, wearing them, and tagging you in their photos, all that worry disappears. You start to realise people aren’t judging you - they’re inspired by you doing your thing.

4. Patience (Even When You Have None)

This one has been a biggie. Everything takes longer than you think - sampling, production, content creation, building a community. You can’t rush the process, even when you really want to.

There have been times I’ve wanted to fast-forward to the “it’s all working perfectly” part, but every delay or lesson has made the brand stronger. Good things take time - especially sculpting swimwear!

5. Your Dream Is Never Too Big

If you’d told me a few years ago that That ‘Kini would have a pop-up at Urban Outfitters, I probably would’ve laughed. But every big moment starts as a small idea.

So if you’re sitting on a dream - start. Even if it’s messy, scary, or unclear. The vision doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else yet. You just have to believe it’s possible (and back it with a lot of hard work).

A Little Note from Me 💌

Running a small business has been the hardest, most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. It’s taught me so much more than just how to make swimwear -  it’s taught me how to trust myself.

If you’re chasing a dream, building something of your own, or just need a reminder that it’s okay to take things one day at a time - this is it.