At times, you still think “What if I pursued my entrepreneurial dream, could things have been different now?” Have you ever had a childhood dream like wanting to be a pattisier but changed when you got older because you felt that you should be in a regular 9 to 5 job that could pay you well with good benefits etc? However, you still love to bake cakes and pastries of all sorts during your free time and sell the sweets on special occasions.
That inner child lives on in the shadows. Many people have dreams and ideas but they are either too happy with their lives right now to come out of the comfort zone or they feel that there should be a perfect time for pursuing these dreams and goals.
They feel that they should have a phenomenal moment in order for that to happen. The truth is that there is no such thing. The perfect time is NOW! When you have an entrepreneurial mindset and are passionate about what you do, you will be an action taker and you will constantly search for ways to improve.
Here are 6 great tips to shape the inner entrepreneur in you:
1. Don’t be stuck in a comfortable routine
Many people get caught in their own routines. They get up in the morning, drive to work, return home in the evening, have dinner, watch TV, and go to sleep. They repeat this same process every day, comfortable with the routine and the check they receive every other week.
This sort of mentality is counterproductive to advancing in life and it is not exciting either. You should always look for ways to improve your life and replace your comfortable routine with something exciting. Starting your own business is a way to go.
2. Always search for new business opportunities
Every new business begins with the discovery and exploitation of a new opportunity. Eg. A consumer need that is either unfulfilled or can be served better than it is served now. It should be developed with the right business model to address that opportunity.
That is why you should always look for new business opportunities and the ideas can come from your own circle of influences. Eg. Your office, home, neighbourhood or community. Then, come up with the right solution to address the unfulfilled need.
3. Do whatever it takes
Don’t let small roadblocks stop you from being an entrepreneur. Stick with the business idea and execute it well. Take the steps that will turn your idea into a real business. That is all that matters in the end. Easier said than done.
It takes patience, persistence and discipline to stay focused – patience to overcome the hurdles that stand between you and your goal; persistence to overcome the failures, setbacks, and temptations that may take you off course; and discipline to play the entrepreneurship game right.
4. Have the right reasons to start a business
There is a misconception that business owners make more money and work less than people who work for somebody else. That is not true, at least in the beginning. Besides, these are the wrong reasons to go into business.
The right reason is to develop a product or a service that makes a difference in people’s lives, as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and many other celebrated entrepreneurs did in the past. And most important of all, you should enjoy what you are doing.
5. Be self-motivated
When you are a worker, somebody else – your boss, has defined the work to be done. That person tells you what to do and when to do it, and expects you to keep up with the deadlines. When you are the boss, you must do all these things. That is why you should be self-motivated, know what you are doing, be punctual, and work out all the details.
6. Get in the right psychological state
Put yourself through a ruthless psychological test to discover your weaknesses and insecurities. Eg. If you are not good with marketing, you can take a marketing course or engage a marketing professional. Everyone has their own weaknesses.
As long as you keep an open attitude to improvement, it is alright even if you do not have all the necessary skills when you start. No entrepreneur or leader had it all prefect in the beginning! True leadership begins within, as I discuss in an upcoming book The Ten Golden Rules Of Leadership which I co-authored with Mike Soupios.
In summary, it is possible to be an entrepreneur and leader as long as you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, have the right mindset and attitude. Challenges and problems are part and parcel of life. Be a doer and not a dreamer, all the best in your entrepreneurial journey!
