How to get Started

"Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect." ​- Alan Cohen

​Have you ever been in a situation when you weren't completely sure which option was the best? Or maybe the comfort you were experiencing was just so comfortable you never wanted to leave it! These feelings  can be very similar to what you might feel when starting your own business.

The first step is always the most difficult. How do I start? Who can I turn to for help? Where can I find the answers? Thankfully, we live in an age when a lot of our questions can be answered through a simple Internet search. However, even with the guidance of the all-knowing Internet, the process can still be overwhelming; and can leave you feeling like you're standing on the edge of a cliff. So, how do you overcome those fears and move away from that doozy effect? Listed below are 5 steps to overcoming the fears of starting your own business.

1) Embrace your Fears

The fears of starting your own company can be very broad, and are quite unique to the person. Common fears include failing; being criticized by family and friends; not knowing all the answers; or not knowing what you want to do. These are all valid fears, but they don't have to be debilitating. In fact, these fears can help motivate you, and even  improve your skills as a business owner! By embracing your fears, you can improve your confidence; establish a firm understanding of your goals and objectives; and learn to overcome adversity. When you choose to embrace your fears, you are choosing to fight for what you want. As a business owner, your business is definitely worth the fight!

2) Make your Company a Priority

We've all uttered the statement, "I just don't have the time". While this might seem very realistic, it may not always be a true. Think about everything you do throughout your day: go to work, clean the house, pickup the kids from school, pay bills, go grocery shopping, visit family members, plan business meetings, organize school events, participate in community service projects (and I'm sure you can continue the list). What makes those projects more doable than others? That's an easy answer: Either they are important to you, or you see them as a responsibility you must fulfill. Taking a step back from the situation, you'll be able to see there are a lot of hours during a day when you can be productive and pursue the things that matter most to you. Instead of saying, "I just don't have the time", challenge yourself to say, "It's not a priority"; and determine if you need to redistribute your time in order to make your company a top priority.

3) Take Baby Steps

In the movie What About Bob there's a scene when Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) and Bob Wiley (Bill Murray) discuss how Bob can work to overcome his anxiety. The end-result being take baby steps. Bob comes to the realization that, "all I have to do, is take one little step at a time, and I can do anything". What does this mean for a business owner like yourself? It's simple, really: take your time, pay attention to details, and everything will fall into place when necessary. Taking baby steps will ensure all details are monitored and reviewed as required. While it is easy to fall into a groove that influences you to rush to the finish line, it is important to take your time and assess each step you take, making sure all aspects of your company are aligned to result in ultimate success.

​4) Start at the Beginning

A driving force to starting your own business is to establish financial independence and stability. This aspect isn't going to be immediately evident; therefore, a better approach is to start from the beginning. What is your dream? What have you always wanted to do? After you've answered those questions, take a look at what has been holding you back. Think about what you need in order to achieve your professional goals, and then consider how you would go about acquire the necessary resources to pursue those goals. Do you need specific licensing? What kind of business model should you follow? Are you able to achieve your goals by yourself, or will you need a team of specialists to assist in your pursuits? Once you've established the foundation of your path, the remaining details will present themselves.

5) Patience Really is a Virtue

When starting a business, being patient might be the most difficult characteristic to control, especially if you have an ambitious personality and are eager to make your company a success. The most interesting aspect of this step is that it combines the previous steps. As a small business owner, you will regularly experience obstacles until you have stabilized your company. You will face your fears on what may be a daily basis. Fortunately, if you make your company a priority and take baby steps toward your dreams and goals, you will be able to effectively overcome your obstacles and fears. Each day you turn off your alarm and turn on your computer you must start at the beginning! Know who you want to reach during that day; have a plan for that day with any understanding of what you want to accomplish; and be patient with the progress that you will make. "Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying, 'If I had five minutes to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first three sharpening my ax'" (Quote Investigator, 2014).

When the time comes, you'll understand how to apply each of these steps. Keep them in mind, take them into consideration, and apply them as necessary for you and your business. These approaches have been tested and proven to assist small business owners in making effective decisions for their companies, while continuing to drive their businesses toward growth and success.

Brandon has been focusing his attention on the world of small business since 2007, and admires the strength and dedication it takes for small business owners to mold and grow their dream into something they only ever imagined. The blogs provided on the EC Sales website are created from his personal experiences within the world of small business, and he shares them as a way of offering support and insight into what he thinks makes the best...the best