If you’re looking to make that jump and finally be your own boss, there will never be the perfect time. The hardest part will be that initial commitment and if you’re looking for an excuse to delay your dreams, you’ll certainly find one. But that’s OK, because a successful entrepreneur will always be evolving and adapting their product, tweaking their prototype and matching it with what customers want. It’s all supply and demand.
If you’ve been considering taking the plunge, then now is as good a time as any. You could take your money and throw it all on red at one of the best Canadian online casino sites, like those at Casino Pilot CA, or you could really take a risk; invest it in yourself. Because believing in yourself and what you have to offer is most of the fight. And the worst-case scenario of trial and failure is still better than a lifetime of regret.
These are the qualities you’ll need to make it in this world the best way there is, by being your own boss.
Passion
Most people will have their idea to begin with, maybe for years and it’s been slowly toiling away inside of you. Just make sure it’s something that will really get you out of bed for. Building something from the ground up is not only going to take a good few sleepless nights, but it will consume you. And if you don’t feel entirely passionate about it, it will slowly eat away at your soul.
It may sound dramatic, but it’s the reality. Your 9-5 life will be gone which means so is a lot of your spare time. That will be replaced by the desire to explore your venture which is perfectly healthy, as long as you find enjoyment and sustenance from it. If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.
Think hard about your vision for the future, what your end goal will entail and ask yourself, “is this something I really love to do”. Because if the answer to that is not a resounding “yes”, then you may as well trip on the first hurdle.
Optimism
Ask anyone who has achieved success and if they haven’t been knocked back countless times, they are probably lying. Just like the story of the colonel and his chicken, hundreds of nos were heard before an empire was begun. You will have many doors slammed in your face, problems to overcome and countless things that will inevitably go wrong. So you’ll need the right mentality to take them on the chin and move forward regardless.
Learning from your mistakes and being able to channel that negative energy back into your ideas is a hard pill to constantly swallow, but it’s imperative. Because the only thing harder to come back from than a closed door is not having the ability to believe that you just picked the wrong one.
Team Player
A one-man-band will struggle to conquer the charts. Can you play with a team or is your underlying stubbornness and controlling nature going to sabotage your band?
The ability to trust others and let them in on your baby is not something done easily but could very well be the thing that makes you succeed. We’re talking about teamwork and assembling a group around you that will offer up the skills you lack to really bolster your ability to win. It will be critical, everyone needs help, and if you lack the ability to hand over the reigns once in a while, you’ll really struggle.
Not only will you have to acquire those key people to take your vision to the top, but you’ll need a lot of trust and confidence in them to offer the space they’ll need. Again, if it was easy, everyone would do it.
The Ability to Evolve
You could say that evolution is the single most important thing that exists on this planet. Without this skill or ability, nothing would exist. The same will go for your baby. Many of us have had our idea churning around in our wee brains for a long time and the world can change in an instant. Having the confidence to tweak your plan for the current market will really help break into it, as many have seen during the pandemic.
Expecting the needs of your potential customers to remain the same is a fool’s errand. This will require you to swallow your pride and remain open to change, and that’s not easy. Especially with so much time invested in one idea, but you will thank us in the long term. You’ll never win a race by standing still.
Salesmanship
Having the best idea around is one thing; getting other people on board is something else. As important as marketing will be to get your baby out there, first you’ll need to pitch your idea to others to get it off the ground. Whether those people are family and friends, investors, potential partners or employees, you’ll need to sell it.
Having that passion we first talked about will certainly go a long way, but also the confidence in yourself and your vision is key. If you don’t buy into it, no one else will. Crucial to success will be the ability to show people that what you have is something they will want. You may need to focus on your specific niche or uniqueness, but certainly key values that set you apart.
Money Management
We’re not saying you’ll need to become an accountant (you can hire them) but you will need to be good at both spending and saving money, especially in the beginning. From resisting the urge to splurge on a fancy office and transforming the guest room to inviting investors rather than upping your credit limits. In the beginning, you’ll literally be starting from scratch, so think about doing so gradually if your idea allows.
Beginning part time after work and weekends will still allow an income. Likewise, selling at markets and online sites instead of signing a lease could be more sustainable. If your idea is as good as you know it is, maybe there’s no rush. According to Rick Terrien at Entrepreneur.com starting slowly but with a solid foundation will always be better than diving straight in with an unpolished gem. And last, but not least find a good accountant/business advisor; they’re worth their weight in gold!
