09/07/2026
A little vulnerable small-business-owner moment. 🐝💛
Today I received a really hurtful review, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t get to me.
It is on Google reviews…..😮💨😓
One of the hardest parts of owning a small business is that sometimes you have to enforce policies—even when someone is unhappy with them. Policies aren’t there to be mean, difficult, or unkind. They’re there because a small business simply cannot operate without boundaries.
I will always try to work with people when I can. I will always try to find a solution. But sometimes I also have to say, “This is the policy,” and stand by it.
And unfortunately, sometimes setting that boundary means someone walks away angry.
What people don’t always see is the person on the other side of that review.
I’m not a giant corporation with a customer service department. I’m the owner. I teach the classes. I answer the messages. I solve the problems. I know my clients by name. I pour an enormous amount of myself into this little studio and the community we’ve built.
So yes, when someone publicly paints me or my business in a way that I feel is unfair, it hurts.
I know that not everyone will agree with every policy or every decision I make—and that’s okay. But I’m learning that being a good business owner doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. Sometimes it means being kind, being fair, and still holding the boundary.
Today was a reminder that small business ownership requires a much thicker skin than I naturally have. 💛
But I’m incredibly grateful for the people who know my heart, respect our little studio, and continue to make Thrive Hive such a special place.
Tomorrow, we keep buzzing. 🐝
