So you want to be an entrepreneur?
Five questions to ask yourself first
ENTREPRENEURSHIP brings a lot of freedom, responsibility, and risks, and before people commit to taking that big step there are several important questions they should ask themselves, said Tim Mercer the author of “Bootstrapped Millionaire: Defying the Odds of Business.”
“Entrepreneurship is a career that offers a kind of freedom and personal satisfaction you simply cannot get from traditional 9-to-5 employment,” Mercer said in a statement.
“It’s a big decision, though, involving many factors and inherent risks,” Mercer continued.
Mercer thinks people who are considering entrepreneurship should first ask themselves these five questions:
Why do you want to do this?
“Let’s be honest,” Mercer said. “If the business endeavor is just about us, we will want to give up on ourselves when things get hard. Your why, which is your purpose, has to be much bigger than yourself. You must believe in a vision of why you want to be an entrepreneur and develop a plan for how you will involve others in your vision. Sustainable entrepreneurship requires the efforts of other people.” He said “it’s imperative to write down your ‘why’ and keep it in front of you as a reminder when tough times come.”
Are you being realistic?
One can get swept up in the emotion of starting a business, but Mercer says it’s vital for every potential entrepreneur to be realistic in their business projections for the first two years of the startup. “Answering this question before you open can prevent some unpleasant surprises as you try to build your company,” Mercer said.
Do you have daily discipline?
“You are the boss, and only you can hold yourself accountable,” Mercer said. “If it’s hard for you to stay on task or stay motivated, and you think being an entrepreneur is a fast ticket to easy street, entrepreneurship definitely is not for you.”
Can your relationships survive the sacrifices?
The time commitment, Mercer notes, to starting one’s own business and getting it running efficiently goes well beyond a typical 9-to-5 job. Relationships can suffer. “All entrepreneurs have to understand that they are going to be forced to make sacrifices on a personal level with their family and friends,” Mercer said. “You have to stay focused without letting your dedication to your entrepreneurial pursuit harm your relationships with those you are closest. Communicate with them and mutually come up with adjusted expectations as you build the business.”
Can you withstand the struggles?
Rejection and failure, Mercer says, are realities that new entrepreneurs have to get accustomed to and learn to overcome. “You need to understand how many times you’ll fail before you’ll succeed,” he said. “You’ll get turned down by prospective customers constantly and your self-value will be tested on a daily basis. Is your ‘why’ strong enough to keep you going?”
“Overall, deciding whether you are an entrepreneur or not boils down to how comfortable you are being uncomfortable,” Mercer said in his statement.