Are some individuals “born” entrepreneurs? Maybe, but maybe not. There are business owners out there who have no family role models to emulate who are successful business owners. There are other individuals who come from a long line of entrepreneurs and who are happy being an employee. Whether you’re born into it or take to business ownership naturally, here are some signs you may want to consider to see if you might be an entrepreneur:
You’re always looking for a way to build a better widget.
You have confidence and get the job done even if it looks like nothing is going right.
You have passion to pursue what you love.
Taking “no” for an answer isn’t in your nature.
You are a connector and can connect individuals from disparate industries and find synergy.
You’ve always wanted a commute in which you could wear your bedroom slippers!
You simply were not a good employee. You know who you are if you fit that description. You were bored. Couldn’t hold a job. Moved from position to position. It was because you had the entrepreneurial spirit and probably didn’t even know it.
If you’re struggling to find your place with your employer, perhaps your place is being your own boss!
Co-working or co-work spaces are becoming one of the latest buzzwords and ways of work in many industries. Co-working spaces are those areas in which entrepreneurs gather to work. It is a way to get a space outside of a home office and it also offers the feeling of “working with a team” or in a team environment even though all who use the co-working spaces are pursuing their own business endeavors.
When you’re trying to decide if co-working is an option for you here are some items to consider.
Ask what amenities the co-working space provides. Some offer a kitchen space, access to internet, a meeting room or two, office equipment and private offices.
Do you often need a place to meet customers and you don’t want them to come to your home or you’re looking to elevate your business profile to one that is more professional than meeting at the local Starbucks? Then a co-working space might be for you.
Do you have to make a long term commitment or can you drop by and pay a rental fee and have a space for a day?
Are you looking for ways to grow your own business network? A co-working environment might offer that. Remember, though the individuals at the co-working space might just be there to work without the distractions of a coffee shop or their house and may not be amenable to chatting and networking.
Look for a co-working space that fits your personality and your work style. Some may be loud and the look industrial. Others may have a more corporate look and feel that may not mesh with your creative, artsy business.
Before you make a commitment to a co-working space, check it out for a day. Ask what the ongoing fees are and whether it’s less expensive to pre-pay. Do you have to pay for any of the amenities – making copies, having coffee, using the internet, etc. As with anything you do in your business, prior research makes sense so you can discover whether it’s a fit for you and your unique business.
When starting a business, naturally you need drive and a “great idea.” You also need other items such as resources and the ability to push through the negatives that pop up. You have to know how to make a sale but before that you need to know what you’re selling, to whom and why your ideal client wants what you’re offering and where to find them.
What can you do to help assure your success as an entrepreneur? Here are some things to consider:
You need to have focus.
You need to be willing to take the baby steps necessary toward the large steps.
You have to know how to set realistic goals and what tasks you need to complete to achieve those goals.
You need to have financial resources in place to support yourself during what could be lean start up times.
You should have access to a mentor or a support group of like-minded entrepreneurs who are as committed to your success as you are to theirs. Do not operate in a vacuum.
Look at your resources before you make the leap into being a business owner. Some of the resources are tangible and others are “idea driven” resources. We offer a membership to the Pool Genius Academy in which we host weekly Pool Genius Academy webinars aimed at growing your business. Check it out here.
Entrepreneurs typically burn the candle at both ends. This also comes with the impact of burning out. Even though I work all hours and many days of the week, I still find time to care for myself. Why? The biggest reason is that as an entrepreneur who is juggling many balls at once, I have to stay healthy and viable to keep juggling!
Here are some tips for the overworked business owner to help you take control of your life and work and get it back in balance:
Prioritize the week ahead. Write down everything you need to/want to accomplish for the entire week. Parcel those items out over the course of the week as a way to not be overworked on Monday and twiddling your thumbs on Thursday.
If you have deadlines approaching, work on the project in pieces, don’t put it off until the last minute because you “work best under pressure.” That is a lie many people tell themselves to justify procrastination.
What can you delegate? Is social media not your forte? Outsource it! Do you dread bookkeeping and accounting? Hire an accountant to take that task off your hands so you can focus on your core competency.
Do you need to say “yes” to everything? If a project comes across your desk you aren’t obligated to accept it. If, however, you want to build a relationship with that person, find business partners with whom you can team up to refer business to. It’s a great way to stay involved, but not having to do a project. Referral partners are a great way to grow a business.
Get an accountability partner or a mentor — someone who can help keep you on track, brainstorm with you and share triumphs and frustrations with.
What do you do to get out of the office and take care of your physical and mental health?
Are you a morning person? I can hear the groans across the Internet of those who say they do not embrace the morning hours. Let’s just change the headline a bit for those of you who don’t embrace the morning to be, “Success habits to perform before you start your workday.” Less limiting?
Some of these habits I perform before I close my office door at night, others I perform in the morning before jumping into client work. Here are my success habits:
Have a plan for the day. If you don’t plan it’s easy to have the day pass and you have not accomplished what you’d set out to do that day. Write down what your to-dos are and keep them in sight. Cross them off once they’re complete.
Get out and exercise. I try to walk or rock climb or swim every morning before I begin my workday. It’s important as an entrepreneur to get exercise and stay healthy both physically and mentally. Plan daily to get exercise — whatever kind suits you best.
Address family issues. If you have children that need your attention before they head off to school, take care of them and what they need. Remember, you need to embrace what’s important and that is family as much as your business.
Touch your email only once. If you read an email, then act on it. Don’t flag it or file it and come back to it later. Address it and move on.
Take a moment to meditate. Throughout the day, step away from the computer and go to a quiet place to simply relax and rejuvenate your mind. That time away — even if it’s only five minutes — will help energize you to get back to your to-do list.
Do you keep to yourself at networking events? Do you find it difficult to “toot your own horn” and share your accomplishments with peers? If you said yes to either, you need to work on ways to boost your business confidence. Walking into a meeting with a confident swagger and a firm handshake will not only make you appear confident but could instill confidence in a potential client and make them want to work with you!
How can you boost your confidence? Here are some tips:
Know what your area of expertise is and own it. Success isn’t just because you’re in the right place at the right time (yes, for some it might be, but for most it’s hard work that elevates us).
You don’t have to be perfect. If you offer a deliverable to a client and he asks for a tweak or two that doesn’t mean he didn’t like what your proffered, it just meant he wanted a tweak.
It’s all right to be afraid. We all get nervous on occasion and that’s fine. That’s normal. The most confident of people do something that scares them every week. Why? Because they challenge themselves. They aren’t complacent. Embrace the fear and conquer it.
If you find that you’re not confident on a product or service that you’re offering, take a step back and figure out why. Do you need more information or training? Reach out and get it. There is no reason you can’t take an online course to bump up your skills.
Make certain the goals you set are achievable. Yes, it’s good to push yourself, but if you’re pushing beyond a limit of what you can ever hope to achieve or accomplish, scale them back. Don’t coast, but set goals you can meet.
What holds you back from being the most confident business person you can be?
