You have now steeled your nerves. You are convinced that your idea would “fly” if you would make the ultimate commitment to it. You have done the research and run the numbers. You even know that there is a whole lot that you don’t know – but you are determined to learn as you go. You approach the edge of the metaphorical business pool and you get those same feelings you get every time you come this far:
1. What if I find out I really can’t swim
2. What if my water wings don’t hold me up (in other words, what if my network of supporters; friends, family, others are not up to the job of saving me when I need to be saved)
3. What do I do if I get tired
4. It is awfully deep and I am not so sure I can stand up and still breathe
5. It is much colder than it looks when I see all the others splashing and having fun, am I the only one who feels it
6. I wish my Mother/Father were in the pool to catch me!
Relax and take a deep breath. I don’t know if you really can swim (we have never met) and I can’t vouch for the water temperature either. But I can tell you that every (and I do mean every) person in the business pool before you (and all the ones lining up behind you) have asked themselves the very same questions that you are asking right now. It is not only expected, but if you did NOT ask the questions, it would be of greater concern than the fact that you are raising the questions.
So, how do you finally make that decision to get in the business pool? The same way you entered the swimming pool. Some people will stand at the stairs and dip their toes in and very slowly enter the pool (start small, slowly build the business from an occasional pursuit to a frequent activity to a level where it can replace and not just supplement other household income). Others will be pushed into the pool (there was always the bully who pushed people in whether they wanted to go in or not…only now we call some of them former bosses at the company we used to work for until they laid us off or fired us). Still others will voluntarily throw caution to the wind and leap or dive in of their own volition.
Your style and preferences may determine how you know when it is time, or circumstances may dictate when you make that decision. Regardless of how you come to that conclusion that it is time to start your business – rest assured that once in the water you will find yourself paddling furiously to stay afloat and to move away from the wall and at other times you will tread water and hope that either a wave helps push you back to the safety of the wall or a kindly hand reaches out to you to assist. No matter what, it is our hope that in short order you find yourself calling out to others looking jealously at you in the water and wishing they could be where you are, “come on in…the water is fine!”
David Zahn is the author of two books, "How To Succeed As An Independent Consultant, 4th Ed." and "The Quintessential Guide To Using Consultants," as well as authoring and contributing to numerous articles in publications such as, BusinessWeekOnline, Entrepreneur, Training & Development, BrandWeek, CTPostOnline, among others. He is also the President of StartUpBuilder.Com a subscription-based website that assists small business owners and entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. For a free "business readiness assessment" please visit http://www.startupbuilder.com.
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