By: Trina Johnson
A person who starts his or her own business is called an Entrepreneur. According to Webster’s Dictionary, an entrepreneur is “an individual who begins a commercial enterprise with considerable initiative and risk with the purpose of turning a profit.” A second definition is simply, “an individual who loves the business of doing business.”
Common reasons Entrepreneurs cite for starting their own business include dissatisfaction with the J-O-B. Or it could be a major life change, like losing a job, or moving to a new commu-nity with a spouse, or having a baby, or having an ailing parent to care for. Many people become entrepreneurs because they long for independence and chafe at the demands of a 9-to-5 and a boss. Working for someone else makes them unhappy and unfulfilled. And then there is the rare Entrepreneur who sees an opportunity that appears to be too good to pass up and is daring enough to chase the dream, even when there is no real unhappiness with their current situation.
Do you recognize yourself in one of those scenarios? If so, then owning your own business just might be right for you. But owning a business is not right for everyone.
If you think you might want to own your own business, the first thing you need to do is take inventory of where you are. One of the key characteristics of successful entrepreneurs is that they know themselves. They have a big “Because” (also known as a “Big Why”) that drives them to success.
Complete this statement: I want to run my own business because ________________. There is no right or wrong answer, but it needs to be an answer that resonates with you. Your “because” might be as simple as “I can make enough money to feed my family.” Or it might be “because I believe the world needs my apple pie recipe.” Or it might even be something along the lines of “because I want to prove to my doggone brother-in-law that I can do it.” Whatever it is, get out a piece of paper and write it down. It’s okay if you have several “Because” statements, or you might just have one. Just make sure it feels authentic and true to you.
Once you’ve come up with a couple “Because Statements” that feel right to you, you need to make sure that you are cut out to be your own boss. Here are some questions that you need to answer honestly for yourself: 1) Can you motivate yourself?, 2) Can you work through obstacles and solve problems?, 3) Can you multi-task?, 4) Can you manage others?, 5) Can you rely on yourself to do what needs to be done?, 6) Can you handle pressure?, 7) Do you like to continuously learn and grow?, 8) Can you ask for help when you need it?, 9) Are you flexible and able to roll with the punches when required?, and finally, 10) Are you willing to invest the time and effort necessary to get your business established?
If you answer “No” to most of these questions, then being an Entrepreneur would not be easy. It can be done, especially if you have a very strong “Because” and if you have several other key components, like strong support around you and strong, specific skills. But if you are not absolutely convinced that you can master the scenarios represented by those ten questions, then looking for a job where someone else sets the rules and relieves you of much of the day-to-day decision-making may be a better choice.
Katryna Johnson, J.D., aka Trina, owns Mirelli Entrepreneur Training for Women. Her passion for helping women came from seeing her law clients broken and demoralized after divorce. She helps women build confidence, take responsibility, and launch businesses. She wholeheartedly believes women who help other women succeed will change the world. Find out more at www. MirelliETC.com