Posted: 4/19/2010 9:53:38 PM EDT
|
For those business men and women of arfcom. Where did you find the motivation and drive to start your own business. I've always wanted to have my own business of some sort but I do not have drive to do anything but go to my meager minimum wage job. I've always had ideas circulating in my head but never acted on any of them. Im deathly sick of my minimum wage job and need to focus on the road ahead.
I cant look towards my family for advice because they know nothing about business but just the disadvantages of running them (Mother worked for a auction company that dealt with liquidating assets). Any advice and how you become what you have would be greatly appreciated. |
|
Start reading:
The E Myth by Michael Gerber Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill There are others that are also very good: Great source of books: http://www.tremendouslifebooks.net/ Last bit of advice: Don't listen to anyone poorer or "more messed up" than you. Many aspiring entrepreneurs / business owners get the dream of business ownership in their head and then go and talk to the most negative person that they know and allow that individual to "barf" all over their idea/dream. If you want a real opinion, go find someone who is successful in business, particularly the type of business that you want to get into and see if they will let you ask them some questions. Most good entrepreneurs are encouraging to those who are sincere about getting ahead. Best Wishes to you! |
|
Quoted:
Last bit of advice: Don't listen to anyone poorer or "more messed up" than you. Many aspiring entrepreneurs / business owners get the dream of business ownership in their head and then go and talk to the most negative person that they know and allow that individual to "barf" all over their idea/dream. If you want a real opinion, go find someone who is successful in business, particularly the type of business that you want to get into and see if they will let you ask them some questions. Most good entrepreneurs are encouraging to those who are sincere about getting ahead. Best Wishes to you! +1, that is extremely good advice. Find a mentor, or at least someone whose brain you can pick. |
|
Quoted:
I've always wanted to have my own business of some sort but I do not have drive to do anything but go to my meager minimum wage job. Is there anything that you really enjoy doing that you can offer as a product or service to other people? Start there. Remember that running a business is work, over and above doing the fun stuff that makes you money. Finally, when you work for yourself, the boss can be a real jerk. 
|
|
Quoted:
Start reading: The E Myth by Michael Gerber Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill There are others that are also very good: Great source of books: http://www.tremendouslifebooks.net/ Last bit of advice: Don't listen to anyone poorer or "more messed up" than you. Many aspiring entrepreneurs / business owners get the dream of business ownership in their head and then go and talk to the most negative person that they know and allow that individual to "barf" all over their idea/dream. If you want a real opinion, go find someone who is successful in business, particularly the type of business that you want to get into and see if they will let you ask them some questions. Most good entrepreneurs are encouraging to those who are sincere about getting ahead. Best Wishes to you! Good advice. May I add that you should join or form a Mastermind group. This will put you far ahead of your competition. The details are in "Think and Grow Rich".... |
|
You have to find your own drive because everyone's is different. I like to read and surround myself with like minded people. Realistically you need to either be extremely passionate about your business or a little bit greedy (I am a little of both). You may be sick of minimum wage but are you sick enough of minimum wage to really sacrifice for your dream? Most people aren't. If you are then you already have the drive or the will to make it work.
The E-Myth is a great book. In fact, I need to re-read it. The most important thing that you have to have as a business owner is the WILL to make it work no matter what. There are a lot of extrodinarily smart people in the world who have a lot of money from whatever job they have that couldn't run their own company. Why? Because they can find every way that it won't work. There isn't anything wrong with playing a little devil's advocate, but you can't let yourself get to the point of analysis paralysis. This is the stage where you research and research and research so much that you never get around to doing anything to make your dream come true. Figure out what you don't know and find someone who does. Depending on the type of business that you are starting you might need different professionals to help you set it up correctly. For instance, an accountant, attorney or an insurance guy (shameless plug from insurance guy). Once you feel like you understand what you are getting into then pull the trigger (little gun humor) and never look back. Also, keep a notebook of all of the negative things that people say to you. That way, whenever they ask you for a job in your business you can remind them how bad of an idea your business is
Last but not least, keep in mind that most businesses fail because they are undercapitalized. Depending on the business you may want to find a partner or find someone who has a business like the one you want to run and see if you can work your way into an ownership role. There are some old people in this world that want to retire but they need a successor in their company if they are going to go anywhere. If you have a special skill set, find a business broker in your area and ask for their help. A friend of mine has put a couple of young guys in a company that are capable of running a business and they end up buying the current owner out over time with money from the existing business that already has cash flow. Good luck. |