Once you have determined that you have the necessary traits, skills and passion to become an entrepreneur, the next step will be to start up your dream business.
Section 1: Getting Started
Getting started with your dream business may be the easiest part of the process or it may be the hardest. It really depends on your specific situation. Some would-be entrepreneurs are raring to get started, while others are bogged down with doubts and procrastination.
#1- Avoid coming up with excuses why you shouldn’t start your own business.
Once you have made the important decision that yes you want to become an entrepreneur, skip the excuses and start the process.
#2- Avoid the quicksand that is known as procrastination.
Putting off the process of starting your business for any reason can lead to getting stuck in the mud. Avoid the process of procrastination at all costs.
#3- Do whatever it takes to motivate yourself to get started.
Doubt, fear, worry and a lack of purpose can all end up preventing you from getting your dreams going. Focus on why you want to become an entrepreneur (your passion) and use that to motivate yourself into taking those first few steps. The first couple of steps are the most important ones.
#4- Develop core beliefs.
Now is the time to develop your business’s core beliefs. This will help you to create the right kind of company, one that matches your passion and motivates you to always move forward. Your business’s core beliefs will be a major building block of it, so make sure that these beliefs are worthy. They will also determine how you proceed to make decisions in the future and which direction the business takes your life.
Section 2: Making the Shift from Employee to Boss
Running your own business takes leadership. For many new entrepreneurs it can be difficult to make the switch from employee to manager or boss. There are ways that you can prepare yourself for this transition. For people who have built-in leadership skills this transition may be easier, but anyone with the proper drive and motivation can develop leadership skills.
#1- Learn how to listen.
A good boss knows how to listen to their employees and how to recognize good ideas. For a lot of people the concept of being a good listener is hard to contemplate. Learning how to listen probably represents one of the most difficult aspects of turning yourself into a good boss.
#2- Invite creative thinking.
Another trait of a good boss is the ability to invite others to share their ideas with you. You will want to create an atmosphere where your employees will want to share their ideas with you on a regular basis. Great ideas drive businesses forward.
#3- Learn to delegate.
Maintaining control of a company can also mean delegating certain responsibilities to others and good bosses know how to do so successfully.
#4- Take downtime to reflect.
The responsibility of an employee to learn from their mistakes is not as great as the responsibility of the boss to do so. It is important for any boss to take the appropriate amount of time to stop, think and reflect upon what they have learned. Only through reflection can you truly learn from your mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future.
#5- Expect respect.
Bosses require respect. When making the transition from employee to boss it is important to expect respect from your subordinates.
#6- Earn respect.
While you should be prepared to expect respect from your employees, it is also vital that you be prepared to earn this respect. This is accomplished through honesty, fairness and by giving respect.
Tomorrow I will continue with sections 3 and 4 on how to start your dream business.