Don't just be a WANTEPRENEUR - 5 steps to kickstarting your entrepreneurial journey

If you want to have things you’ve have never had before, you got to do things, you’ve never done before – Brad Sugars

How true is that?

Daily, we expect things to happen to us. We want, we desire, we hope. But our biggest want is to get everything without going out of our comfort zone. We want new results by doing the same old things.

In my work of business re-education, I speak to a lot of individuals who WANT to become entrepreneurs but say things like – ‘I have been an operation professional all my life, I don’t know anything about sales & marketing,’ or ‘The world is hit by pandemic – how can I think of even starting a business!’ Or ‘ I carry years of experience and don’t need to learn anything new to advise people’ or, ‘ I want to start a business which has no risks involved,’ or ‘The market is too competitive,‘ and so the list goes on and on.

We’re looking for excuses when we should look for reasons!

I’ve worked with hundreds of business experts and the fundamental truth of business is - it's never a bad time to start/run a business unless you’re starting a mediocre business. And I bet that no matter what stage of your career or venture you’re at – you are dreaming of more than mediocre. So quit your fear, and your comfort zone, and follow these 5 steps to unleash your entrepreneurial zeal.

Train your Mind – If everyone has the mindset to do what they have never done, they would be able to realize dreams that they never thought would be possible.

An entrepreneur is someone who makes things possible, someone who believes in their ability to learn, grow, adapt, and succeed. If you are not open to learning or trying out new things you will always end up only wishing for things.

Start by educating yourself every day, by learning new skills, and by training your mind.

To do: Follow your beliefs. Practice, I AM statements. Most importantly don’t let your mind tell you it’s not possible.

Follow your passion: Find a business or even an aspect of your business that you’re passionate about. Not only will this help you override fears, doubts, and anxieties but it will also help you live bigger and better.

If you are in business purely for your passion, you will find a way to make it happen – even your struggles will energize you! Pick up any biography of an entrepreneur – you’ll find that passion is the secret sauce in their recipe for success.

To do: Pick up a biography of an entrepreneur

Set Micro Goals: Having a goal is one thing. Having a real goal is another.

We may have big dreams, but we should start with small steps. Often, we need to break down our goals into small, achievable elements. A goal is just a wish until it's documented.

If you are setting a goal, you need to undergo a step-by-step process. You will not achieve your major goal if you cannot achieve the micro-goals that constitute it. The more granular the goal, the more likely you are to achieve it. This also helps you build confidence and gives you a grounded understanding of everything that makes a business work!

So set small goals, knock them off and see everything working out.

To Do: Write down your goals, review them, break them down into steps & create a week on week on ActionPlan

Don’t Shy Away from Sales & Marketing: This is where you get the cash for your business so why shy away. If you want to be a business owner, you need to learn sales & marketing.

Marketing doesn’t just reach the external audience. Your first audience is employees and investors. As an entrepreneur, you need to lead the way. For any product or service to be successful, it needs conviction, and the conviction comes from the owner himself. If you don’t demonstrate that passion in front of your team, they will never be able to deliver in the ways that you need.

So having a marketing & sales mindset is very important. This means the power of persuasion and conviction.

To do: Network. Invest in creating thought through sales processes and have the right team for marketing. Don’t question your team about why sales are not happening, help them with scripts, conversion techniques to overcome the challenges. Practice feedback from your customer, understand their requirements. When you practice the above -you build on your niche.

To be good at sales & marketing doesn’t mean you need to have that background, all its needs are awareness, listening skills, and conviction.

Don’t treat your business as a Side Gig: Every working professional seems to be thinking about side gigs – whether in terms of offering services or products. This might seem safe and smart, but rarely does it result in scale.

Remember there are part-time jobs but no such thing as a Part-time business. You must commit.

Invest your time & energy, build it, bring in predictable cash flow, bring in the systems and the right team to run it for you. You will thank yourself when the business returns your investment.

To do: If in business, stay committed!

To be successful in business, you need to understand who you are and what you can do. You don’t have to be any 1 or fire the biggest guns to add value to other lives through your product & services.

Finally, remember that you are not alone. There is a whole community out there that is willing to stand with you. And if you want to talk shop with me, so am I.

It's hard work but you can do it.

 As Gary Vaynerchuk says – 'Stop doing the shit you hate. It’s fun to be in the shit when it’s the shit you like being in.'