You have just started a new business, and you are excited. You no longer need to work for someone else. You’re on your own. You’re the boss. Even your spouse is excited that you are doing something you have wanted to do. Then, a few months pass, and you haven’t made a dime in your business.
Suddenly, you feel the stress of business ownership. Suppliers are calling asking for their money. You have already dwindled a good portion of your savings into the spending for your business. Your spouse is less confident, and your friends are all telling you to throw in the towel. They are saying that you gave it your best shot, but it’s time to find a regular job.
Many would follow this advice and let the business fold. However, people who make it in business stick it out for one reason – they believe in what they are doing. They know that the concept will eventually work. They just need to stick it out. It’s this resolve that allows them to succeed.
Of course, just putting in the time and doing busy work is not going to advance your business. You need to have a solid foundation at the start. You should set up a roadmap or business plan that answers questions about how you will make your business work. You should treat this process as though you are going to raise venture capital funds, even if you aren’t. Try to put yourself in the position of a venture capital entrepreneur and ask tough questions of yourself for your business.
Consider making an alternate plan in case your main plan falls short of your goals. You might fail for any number of reasons and having a backup plan is a wise move to counter any problems.
Once your foundation is in place, you simply need to take a leap of faith and believe that you can make it work. If anyone challenges you, such as your spouse or your friends, you can have the conviction to see it through because you believe in yourself. There is no guarantee that you will succeed. However, there is a guarantee that you won’t succeed if you give up too soon. Often, success is right around the corner for those who have that conviction and are willing to continue despite all the challenges they face. You can be one of the few who makes it if you choose to take this route.