Ever think of starting your own business? Are you too afraid that you won’t be able to do it? Worried about the cost of a start-up or about your ability to run a company?
These are things all entrepreneurs think about. Fear is a powerful tool, but not a good one. It’s a setback and it should be thrown out the window along with self-doubt.
Having a thought or an idea is just the beginning of starting a business. Actually, that’s probably the easiest part! It’s true when they say success doesn’t happen overnight and determination plays a key role in becoming an entrepreneur. The negativity that will surround you is inevitable, but it’s up to you to take that negative energy and either ignore it or let it affect you. I chose to ignore it.
When I started Relax Missy, I was just out of college and landed my first full time job with benefits. I started saving as much money as I could out of my paychecks and placed it aside for my company. I didn’t have a trust fund or rich parents, I used my own hard earned cash to fund my way out of the 9 to 5. Everyone that says you need 50k and up to start a home based business is lying (or they got ripped off).
There are many, ways to save money, and one of them is doing the legwork yourself. Take advantage of free attorneys from colleges. Use your home as storage. I actually think starting a business without much money is better than starting up with lots of cash. Being broke allows you to hustle to find a way to make it work and exhaust all options that other people would never know existed.
Self-doubt and fear haunt everyone. It’s probably the main reason why most people don’t take the leap to entrepreneurship. Let me tell you, I had no idea what I was doing when I started, and I still don’t! I’m learning as I go along and hiring college interns who have the energy and motivation to work with me. As your business grows, you can slowly start to expand with an office or warehouse and even a CEO if you think you’re not the best CEO for your company.
Starting your own business is a learning process and will always be one. Even companies that have been around for years are creating their own unique ways to advance; for example, Apple. Until now, Apple had never built an iPad before. I’m sure there were some roadblocks along the way, but now that they’ve gotten through it they can improve their product and processes.
The saying “just do it” may be cliché, but it’s so true. If you have a great idea and want to act upon it, then you will figure out a way to make that happen. Research and business forums are great ways to start. From there you will be surprised as to how quickly knowledge starts to pour in.
Working independently, away from the “9 to 5″, is what fuels me to keep growing my business.
What motivates YOU to start your own business and work for yourself?
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If anyone can relate to where you're at in your career, it's Nicole Crimaldi: Nicole spent 5 years in corporate America, switched career paths, worked at a start-up, survived a layoff and is now self-employed. Nicole believes that career satisfaction is a huge part of overall happiness. Therefore, she started Ms. Career Girl to help other women get off the treadmill and onto a more fulfilling path.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this piece. I juggle multiple projects on the side and although I pride myself on living by Nike’s golden rule (and chant it), I too have hovered on the edge – not yet able to take that dive! I always say it’s not fear, I usually blame lack of discipline. But lately when I step back and look at my life as an onlooker I see discipline across the board – the same discipline that permits me to currently do what I do. So really, it is fear…and life’s too short for fear, right?
Lisa,
I can totally relate. I love having multiple projects but haven’t considered the leap to full entrepreneurship. Sometimes we can beat ourselves up about this when, in reality, we are doing more than most people. I’m sure this discipline and the extra projects will serve as the foundation of career “insurance” or a back up plan should we need one.
Thanks for coming by!
Nicole
Thank you for this input. I have so many ideas although the issue is lack of monetary means and residing in a desolate location (due to my new husbands ‘stable’ job) doesnt help either.
I have been told over and over that I just need to focus on one thing- but what about the women that do it all ??
I have an eye for photography, love to write feature stories, fashion design , I paint, draw, create cards and design ads and I am also good at productions. However, I am surrounded by ‘realists’ and am buried in wedding/ school debt. I work at a bank doing repetitive mindless, lifeless work and am DYING to get my fingers into anthing creative!
I currently reside in a rural location smack dab in the middle of Iowa. I want to utilize these skills but I am limited. Any ideas???
Try Etsy.com greatest website ever! Do your thing and reach a market place of like minded people!
Hey Natasha, the internet could be the perfect place for you to get started.
Have you checked out any of the internet market places? If you have a digital camera you could take pictures of your work and post it on one of those sites.
I don’t have much artistic talent, but one of my coworkers is a great photographer and she has an account Etsy where she sells prints, greeting cards, etc.
Also, a girl I played soccer with in college ran an eBay store front where she sold beach themed, name-personalized decor for children’s bedrooms. She would cut out shapes like surf boards and starfish from wood and hand paint them. She posted a few examples of her work to give people ideas, then just waited for the orders to come in.
Might be something that would work for you. Good luck!
Natasha- you might consider creating alternatives from one source of income- if you want to do photography sell stock photos as well as prints.
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I hate to say it, but it can drive me a little bit crazy when people complain about how hard or expensive it is to start a business. Most people already have basic tools that will get them started, and the legal paperwork is really not that scary and doesn’t take that much time. Or maybe I am just used to it- I’ve been running a business since I was a teen, so there has always been legal paperwork!
Thank you ladies for the insight. God has heard my prayers and He cares about you and everything about you even the little things (even the # of hairs on your head! Yea it says it in the Bible Luke 12:7!) A lady who has worked there for over 15 years and she quit and I got her job as the club director! I plan trips which are complimentary design invites and cards even write for the newsletter I love it! I never understood why I was there, but I stuck it out and God had a plan. And Im now planning a trip to Europe!
Thanks for this article Ms. Krikelis. I came to this site originally to ask permission to use the main picture in an ad for my business. I quickly found myself interested and read the article and all the comments!
I’m an entrepreneur who recently took the plunge into a new business: I started Protechtion, which provides people with knowledge and technology to protect themselves, their families, and their property. I appreciate the words of inspiration, and I will continue to do what I can to help especially women understand the importance of self defense products and knowledge.
Please let me know if you don’t want me using the picture. Good luck with your business!