Start Your New Business TODAY
Copyright (c) 2003 by Angela Booth
The right time to start your new business is right now. Today.
Whenever I suggest that to someone who's going to start their new
business "soon", I get a variety of replies, mostly prefaced by
"yes, but".
Yes, but I have to get my business cards printed. Yes, but I
don't have a business plan. Yes, but I don't have the time right
now. Yes, but I'm (or my wife) is pregnant.
All of which tells me that this person is waiting for some
magical time in the future, when the conditions will be exactly
right, and when they'll have all the time, confidence, and
expertise they'll ever need.
Unfortunately, that time will never come. The conditions will
never be exactly what you want them to be. You'll never have all
the time you need, and you get confidence and expertise by
doing, not by thinking and studying.
There are only four things you need to start your business today.
Here they are:
=> You need to know what you're going to sell
What product or service will you sell? If you're a writer, you'll
be selling both your products and your services. You'll have a
line of books and ebooks you've written, plus articles you've
written, and you'll also sell your writing services.
If you're selling your services, you need to be competent enough
to know what you're doing, but assuming that you are, once you
know what services you're going to sell, get to work and sell.
If you're selling someone else's products, you need to get those
products at a good price, and work out how much you're going to
charge for them.
If you know what you're going to sell (even if there are problems
and things you haven't quite straightened out yet), make a phone
call to a potential client, place an ad in the paper, call people
in the same business you're in and tell them you're available if
they want to sub-contract work to you.
You just need to get started. Twenty years ago Bill Gates of
Microsoft fame sold DOS (Disk Operating System) before he'd even
created the system. He just did it.
No, you don't need to get business cards printed, and you don't
need to have a business plan. Not right now, not today. You might
want to get these items, but you don't need them today. Just go
ahead and sell.
=> You need the determination to just do it, no matter what
Working in your own business is basically no different from
working for someone else, but you'll have a stricter boss.
If you're working for someone else, moonlighting in your own
business for a year or two is ideal. Your primary employment
keeps the wolf from the door, so you'll be able to relax because
your bills will get paid. However, it's vital that you treat your
moonlighting efforts as if you were working in a second job.
That is, you need to show up on time, you need to put in a set
number of hours, you need to work when you've got a headache,
when you're not in the mood, when you'd rather be watching TV or
going to the movies or taking your children to soccer practice.
=> You need courage
Many people want to start their own business. Few actually do it.
And fewer still stick with it for more than a year or two.
Starting and running your own business takes courage. You need to
believe in yourself. How do you get that belief?
You get it by being scared, and doing what you need to do anyway.
Courage isn't being fearless, it's acting in spite of your fear.
=> You need to shut up
DO NOT talk about what you're going to do, or are doing.
Everyone, from your family and friends to the most casual of
acquaintances will take immense pleasure in telling you why your
business won't work. They'll tell you in extreme detail, too.
Take the attitude that if they're not funding your business,
their opinions and advice are irrelevant.
None of these people mean to hurt you or your new business, but
they will. Why? Because explaining yourself and your plans takes
energy. You can put that energy to much better use in by quietly
working in your business.
If you need advice, talk to someone who's SUCCESSFULLY doing what
you want to do. You may need to pay for their advice. If so, look
on it as money well spent.
Good luck, and remember that today is the day. You'll never get a
better day to start your business.
***Resource box: if using, please include***
Veteran multi-published author and copywriter Angela Booth crafts
words for your business --- words to sell, educate or persuade.
E-books and e-courses on Web site.
FREE ezines for writers and small biz:
http://www.digital-e.biz/ About the Author
Writer, journalist and author Angela Booth has been writing for print and online venues for over 25 years. She also writes copy for businesses.
