Still do not know if it is a good time to start?
If you are one of those who have a business idea or the desire to carry out their profession independently, but have not yet launched yourself waiting for “that perfect moment”. If you constantly ask yourself "when to start" this article is ideal for you. I'm sure you know well that there is no perfection in any aspect of life, and entrepreneurship is no exception. However, I share with you that there are situations that make launching into this new project much more contained than "a jump into the void."
The transition
Most important and most critical is the transition period. It is that moment in which you are thinking about being independent, you make inquiries, maybe you design your website or your personal cards, you contact some people, you even work with some clients, but you are not yet 100% independent and you have not launched fully to dedicate yourself to this new project. The transition is characterized by the fact that you are not yet 100% dedicated to your new project, but neither do you “let go” of the previous one (which may be your job as an employee, a family business, another business, etc.). It might seem like you're securing the passage, right? Because you start something new without letting go of the old one. But honestly the only thing you're doing is preparing to take the leap, because, let's face it,at some point you will have to “drop” the previous project even when the new one is not perfectly secured. That's the way it is most of the time, it's about taking risks.
The ideal setting
But of course, as we have said before, there are always moments, situations or conditions that help make that transition, that leap a little more careful. Would you like to know what is the ideal scenario to launch your own business? These three keys are the ones that I consider most important and will help you make your decision:
Key number 1 - An economic support
I've talked about this in other articles, so I'm just going to leave you with the main idea here. You should not stay with the belief that if you do not have money you can not start, but you must think that it is much easier if you do it with a backup. Starting any business is difficult, and if in addition to that you demand results from the first day, it will be very hard for you. On the other hand, if you start with the certainty that you do not need to make a profit in the first 6 months, you will be surprised at how focused you will work and how you will achieve results when you do not push yourself with the lack of money. But for this, you have to be prepared. Support is also essential to have a little margin to invest in what your business needs at the beginning.It can be investing in a mentor that helps you clarify the first steps of your business or allows you to accelerate your results, or it can be a coach that helps you break paradigms that could be influencing your first results (beliefs that you do not know how to sell, or that charging high fees is unethical, or that you must give away your services to make yourself known). It can also be to invest in a good designer who builds not only your website but the image you want to offer as a professional. It may be that you need to buy some paid advertising to boost the results of your free advertising. In any case, it is good to have a little margin to invest. Do not limit yourself with the belief that without money you cannot undertake. Read this article to delve into this topic:How to overcome the "I want to start but I have no money"?
Key number 2 - Your skills as an entrepreneur
This is a pretty long point because it's not about one or two abilities, but a combo of them. The ones that I rescue the most are related to the following: first, that you can commit to this new project. This is not about saying it from the mouth out, it is more about living it. For example, you must be in a good personal moment to do it because you will have to invest a lot of time and energy at the beginning. If you have other urgent personal projects (such as getting married, going on vacation or on a short-term study trip, etc.) you will be sharing your dedication with your venture. And we are not just talking about time. Energy and mental disposition are essential. Otherwise you will end up leaving your venture aside (the thread is cut by the thinnest) thinking that it did not work,when it really wasn't the right time or you couldn't spend enough time. On the other hand, it is essential that you know whether or not you have entrepreneurial wood. And the best way to find out sometimes is by trying it. If you want to evaluate advantages and disadvantages of being an entrepreneur or independent professional, you can do it in this article: Employee or independent professional? Pros and cons.
Key number 3 - An opportunity in the market
Starting a business without knowing whether it will be profitable or not is too high a risk that I do not recommend taking. Rather, you should do some minimal activities to make sure it could work. Of course, then it will depend on many factors, but if you do not consider some of them from the beginning, you will be sentencing yourself directly to failure. One of the most important factors and that I always remember my clients is finding an opportunity in the market, an unattended need, an urgent desire of a group of people who are willing to pay to solve it. Leaving this point for last can be a very expensive mistake. But finding this key at the start of your business will allow you to develop the entire structure and strategies of your venture,based on this premise and it will certainly help you achieve good results much more quickly. I hope these three keys have helped you. But remember, at some point you will have to take a risk, at some point you will have to cheer yourself up. Don't confuse preparation with procrastination. Extreme perfectionism, that feeling that "there is always a little more to go" will only move you further away from your goal, even when you are thinking that you are preparing for it. Remember, undertaking is action, not intention.even when you are thinking that you are preparing for it. Remember, undertaking is action, not intention.even when you are thinking that you are preparing for it. Remember, undertaking is action, not intention.
