microBusiness startups: do you believe in you?

It seems there are three types of people who have been confronted by the idea of starting a microBusiness.

1. There’s the type that has no fear, gets excited about the idea of self-employment, and wants to jump in with both feet, often times without thinking it through.

2. There’s the type that says, that sounds feasible, I’d like to give it try. But I like my paycheck so I think I’ll keep my day job. I’ll experiment with the idea to see if it will work for me, and if it doesn’t I won’t have risked too much.

3. Then there’s the type that says, no that’ll never work, or I could never start my own business, or that’s way too risky for me.

Of course there are variations of these three types, but this sums up fairly well the range of mindsets that ponder the idea of self-employment or starting a new business.
 
So, where is your head?
What do you believe about business and your ability to start one and make it succeed? People from each of these three categories have successfully started microBusinesses--even the pessimistic number three. And many from category one--who have so much energy and optimism that they burn the business candle at both ends--have started businesses, and surprisingly many have failed miserably. Does that mean that category number two has the correct mindset for microBusiness success? (To me, number two sounds a little timid, and way too tentative.)

Well, what’s the answer?
Or more to the point, what’s the question? The question was, do you believe in you? Are you smart enough? Are you disciplined enough? Are you bold enough to start a business of your own? You need to possess certain attributes in order to be a success in a microBusiness, and they have nothing to do with big money, education, or influential friends.

First, you have to really WANT to have a business of your own. If you’re on the fence about it, or if you’re not sure you want to give it your all, you’re wasting your time and heading for frustration. You must be prepared to give it your best work.

You need to have enough confidence in yourself to get through the difficult startup stage. It’s tough in the beginning. You’ll have doubts that you’ll have to overcome. You’ll encounter naysayers who can derail you if you let them. Don’t let them.

You need to show up. And by that I mean you can’t be an absentee owner, especially in the beginning. Don't expect to have a fruitful business if you give it only occasional attention, water it three times a week like a tomato plant, and expect it to grow while you’re preoccupied with other things.

If you have to be “sold” over and over again, on the idea of starting your own business (by someone like me), you probably shouldn’t start one. It’s just not in your heart. Be honest with yourself.

Do you know who you want to be when you grow up? Can you visualize what your business will look like a year from now? Three years? Five years? Our economy has imploded. Every day we must dodge economic shapnel. We're living a fragile existence. Our future may look a whole lot different than any of us can predict, but we still need to have vision. And a plan.

It may not require much money to launch your microBusiness idea, and there may not be a huge risk at stake, but the paradox is it requires an enormous amount of confidence to begin even a tiny microBusiness. You should have a good understanding of who you are, where you want to go, and what you will become. And you must believe in yourself. Thank you for your time.

I invite your comments!

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Comments

[Dawn Rivers Baker]

I think it is a very interesting facet of human nature that, so often, confidence enhances (or even begets) competence.

There has even been research suggesting that, contrary to popular belief, entrepreneurs are actually slightly more risk averse than the general population. It's just that they are cockier than your average Joe, so that things that look like risks to most people inspire no fear in the entrepreneur.

He or she just believes they can handle anything the world or fate or whatever throws at their new venture. Supreme confidence.

Ya gotta believe in you.