How to get over friends who won’t support your business? How to stay motivated?

[Anonymous]

One of my friends insisted on helping me out with my hair business. We set up an appointment but she said she couldn’t make it, which is understandable I get it, life happens.

Before she had to cancel I did kinda find it odd that she had a doctors appointment 30 minutes before the hair appointment and told me last minute. I asked if she wanted to come in later that day or whenever her appointment was over but she had to cancel altogether.

Then I had another friend who wanted to help out but her car is still broken (since last year according to what she told me) and I mean she could still make it using lift/uber, I even offered to pick her up myself but ya’know, she “couldn’t make it”. And she has a job and I know she doesn’t walk to work. I tried rescheduling and they don’t know when they’ll be available.

Any way I could move on and not feel so bummed out about this? I have no one else to ask about supporting my little business.

And I don’t wanna sound negative, but sometimes I feel like some friends wanna bring your hopes up on purpose then flake out last minute to make sure you don’t succeed.

I could be wrong but that’s how I felt in both situations. I get being busy with life but nobody is that busy.

Updates

1 y

Thanks for the replies. Also with this situation I wish they would’ve just said no if they didn’t actually wanna help instead of saying yes then canceling and not wanna reschedule

[Anonymous]

Your friends don’t owe you their business. It’s understandably hard to just say no to a friend. I purposefully don’t involve friends or family in business unless they REALLY want to be involved. It puts them in a hard place. I see it as a handout from them if they do because they just want to support.

[Asker]

I’m not saying they owe me support. They came to me first since I mentioned what I wanted to do and they said they can come over whenever. When I set a time and flexible schedule that’s when I get told they can’t make it or something came up. I had to cancel for them both the same day:(

[slatyb]

Haircuts are personal that may like you but not be sure they want you to settle their hair.

[Asker]

They told me they wanted to help but both couldn’t make it that same day.

[slatyb]

It's a big ask. They don't know how skilled you are and it can't be undone. They are stuck with it until it grows out, or they could have someone else recut it.

[Asker]

I’m more into braiding, and they have seen my work on one person who I did hair that went to my school. Sadly I can’t reach out to her anymore she had to move. But yeah my friends seen my work and insisted on getting braids but never got back to me

[Crepe_tart]

I think that friends always do that, at leats they made an appointment. You can never expect anything from friends sadly, but don't let that unmotivate you. Literally what motivates you to keep doing your business is doing it. You can do it!!

[MrTaboo]

Advertise, don't rely on family friends.

Stay disciplined, just keep doing it even when you arnt "motivated".

[jamesgoldman]

It happens, don't target friends with your business otherwise you feel down if they won't support you