It seems that now, more than ever before, in the midst of increasing job uncertainty, delving into the great unknown of self-employment and business start-up is proving a preferred option, and is considered a genuine alternative to a 9-5 job. Part of the reason for this, is due to it actually being a pretty good time to be an entrepreneur. Particularly in the last decade, advances in technology and a change in the mind-set around career stability, has improved the prospects of success as an entrepreneur, and fuelled an entrepreneurial revolution.
The global economy along with the full-steam-ahead information age has allowed unprecedented access to insights, both theoretical and anecdotal, allowing you to make smarter and more informed choices more quickly that would have been possible in times gone by. If you approach it correctly, you have the advantage of being flexible, being able to study the market, decide what options might work best for you, learn from the mistakes of others, and adapt at lightning speed.
There is a little more structure to being an entrepreneur as well, and it’s not all ‘flying loose and free…’ The name of the game is having a goal, seeing the big picture, developing a plan, learning and re-assessing constantly, being adaptable, and following through.
This article offers up a few tips and some practical help to guide you on the start of your enterprise.
This is something which I did myself, and it really was the best thing to get me started. It allowed for me to start up allocating the time and finances I could afford to invest in the new venture, while maintaining a level of stability. It bought me the time to be able to make a few mistakes, learn the ropes, and become confident enough with the direction that things were moving in, to be comfortable with giving up the day job without going into a state of panic.
It can generally take around six months to a year, (if not more), to get a business going, and where it’s possible to develop this while benefiting from the regular income of a nine-to-five… I’d recommend you do just that!
‘Sameness’ will get you nowhere… in a time where prospects have an incredible range of choice, and can look for the best deals available almost instantly, you really need to set yourself apart to get ahead. Consider how it might be possible to specialize… Find out what people need, and offer it in a way that others, (especially larger companies, who are more likely to be able to beat you on price), can’t or don’t!
Consider all the ways in which you can create brand awareness and brand recognition. Aside from promoting yourself and your business in person, and locally, (offline), it is essential that you develop an online profile. It doesn’t matter if you don’t trade online, the internet is still a valuable tool allowing for you to extend your reach dramatically and rapidly. Draw up a list of every avenue you can use to promote yourself, and then devise a plan to utilise as many as possible of these. Remember to capitalise on free advertising avenues too.
In order to succeed you need to be creative, maintain a level of energy and stay motivated even when you hit obstacles and delays. Reflect on all that does not go to plan, learn, regroup, adapt, and persevere. Remember that a majority of the most successful people in business didn’t become overnight successes… it took time, effort and determination. With this mind-set, you’re in good stead for success!
Aiming for Work-Life Synergy
‘Men for the sake of getting a living, forget to live.’ Margaret Fuller In all likelihood you’ve been there… and you may have seen generations of your family and friends go through the same! You’re working endlessly, but find that you have so little to show for it!
Being Your Own Boss & Low-Cost Business Start-Up Ideas
So, you’ve thought about making a change and being your own boss… and you’ve probably second guessed yourself and been frightened off by the lack of ‘security’ and ‘guaranteed income’ that a JOB brings … Well, I’m here to tell you that the security of fixed employment in a large company or well-known institution is a myth. I used to believe the myth for quite a while, even when moving from project to project, but thankfully my entrepreneurial spirit kicked in and I saw the light! (and the freedom!)
Never Give Up Never Surrender
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising each time we fall.’ Confucious Hurdles in life are inevitable. If we didn’t have them, we wouldn’t appreciate our accomplishments nearly as much. It’s sort of like my experience of the weather now that I live in Britain… With the frequent rain, I appreciate, (and actually cherish!), sunshine so much more than I ever did when I lived in South Africa.
