We are in the process of buying another business and we aren’t ready. We own five businesses and are overwhelmed and overworked. Our finances aren’t perfect, our businesses aren’t perfect, we have three young children…we have too much going on.
Yet, we are doing it anyway. We are going to take the leap.
What I have learned over the last 8 years is this:
You will never be “ready” to be an entrepreneur.
- You will never have enough money in the bank.
- You will never have enough staff.
- You will never have enough time.
- You will never have the perfect “work/life balance”.
- You will never have enough bankers to back you.
- You will never have the perfect cash flow.
- You will never have the right business plan.
- You will never have the full support of your peer group or your family.
If you wait for all of the stars to align you will be on your deathbed waiting for the “right moment”.
#entrepreneur move: Force the stars to align
Bottom line is that as an entrepreneur you aren’t signing up for perfection. You are signing up to maintain vision, you are signing up for serious hard work and you are signing up for a lot of hustle…..and some fun too.
When you commit to being an entrepreneur you are simply committing to the game of “figuring it out”.
The hardest mental game of being an entrepreneur is blocking out everyone’s poor advice and conservative opinions. You must remember that the people that tell you “no” are NOT ENTREPRENEURS. They just don’t get it. Their worldview is clouded by their own worries and insecurities and fears. They have their own risk-tolerance that is different than yours and they are trying to impose it on you.
That is ok for them, but it is not ok for you.
The name of the entrepreneur game is to move forward even when you aren’t ready.
Consultants will tell you it is risky. Bankers will tell you that you don’t have enough collateral. Your parents will tell you that you need more savings. Your friends will tell you about their other friends that started businesses and failed.
Everyone will tell you not to start your big idea….but remember this:
Consultants are not entrepreneurs. Bankers are not entrepreneurs. Your parents are not entrepreneurs. Your friends are not entrepreneurs. They don’t own businesses and don’t aspire to….thus their opinions are just that: opinions.
So, what do you do? You nod your head, smile and say “I hear you” and then you put your headphones on, open your computer, and get to work.
When I started Sample Supports everyone told me not to do it. We were in a recession. Our rates were undergoing a significant cut. There were too many competitors. I had already failed with a previous business. Mark and I had just bought our first house and had a mortgage to maintain. It wasn’t the right time. We weren’t ready.
I decided to do it anyway (luckily my husband actively supports me). When I called to get my application to start I was literally told by the administrative clerk: “You know, this is a really bad time for our industry and we would suggest you don’t try to get started at this time.”
I asked for the application anyway.
That person on the phone wasn’t an entrepreneur. She didn’t have a clue, but it gave me that much more ammunition to prove her wrong.
What happened? Our revenues grew by 630% in a downturned market with funding cuts and the recession. We expanded to 3 regions, built four other businesses and built ourselves into a profitable growing company. Eight years later we are now we are buying another business to add to our expanding empire….though I’m still not “ready”.
“Leap and the net will appear”
….just be prepared to build your net and build it quickly.
I’m not ready for our new endeavor. I never will be. I’m just going to go ahead and do it anyway. I will take the leap for the fun of it.
I have my earphones and my computer and that is all I need.
#watchmework while I build my net.