Starting your own business is not an easy feat to achieve: There are countless factors to consider and juggling them all at the same time might seem overwhelming.
Not too long ago, I asked in a group what people were struggling with when it comes to starting a business, and most people answered with: Fear in their minds – the fears of getting started. You feel like you know how to do it, but you just don’t know IF you can do it. There’s no doubt that getting over the fear to take such a step can be paralyzing, stopping a good idea from becoming a profitable reality.
We are, of course, not saying you shouldn’t focus on all the problems and challenges that you will soon be facing. Quite the contrary: Planning and considering all possible factors is fundamental to make sure your business is successful as time goes by. But nothing good was ever meant to be easy!
As scary as it might be, we want to help you take that step and follow your dream to be your own boss. The pressure will be there, as being successful and having employees and investors relying on you is not an easy task, but follow these time-proven pieces of advice and you will be overcoming your fear in no time.
1. Stop procrastinating and thinking it can’t be done
Let’s get the most important point out of the way: It’s not impossible to start your own business. Will it be hard? Yes. But no good entrepreneur should be afraid of hard work. It’s important you stop telling yourself it will never work and that you are not capable of doing it. Instead, focus on putting your thoughts into paper, make a plan on how you can make it work.
Having a mapped out starting point will not only give you confidence that you actually know what you are doing and what you want to achieve, but it will also be highly beneficial to help you actually run your business once you get it started.
2. Be careful not to get lost in the details
Yes, we know we recommended you should plan ahead. And you truly should, but there’s a moment when the time of thinking has come to an end. If you lose yourself in the details and try everything to be pitch perfect before you actually take some action, your venture will only ever exist in your own imagination.
Life isn’t perfect, and your business won’t be either. You’ll make mistakes, and instead of fearing failure, you should learn from it, grow from it. There is only so much you can outline and prepare for, and don’t forget fortune favors the bold.
3. Don’t go overboard
Over-planning might be a problem, but it’s not the only one you might encounter. You might also dream too big, think you’ll be instantly rich and famous and be terrified of setting up your business for fear of not achieving this sudden success. Let’s vanish that thought right away: You should always set attainable objectives. No, you won’t be an overnight success, as much as you wish that’d be the case.
Set small goals and strive for them at first. As your business grows, so can your expectations. These attainable objectives will be easier to reach and less intimidating, making the idea of taking that necessary step to becoming an entrepreneur that much easier.
4. No, you won’t be able to make everyone happy
It’s a sad reality, but it’s true. Employees, investors, even your friends, and family will be upset at times.
Of course, you’ll try and avoid this happening, but from time to time, it’s inevitable. Money won’t come pouring in as fast as your investors wished it would and your employees will be annoyed by your decisions. That’s normal in small businesses and you should not let this thought paralyze you.
What about your family and friends? You will, regretfully, have less time to dedicate them, and this might both be a cause of concern and guilt. Setting a small business is a lot of hard work, but in time you’ll learn how to properly divide your time so you are not neglecting either your venture or your loved ones.
5. Experience can only be obtained through experience
Are you afraid you don’t have enough experience to actually set up a small business? This is a valid point, as lack of experience can indeed drive a venture to failure.
You should analyze if this concern is valid or you are just anxious about taking that leap of fate. You must first be a first mate before becoming a captain, but there is only so much time you can spend waiting and learning. At some point, you must gain experience by actually taking chances. If you make mistakes along the way, learn from them and carry on.
6. The perfect time will never arrive
If you keep waiting for the ‘ideal’ time to begin your own business, let us tell you you’ll be waiting till the end of times. The economy will never be perfect, you will never have enough investors, you will never have the right amount of experience.
Let go of the idea that a perfect starting point is possible. You will have to endure debt for a while, you will have to work hard and struggle to attain your goals, but it will all be worth the while when you begin following your dreams and making them a reality.
Final Thoughts
There are, of course, many other bits of advice we could provide. For instance, don’t be afraid to ask for help, don’t ignore your instincts and be patient. At some point, though, the fundamental thing to remember is that if you never take that first step, you’ll never see your business become a reality.
A long journey begins with a single step, and it’s your time to take it.
Wrapping Up
What part of this article resonated most with you and why? What’s the fear holding you back from starting your business idea? Share your ideas, tips, thoughts, and experience below in the comments.
I do hope you found some value in today’s article. Also, if this article was helpful to you, by all means, please share this post with your friends and family. If it has helped you, it will do for others too. Share the positivity and greatness!
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