I want to start my own business, but…
I don’t have the time
I don’t have the money
I doubt I could support myself
The timing isn’t right
Does this sound familiar?
Too often we have pretty major goals that sit around for years… unattempted, and unfulfilled. Just think of how many brilliant businesses and business leaders never see the light of day.
In order to kick down the roadblocks between you and entrepreneurial success, you have to know what your roadblocks are. Here are some of the common culprits:
1. Fear of failure
Fear of failure is probably the strongest force holding people back from their potential. It’s not talent, or ambition, or ideas that stops budding entrepreneurs. It’s fear that can stop people dead in their tracks. If you fall into this category, think about all the opportunities and possibilities you leave behind by not trying. By never trying, you’ve failed right from the start. Throughout the course of my career as an entrepreneur, I’ve kept the a simple mantra in mind… I know that I am not done failing …I WILL fail again. I know that I am NOT done succeeding …I WILL succeed again. And most importantly, I am NOT done trying!
2. Perfectionism
Too often, we’re held back because we feel everything should be perfect before we begin. Perfectionism is actually another form of fear. We fear that we’re not going to be good enough, so we want to make everything perfect first. To make anything happen, you can’t wait for perfect (perfection is unattainable, anyway). So, take a deep breath and just go. So what if you’re wrong? So what if there are little glitches here and there? Just go with what you have and build on what you learn.
3. Too little time
If there’s not enough time (and trust me, there’s never enough time…), it’s up to you to make time. And this boils down to valuing your time and goals, and creating healthy boundaries and priorities that can further these goals. In some cases, this might mean saying ‘No’ to other time commitments. If you have a hard time saying ‘No’, consider this: every time you say ‘yes’ to someone, you’re saying ‘NO’ to yourself and your priorities.
4. Too little money
If you don’t have access to tons of capital, you probably shouldn’t consider launching a manufacturing company with lots of overhead and expensive product inventory. However, it’s more than possible to start a business with just a small investment ⎯ for example, service-based businesses or virtual ones (like blogging or freelance editing). Be realistic about your financing, and remember it’s okay to start small! Look for creative ways to fund your business, such as working out of your home, bartering with vendors, and leveraging social media for your marketing.
5. The timing isn’t right with this economy
When the nightly news paints such a gloomy picture of the economy, it’s no wonder people want to play it safe. But did you know that many experts believe an economic downtime is the perfect time to start a business? Some costs will be lower, and it’s an opportunity to get the wheels in motion, so your product/service/website are ready to go once the economy turns around and people start buying. If you wait for the economy to be in full swing, you’ll be too late.
I know that starting a business can be a scary endeavor, but not following your dreams is even scarier. Just remember we can do nearly anything we put our minds to: the key is to start somewhere.
More business advice from Nellie at CorpNet.com
