Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Are You Afraid Of Starting Your Own Business?

Carnival of SoulsImage via Wikipedia
Starting a new business can feel like jumping off a cliff. No amount of job skill, education, supporting friends or degrees can stop this fear. Fear is that doubt, that little voice in your head that questions every decision and goal. I don't know where it came from, but I know I've had it. 



 
Now let's get our hands dirty and tackle the most debilitating fears: 
 
I don't have the proper skills. This fear surfaces because when your first start your business, your on your own. You have to do a lot more than you ever did before. Now you have to promote, do the bookkeeping, network, and still do the work. Your unsure more than ever because it's all on your shoulder now. You have to realize you can't do it all, your going to have to get some help. 
 
Don't have the self confidence. This is a fear of the unknown. Once you have some successes this fear will go away. You have to keep plugging till your self confidence builds up. 
 
Don't have any ideas. You may not need them. Your business may just need you to find out what your customers need. You don't need to reinvent the wheel, just how to make it a little better. 
 
Don't have the money. Here, maybe you should be afraid. But you shouldn't because if you start small enough, bit by bit your customers will increase and you will grow. Don't borrow and bet the farm on your business. Take it slow and pay as you go. 
 
Can't Handle failure. Who can? Sure it's disappointing to not succeed, but you have to keep trying. When your idea fails there will always be another one to try. Failure is just helps you focus better, it steers you a little more accurately to the prize. 
 
Don't know the right process. Sometimes we can't know everything. Others have gone before you, you need to ask for help. I sought out people who have been doing what I have been doing way before I started to do it. Some business people who have retired are a wealth of knowledge and would be happy to talk to a new business owner and share their wisdom 
 
Don't have the time. If you want to have your own business your going to have to make the time. Having a business is not a 40 hour work week. It could be 12 hour days seven days a week. If you can't make that kind of commitment, stay at your job. 
 
Being out there alone. You don't have to let it be like that. You can reach out to like minded people. There are associations, clubs and places where you can find people in your business. You'll meet people that's on the same path as you are. You need to find these outlets so you don't feel isolated. 
 
Let's face it, to succeed you'll have to go through a lot. It's not going to be easy. Your going to have many failures and many successes. You'll have stresses and exhilaration's. It's part of life's journey. Like a roller coaster, you can only get hurt if you jump off. Enjoy the ride. 

No comments:

Post a Comment


Join 1000's of People Following 50 Plus Finance
Real Time Web Analytics