In today’s economy, it can be very scary to start a business. However, your fears and concerns should not keep you from realizing your dream. In order to be a true entrepreneur, you have to be willing to take risks. You must be able to put everything you have into making your business successful while also realizing that there will be times that you question whether you have done the right thing. These questions and concerns should not prevent you from opening a new business. Here are a few things you can do in order to keep your fears at bay.
Conquer Irrational Fears
Many people have thought about opening their own businesses, but their fears keep them from putting their plans into action. While some of these concerns are normal, others are irrational. In order to overcome your entrepreneurship fears, you must identify which fears are irrational. For example, your fear of the unknown or the concern about the unpredictable nature of self-employment should not be factors in your decision. The unknown elements of becoming an entrepreneur are only temporary, and you will become more comfortable with it the longer you do it. The inconsistency of self-employment is only a concern if you are not in control of how you run your business. When you are the entrepreneur, you are the one who decides how much effort you will put into the business, which will then be apparent in your success.
Write Down Your Rational Fears
There are many rational concerns about becoming an entrepreneur, but several of these can be laid to rest when you approach them carefully. If startup costs are a concern, then you need to identify how much you can stretch your budget in order to accommodate your dream. You should decide if you are willing to live frugally to accommodate the costs of your new venture, and you need to remember that setbacks are temporary. Even if your business fails, you can still get a job and build up your savings to get back on your feet.
Make a Plan or Two
Every entrepreneur needs to have a plan in order to successfully start and run a business. This will help you turn your idea and develop it into a business that will thrive over time. It may be time-consuming to develop a business plan, but it will be well worth your effort. You may even want to have a consultant look at it to see if your goals are reasonable. You also need to create a backup plan, which will ensure that you have alternative strategies ready when something doesn’t run smoothly. You may also want to have a Plan C that you can turn to when your backup plan goes awry.
Ask for Help
In order to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to have support from several areas. Your friends and family members can provide the emotional and social support that you will need when you become frustrated or overwhelmed. You may also want to have some partners that can help you bear the financial burden of starting a new business. These partners may be able to share ideas and tasks so that the business can quickly start growing. There is no rule that says you must work on your own in order to be an entrepreneur, and the support may keep you going when times get tough.
If you can’t imagine your life without pursuing your dream of starting a new business, then stop worrying about your fears and jump right into the process. Once you become immersed in the planning and implementation of your dream, you will quickly forget the hours you spent thinking about your entrepreneurship phobias.
Daniel Eke is President of Factor Funding Co. They increase cash flow for small businesses by providing receivables factoring, asset based loans, equipment financing and many other services.
Image Credit: http://inspiration.entrepreneur.com
