A lion only hunts when it is hungry
Have you ever wanted to do something, but, you just weren't motivated to do it, keep doing it, or you just forgot about it?
I think we have all been frustrated with ourselves with our lack of motivation.
That's the word. Motivation.
Artists & Screen writers have muses.
Musicians might want groupies, fame, music or expressing their tortured past.
Why are you wanting to get into business? Money, independence, customer relationships, sales, be your own boss?
My motivations were pretty clear. My energy and hope were heightened while those reasons existed.
I wanted to;
Challenge myself. I was always talking and talking at work. I could appear to be a "people person". My work was mainly warehouse/admin, so I looked forward to applying a combination of my admin skills with sales.
Opportunity. I had met people who were willing to support my business. They were willing to be my first customers.
Time was right. I didn't have children yet. Children consume alot of time and I was right into my business until my 2nd child. That, and receiving a promotion at work, made it time poor to keep running my business at the same level.
Market is right. The growth in the industry was good. There wasn't too much competition & your price point could be maintained more easily. I had access to many suppliers who were all offering me attractive pricing to get my business.
Capital. You need a little bit of money behind you. I didn't have alot of spare money. So, I picked an industry that didn't need alot of money. I could run the business with minimal overheads, no rent, office or storage costs.
You will have many detractors when you first begin.
The support will not be enough to carry you through the hard days. That is why you need to be clear on your motivations.
Any change you make is like the ripple of a pebble dropeed into a pond. It affects those around you. People can be jealous. People can look down on your new change.
To be honest, none of my friends or family bought product from me!
I gave a business card to a friend since childhood and he, literally, laughed in my face. "You're running a business?"
He was a friend who wanted the status quo. If I changed, and he didn't, then was he falling behind?
My family were all concerned.
My mother asked how my business worked. I said, I buy something for $1, I sell it for $1.20.
Her reply, "That's too risky. What if the customer doesn't pay?"
My parents are not risk takers.
My partner didn't like the idea too.
That's why having your motivations is important. Oh, you'll get support. Normally, from people you didn't think would support you. Family & friends will come around once they realise that you are not detered. They really do care about you.
So, you must persevere and you need to be motivated.
It is not a nice feeling being rejected by "potential customers". It takes timing. It takes perseverence.
And just like playing a musical instrument, eventually, you get better. You stop pressing the wrong keys, hitting the wrong note, and you start to get an idea of what is required in your business model.
You'll make mistakes. The financial mistakes are the hardest to make up ground on. The relationship mistakes can cost you a customer.
But, when you are beginning, you don't have customers to lose.
So, the only way is forward.
Before I go, I'll provide a weird example.
Aussies will moan ... John Howard... was my idea for perseverence.
(I don't agree with his politics and actions, but he did persevere)
There were many times that he could have just given up. He had some horrible experiences in his political career. In the end, he became Prime Minister of Australia. (Our version of President).
If you are willing to chip away... then by all means, give it a go.
