And just because you have an office job, doesn’t mean you aren’t living your dream.
Starting a business is becoming more and more popular for millennials. A lot of us have seen the corporate world and we’ve been left wanting more.
Leave a comment if you’ve ever felt like you want more from your career!
Because you’re not alone.
But, it’s important to start your own business for the right reasons and be prepared for what it really takes to launch and grow your own business.
So here are five reasons why you should NOT start your own business…
You’re running from a job instead of towards your dreams
Maybe you don’t like your boss, or the office culture, or the processes of your employer. It’s common to feel like we can do better. Maybe you dream of a company where management is supportive, communication is efficient, and appreciation is given.
Those are great things to hope for, but starting your own business because you’re running away from a job and feel lost, might not be the best mindset to start in. This timing doesn’t mean you will fail, but I urge you to feel like you’re running towards entrepreneurship, towards something you are excited about, not from something.
You want success now and are focused on the present, not on the future
Here’s the thing. You’re not going to accomplish all of your wildest dreams and goals overnight. It takes small daily steps to get there, and you have to be willing to put in the time and effort. This sometimes means sacrificing something in the present to help the business in the future.
For example, I started my business as a side hustle. So on top of my already busy work schedule, I added another 5-10 hours per week to my week working on my own business. I got up 30-45 minutes earlier each day to work on building my business before going to my day job, and sometimes I’d work on Saturday mornings before my husband was up. I also didn’t take 100% of my side hustle income and spend it. I invested a lot of it back into the business, so I could grow it faster.
The result. Now I make more money and work fewer hours than I ever did working for someone else. But it wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t willing to make some sacrifices at the beginning or expected instant results.
You’re not ready to be a CEO
When you start out, it’s just you. You are the entire team, AND you’re the CEO. When you have your own business there are moments when you implement and moments when you strategize the bigger picture. Not only do you have to do the work, but you also have to run a business — that means things like paying bills, sending out invoices, building a website, planning for the future, projecting income, investing in your business, analyzing what’s working, and deciding where your business is headed.
Your CEO uniform might not be a suit and tie, but when you have your own business, the decisions you make as CEO will set you apart from the rest.
You don’t want to spend money
You’re starting this business to have make more money. Why would you spend money to get there?
I hear this all the time and I get it. Investing in your business is scaring, but necessary. Some businesses have more upfront costs than others, but if you are going to do it right, there will be some.
The best way to put your mind at ease is to make a plan. If you’re going to spend X amount of money, project how much money that investment will make you. Give yourself a deadline and work towards it. You are by far the best investment you can make.
You’re not willing to change your plan
You’ve made a plan for your business and you’re ready to rock it. Always make a plan, it will help you stay focused and committed. However, if something has changed in your industry or new technology emerges or your audience asks you for something else, you have to be willing to adapt.
You have an advantage as a small business owner or entrepreneur. You don’t have to jump through hoops or spend months proving the numbers to test new things and change your plan if something isn’t working.
Know the numbers, but trust your gut and do what’s right for your business, even if that wasn’t a part of the original plan.
Having a business is amazing, but challenging! It’s okay to fail. I want to make sure to mention that because many successful businesses don’t happen on the first try.
But if you’re ready to start and want a game plan to follow, check out my free training:
[optin-monster-shortcode id=”lzp8qjqunlcwy6siga8f”]Until next time… stay ambitious!
