Want To Start A Business? Are You Nuts?

June 28, 2015

Yep, we have heard this, well…seen this reaction a million times.

People who start their own companies are definitely ones cut from a different cloth.

We are the type of people who get “itchy” working for someone else in the traditional sense. Make no mistake about it, we still work for someone else, but that someone is our client. And sometimes that is harder than working for the proverbial man…but for us, it’s always preferable.

So what are something’s we have learned over the last several years? Let’s look at a few here shall we?

1. Know What Your Business Is

This likely seems like a no-brainer to some of you reading this. In fact, you would think that this is the first place any budding entrepreneur would begin their journey. It’s not, many times in the last 10 years, I have personally seen many would-be business owners have no real definable business model or concept to work with. Many entrepreneurs have a passion for something and think, “Hey, I’m going to start a business”. While passion is key to success, it’s not enough. You need a clear and definable business concept. Business plans are by far one of the most effective ways to determine the viability of your business, nothing can happen without one, in my opinion.

2. Do You Have Money To Start?

We didn’t. We didn’t have a savings at all…scary? Hell yes. Scary, but we also felt strongly that this was the exact right time to launch The Content Company. We knew we would have to hit the ground running. We knew that if we (I) didn’t’ make sales and make them fast, I would have to go back to agency life…that thought alone propelled me ahead, and quickly. Some people don’t need money upfront, but some ventures definitely do. For us, we didn’t need to buy anything upfront. We did need to pay bills and keep a roof over our heads, but in terms of product or equipment, we were set. I see some people who will “bank” on sales to buy things. In some cases, that makes sense, but for small business, if you need money for something, try to secure it before you get out there.

3. Do You Have The Stomach For This Life?

This is a HUGE one. Let me preface this by saying that if you do not have the stomach for it, it’s ok. Many people do not, it’s a terrifying place to be sometimes. If you think about it, you have to wake up and get yourself motivated each and every day. That can be really hard. For me, it means getting up and having a shower and putting on make-up and dressing as though I am going to an office with other people. We work from our home office and although it is set up as a proper office (door and all), it’s still in our home. It can sometimes be easy to get distracted, but when I do get distracted, I remember that if I am not hustling, we don’t make money…simple. There are days (once in a blue moon) where I might think about going back to agency life or client side, but I remember that I DO have the stomach for this and that I love it and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else…and then all is right as rain. Be real with yourself on how you are built. It’s a 100 % give it your all deal, 80% won’t cut it.

I could really go on and on with other thoughts on this subject, but for now, here are some basics. If you have some tips or stories, please comment below…from one entrepreneur to another, have a killer day! New day, new business!

Until next time, 

Cara




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