You hear a lot of people say, “Just go for it.” Well, that is certainly easier said than done. Making the big leap from employee to entrepreneur is not really as simple as it sounds. Yes, success in entrepreneurship is very possible because a lot of people before us have made it, but make sure that you have carefully thought of everything.
If you are keen on taking the big leap, here are some things to keep in mind:
Determine What You Really Want
Do you see yourself taking on this business for weeks, months or years in the future? When starting your own business, there is more to it than just passion. Think about your capabilities, skills, experiences and values, and if will all these help you achieve what you really want to do.
Find the Right Mentor
While it is definitely possible to start your own business without asking anyone for help, it can sometimes lead to several wasted time, resources and effort. If you know someone who has done it before and is successful at it, then it would be wise to seek help and guidance. We don’t just learn from our own experiences but also from the experiences of others.
Start Small
Sometimes, we will never really know if a business will work if we don’t try it. However, you certainly don’t want to risk everything in your first try. What you can do is to start small first, which is possible while you are still in your current job. This will give you an opportunity to test the waters before plunging in.
In addition, starting small allows you to assess feedbacks from clients. This will also help you determine which areas need to be improved or maintained just to make sure that your business is all ready when you finally decide to go bigger.
Prepare Your Resources
Obviously, you will not be able to start a business without the needed resources. Make sure you have the funds and an emergency pool to back you up in case things go haywire. In relation to starting small, you can first try out day offices or a coworking space in Washington, DC to maximize your resources.
Finally, don’t burn the ship just to get on a boat. Do not just quit your job to start a business, especially when you have a family to support. If you can free up time in your day job to build your side business, do so first. And when your business is giving you more than your day job and is stable enough, you can then decide to burn the ship, or not; it is still your choice. Just make sure that during the process of building your business, nothing is compromised especially the hand that feeds you.
These are some of the things you need to consider before making that big leap from employee to entrepreneur. And if you are ready for your own workspace on demand on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, DC, Metro Offices is the team to call.