Starting your own business is a lot like riding an amusement park ride.
At times you have so much anticipation and excitement about what lies ahead that you can barely contain yourself. Yet, there are also other moments where you can’t see or feel the ground beneath your feet, leaving you feeling unsure and scared, like you’re in way over your head.
While this roller coaster of emotion is completely normal as a first-time entrepreneur, you can lessen the number of stomach-dropping dips you face in the days ahead. And you can do it by doing these three things.
Get Extremely Clear on Your Vision
The clearer you are about the vision you have for your business, the more likely it is to evolve into exactly that. The alternative is to just kind of wing it as you go, increasing the odds that you’ll derail and soon find yourself off so far off track that you’ll wonder how you got there.
If you’re not quite sure about what your vision is for your new company, here are some questions that can help you gain some clarity:
- Why is this business venture so important to you?
- What goals do you hope the business achieves?
- What problem does your business solve for individuals, communities, or the world?
- How exactly does your company intend to solve it?
- What makes you different (better) than your competitors?
Once you know these types of answers, it becomes easier to handle the highs and lows of business ownership because you have a solid purpose. You know what you want and how to go about getting it.
Talk to Retired Entrepreneurs
Have you ever noticed how older people always seem to have the greatest level of wisdom? That’s because they’ve had a lifetime of making mistakes, and also of learning from them.
That’s also why it’s beneficial as a new entrepreneur to talk to someone who has already walked a path similar to the one you would like to take. Not just the beginning or the middle, but also the end.
This person will have insight that can only be gained by being an entrepreneur. Insight that, once shared, can serve you well for the entire time you have your business.
Another reason you want this entrepreneur to be retired is, now that they’re out of the business world, it’s easier for them to see the big picture. They can also see entrepreneurship from all facets, from beginning to end.
Let Go of the Idea of Shortcuts
Part of being an entrepreneur is having an amazing ability to dream. To see what the rest of the world does not yet see. Although this is a great quality to have, it can also cause you to look for shortcuts, mainly because you know “there has to be another way.”
It’s a good thought in theory, but it’s also not reality. Yes, there are a few things you can do to make your path as an entrepreneur a bit easier—such as doing these things—but there is no such thing as a quick path to business success.
Even if you talk to someone who seemed to grow a million-dollar business overnight, chances are good that their company was actually years in the making. All of their long days, sleepless nights, missed meals with family, and lack of socializing with friends finally paid off are in the past, making them more difficult to see.
Being a first-time entrepreneur certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. But it can still be an enjoyable ride if you take actions such as these. Now sit back, buckle up, and prepare to be amazed.
