"We need to know where we are sailing and who the captain is before we can pack our ship."
How do you know if you have what it takes? How do you know if the time is right?
This is where I come in. The first step we go through is determining your strengths and weaknesses. Do you really know your business self? We will make sure that you are clear about who you are in business. We will identify what you want from your business. I have seen many small business owners go into business with an "I'm going to pull myself up by my bootstraps" approach and stay stuck in a work harder to get more mindset. While I am not saying that you won't have to give it your all at times, I am also saying that keeping a balanced approach to your business will make business growth/scale easier, and be less taxing on your personal life. So we will start with getting clear on the balance required for you to maintain sanity and begin your endeavor.
You may need to upskill, partner, or hire to fill in your areas of weakness. Do you know what your strengths and weaknesses in business are? Have you ever worked in the type of business you are starting? Do you tend to be better at the big picture or details? Both are equally important. Most of us aren't good at both. How do you fill in the gaps?
Are you a dreamer wanting to start a business you are romantic about? Have you daydreamed about it? Are you willing to make compromises when the business requires it? Are you willing to change to be competitive and stay "in the black" as they say? Will those sacrifices be worth owning a business? That's a very personal question and one that you should carefully examine before investing your time and money. Business ownership isn't for everyone. Identifying a structure that capitalizes on your strengths and factors for your weaknesses will give you the clearest idea of what the road ahead will look like.
Many business consultants focus primarily on the idea of the business. I am a pragmatist. And I am also a huge believer that confidence sells/creates success. A great idea with the wrong captain at the helm will never arrive. A half-baked idea with a great captain will eventually drown the captain. Yes, starting a business is about lists and productivity. It is also about belief in an idea. For small start-ups, in the beginning, you are the business. You matter just as much as the idea. Once you have identified your business self, confirmed your commitment to your business, and carefully crafted your role in the business- your confidence will be contagious. That's when we start.
