starting up a small business

GET FIRED (up)!

I like to ask people if they like what they do. For many in the corporate world, I get answers like, “Oh, it pays the bills,” or “It’s okay I guess.”

Or, the lamest of lame, “I have good benefits.”

Sadly, having good benefits often outweighs being satisfied with your job, which is where you spend most of your day and most of your life.

So it goes without saying (one would think), if you’re starting up a small business it’s got to be something that inspires you.

Because let’s face it. Life is too short for half-measures. If you’re going to take the risk of starting up a small business – of putting yourself and your product or service out there – you’d better feel pretty darn good about it.

If you’re not fired up about your business, here's what will happen:

1) Your clients and prospects will sense your hesitation and it will affect how they perceive you – and thus how your business is perceived.

2) You will quickly tire of the commitment required to build your business and you’ll want to quit.

Why would I bother to point this out to you, you ask? Because believe it or not, I run into people who are not inspired by what they do. Even some entrepreneurs give a lukewarm response when it comes to talking about their businesses.

Sometimes they’re in it for the wrong reason (they just want to make money off of anyone they meet and they’re not interested in building relationships or contributing to others).

Oftentimes they’re just not projecting the confidence needed to inspire others to work with them.

So ask yourself, does your business jibe with who you are and what you’re good at?

For example, “I like to help people, I’m good at communicating and I like to influence people's opinions. Hey, maybe I should be a writer!”

Or “I love sharing my recipes with others and I would love to spend the whole day in the kitchen. I should open that bakery I’ve been talking about for the past ten years.”

See what else is out there. See what’s similar to what you want to do. See if there’s any aspect of your idea that can be more narrowly “niche” focused, and therefore more competitive, and thus more apt to excite you.

(Explore your passions and brainstorm ways to actually make money from things that EXCITE you. Imagine that! Here's a place to explore the profitability of your passion.)

If you’re plagued with self-doubt and it’s killing your inspiration, that’s a natural part of the process. You’ve never done this before so of course you’re uncertain.

What if you can’t get any customers or clients? What if people say no? What if you fail and have to go back to your J-O-B?

Allow these questions to come up. Acknowledge the fear (which is often a disguise for excitement).

Let people know you’re starting up a small business and get used to hearing yourself talk about your ideas. Stand behind your initial inspiration and motivation. Ignore the naysayers.

Whatever it is for you, get…fired…up!

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