Today is the day! The website is live, and orders are coming in. The thrill of seeing my first sale pop up on the screen is indescribable. However, late into the night, I discovered a glitch in the checkout process, causing confusion for some customers. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders as I scrambled to fix it. The emotional highs and lows come crashing together, creating a whirlwind of stress and happiness.
I came up with the idea for Paptu, back in July 2023, and I've spent years on end developing it ever since. That's over 550 days of hard work, late nights, and endless planning. The highs and lows have been consistent companions all along, however, I feel both, exhausted and hopeful. In preparation for the launch of Paptu, the last few weeks have been a rollercoaster.
On a personal note, my brother's daughter is unwell at the moment, and doctors are still unsure of the cause. It’s been a tough time for my family, and I’m holding on to the hope that she will make a speedy recovery. Family always comes first, but, as I've mentioned in the past, balancing personal challenges with the demands of a setting up and running 2 businesses, can be extremely overwhelming at times.
On the business front, I’ve been working tirelessly to bring my ideas to life, especially with Paptu, alongside my other business, RICH72. After weeks of meticulous planning and research for Paptu, I took the leap and reached out to potential suppliers.
Finally, after much persistence, I secured agreements with three incredible suppliers who share my commitment to sustainability, and share our overall vision. This was a massive win for me, and I couldn’t be more excited about the partnerships. It's a huge leap forward, but there’s still so much work to do. Of course, with every win comes a moment of doubt. I’m feeling a little anxious about cash flow—how will I make it through the lean early months? The constant worry about whether the business will be able to sustain itself, is overwhelming at times. I try to remind myself that every entrepreneur faces these rocky starts. It’s all part of the journey, and you just have to ride it. To take a breather, I’ve decided to fly to Lisbon for a few days to recharge. After all this work, I need some time to clear my head and refocus. It’s not just about working harder, but also working smarter. The sun was good as well.
Launching Paptu and RICH72, simultaneously, has been my dream for so long, and now that it’s all coming together, I can’t help but feel nervous. But deep down, I know that this is only the beginning. The road ahead will be full of challenges, but as always, I will remain persistent and see them through.
📷INSTA: @jelaniVC
Jelani😊
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