As my journey to becoming an entrepreneur continues I am reminded of how far I have come. In August/September 2010 I was laid off by corporate America. I don’t want to go back unless it’s for the right company with the right culture…and let’s face it, the right money.
The road of owning your own business isn’t an easy one. With the right people around you and the right amount of listening to your gut and willingness to work odd hours and you can make it.
Here are some considerations for becoming an entrepreneur:
- What is your why for becoming an entrepreneur? Owning your own business isn’t something to be taken lightly. It’s important to know yourself and know your why. It’s okay to say your why is to become a millionaire or save the world. As long as you’re clear. My why was to be a writer AND be able to pay my bills and as both I and the business have evolved it has become a business of helping good businesses connect with their target market.
- How much time and money are you willing to put toward your venture? You can have the spirit of an entrepreneur but without some basic business tools you won’t be very successful. You have to be willing to put your time in – whether part or full – to make your business a success. The reality may be that financially you cannot quit corporate America and will need to run a business while you’re working fulltime. Consider the relationships in your personal life and whether or not your plan can be a reality before taking the dive into entrepreneurship.
- Know your strengths: Taking a DISC Assessment or other personality assessment is important for your understanding of who you are and how you work. As an entrepreneur you will initially be functioning as all roles in your business. As the business grows and as you are building your power team it will be beneficial to know where you are weak. You will be able to have mentors, partners or employees who can fill those roles so you can shine your strengths.
Choosing to become an entrepreneur has been rewarding to me in many ways and it can be to you. Consider the fact that I was laid off with 12 people and 25% of them have been laid off again! Consider that you don’t have to jump in feet first like I did. You don’t have to have an MBA to be a successful entrepreneur but the knowledge gained from a program like the Gannon online MBA could pay off in dividends.
McAuley Freelance Writing helps you find the words you need to reach your target clients and audience. Services include writing articles for magazines and newsletters, website copywriting, social media updates and blog post writing. Clients include web designers, social media strategists, marketing professionals and business owners.