The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in today’s business community. I am living proof. Having established a business consulting firm 14 years ago, the reason we have survived is because we embrace this joie de vivre.
If you are tired of working for someone else, or you are looking for a different strategy to balance work and home life, becoming an entrepreneur and owning your own business might be the solution.
Here are some questions to ask yourself to consider whether an entrepreneurial adventure is right for you.
1. Are you self-motivated?
Starting and managing your own business is hard work and requires long hours. At times, things may seem overwhelming. Also, there will be ebbs and flows as the business develops. Unlike a corporate community with team members supporting your emotional efforts, you will often have to rely on your own inner self-motivation to keep moving forward. It may be lonely, but with well-established goals and a solid business strategy, hard work has the ability to pay off in the long run.
2. Do you take pride in forging your own path?
Running a business can provide a great amount of self-satisfaction when things turn out well, but for such results, you are going to have to attend to the details. Setting goals, business strategies, financial metrics and marketing plans are all part of the mix. Forging a path will need to be created with the smallest of paint brush tips, not broad brush strokes. The path is multi-dimensional, but it is very rewarding to watch it unfold before your eyes.
3. How are your time management skills?
No one is going to set your deadlines or help you parcel out your work production. That will be up to you. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to set your own schedule, especially if you are balancing a family schedule as well as a work schedule, but discipline is a necessary element in any time management strategy.
4. How is your creativity?
Problem solving is a recurring theme when running your own business. Being able to adjust to changing situations is a must. Your ability to find creative solutions to unexpected occurrences can make or break your business. If you are not feeling especially creative, make certain that you have resources available to help you when problem solving is a necessity.
5. Are you curious?
Curiosity provides the motivation for life-long learning. We are witnessing a rapid change within the business landscape. Staying informed of the latest business trends, handling new technologies, and being prepared for the newest financial upheavals require the relentless pursuit of learning. Learning keeps us fresh and provides inspiration for feeding not only curiosity, but creativity.
It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to control your own life and control your destiny. Working long hours with a start-up business can be satisfying when you know you are creating your own business success story. Life is an adventure meant to be enjoyed, and embracing the entrepreneurial spirit can certainly provide the zest.
Ann Gatty
Dr. Ann Gatty is a business development strategist with 30 years’ experience, who believes that everyone has the capabilities to get where they want to go if they are enabled with the right strategies and tools. As a business consultant she builds businesses to work brilliantly. She is the co-founder of StrategicPeopleSolutions.com, an organization that helps businesses develop strong leaders while creating a culture where self-improvement is an intrinsic part of the organization’s value system. Ann works with clients to develop a strategic path towards the life they’ve always imagined. Ann can be reached at 855-284-4448 or [email protected].
Follow Me:
Being an entrepreneur or running your own business is not an easy job. It takes a lot of time,capital and effort to become a successful entrepreneur. These questions are very essential because this decides if you will be willing to take the risk in handling your own business. If you can say yes to all these questions then being an entrepreneur is really the right path for you. Great article.
Thanks for your comments Julie. You are right that there needs to be thought put into deciding if the entrepreneurial path works for you. Individuals need to be able to handle various levels of risk and be comfortable with uncertainty from time to time.