Does it feel like you are in a rut in your current job? Do you know plenty of better ways to do things, but nobody wants to listen? Are you tired of watching others benefit from your hard work? If this is you, you might just be an entrepreneur.
As another year comes to a close, you might be dreaming about where you want to go from here. Even having those kinds of thoughts might be an indication that you have an entrepreneurial spirit just waiting to bust out into the world. An entrepreneur dares to dream, and has the confidence to move forward in making those dreams come true.
It can be a difficult and stressful journey to start a new business and turn it into a success, but successful entrepreneurs will all agree that the rewards are well worth the effort they invested into themselves. If you’re thinking about your next career move, here are some questions that can help you decide whether you should start your own small business:
• Do you have a passion for something? Before quitting your current job, you should have a real solid idea of what you want to do next. The more passion you have for your enterprise, the more effort you will put into making it grow. If you’re not sure about your passion, it might not be time to start your own business yet. You might just need to change jobs while you search for something that sets your mind on fire.
• Do you have the money? You won’t be surprised to know that most new businesses take a little time to get on their feet. Unfortunately, life’s bills don’t wait for that to happen. When the money starts getting low, some entrepreneurs borrow against their home, retirement savings, and even their children’s college funds to make ends meet. This can have long-term devastating consequences on your personal life. Make sure you have enough money to pay for your household needs for at least a year while you focus on your business.
• Do you have the support? Being an entrepreneur can be all-consuming at the start. If you’ve got a life partner, young kids or older parents to take into consideration, they might not understand if you start cutting way back on your time with them. Talk to everyone about your dreams and get their buy-in before you move on.
• Do you have the skills? You have to be brutally honest with yourself as to what your skill set includes. Can you organize a schedule, perform administrative tasks, take care of customers, implement marketing strategies, and generate sales? You can still start a business if you do lack some of these skills, but include the help you will need in your planning stages.
It can be risky, but if you’re willing to take the leap, you are definitely on your way to becoming an entrepreneur.