Have you wondered how to start your business when so much is going on? I know I don’t know everything, and I never will, and I’m okay with that. In my own business networking group, I’ve heard statements like….what if I’m not successful? What if my idea or business flops? What if people make fun of me for even trying? How can I still make sure I make an income while pursuing my dream? How can I sustain the business if I’m doing everything on my own? I’m here to tell you that you’re in the right place if you can relate to any of these questions. These are questions I’ve asked myself many times. As a new business owner, I know I’m not seasoned enough to give advice. Throughout my experiences so far, I already have some thoughts on being an entrepreneur. I guess that’s how it works, huh? I’ve learned a couple of things through trial and error, research, and a lot of reflection. I’m working through things like imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the unknown. One of my favorite quotes by Jon Acuff is, “don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.” This quote is one of my all-time favorites, and the reason is that I firmly believe we all have our own journey, and yours will look different than your friends, family members, and peers. I want you to start your journey right NOW.  

During my research, the same reasons kept coming up for entrepreneurs not wanting to start their businesses. Some of the reasons were failure; people do not want to fail. Especially if their failure is public. The possibility of failing publicly can cause you to be hesitant to start. I understand you maybe have tried other endeavors before, and it didn’t work out how you thought it would. That’s okay. Maybe it wasn’t supposed to “work.” I bet there is something you learned throughout that experience that can prepare you for your new journey to come. Another common reason is starting a business is A LOT of work. I think most people know this, and when you make assumptions based on someone’s highlight reel on social media, it can seem that they have everything figured out, and they’ve always been that way. You start to think I’ll never be as good as them, so why even try? 

It’s true; being an entrepreneur and a business owner is a lot more complex than people realize. And I still want you to go for it! I want you to understand that you DO have amazing gifts to share with the world. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you’ll be able to fully tap into your beautiful uniqueness.   

THE BENEFITS OF PROVIDING YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE

A question to ask yourself should be, “What is the benefit of your product or service?” You most likely think about your business idea all the time. I know I did. You want to start thinking about your target audience, your niche, your marketing plan. Now that you’ve done the research, you know you have the experience, you’re ready to roll. Of course, there are so many other aspects when it comes to running a business, such as accounting, advertising/marketing, HR, etc. As an entrepreneur, you wear all the hats. It is empowering to know you have the choice in what happens and what doesn’t. I want you to feel excited and empowered to take that first step. 

Remember, someone who is ahead of where you are in business will never think you’re silly for trying. They understand those first days, months, and years as a solopreneur. You’ve got this! Just start. 

PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION 

I know you’ve heard of the phrase “progress not perfection,” right? It’s a phrase that you will need to remind yourself of and OFTEN. Entrepreneurship is such a lonely endeavor, and you’re often considered a solopreneur before you have the ability to hire a team. I think every entrepreneur goes through this stage. 

Progress, not perfection, means you should take pride in your work. Focus on the task you’re doing, one small step at a time. Just like a baby, you need to learn to walk before you can run. You will get better the more you do something. Stick with it for a certain time frame and then re-evaluate and adjust accordingly. 

THE EFFORT OF TRYING 

The mere act of trying something new and different will make you grow in so many ways you can’t even imagine. Just imagine it, you’re trying to figure something out in your business, whether the task is small, medium, or huge. Google and YouTube can only get you so far, right? So what do you do? Do you continue working, reach out to someone for help, take a break and come back to it, or perhaps all three? You will be amazed at what you can do once you shift your inner dialogue from “I don’t know how to do this” to “I don’t know how to do this yet,” And if you feel like you need even more of a boost, add AND to your statement. “I don’t know how to do this yet, and I will figure it out” Do you see how powerful that is?! You will begin to gain momentum, and this energy will carry you into other tasks in your business that you didn’t even think you could do. You’ve got this. Just start!

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

You will never feel 100% ready. It’s similar to when you have a significant life transition coming up, such as marriage, buying a house, and having a child. You do the hard work and preparation, but you never feel 100% ready. The same is true for business. You can do all of the research and prep and never start, so why not just start now?! Am I right?! Remember you’ve got this! I’m cheering you on!