By: John Glover (MBA)
Being an entrepreneur means having a personalized toolbox that will bring you success. To start a small business, you need to have grit and guts to reach the finish line. You can’t just expect your business to build and grow itself. You have to be ready physically and mentally to take on this challenge because you never know what might come your way. The business world is full of obstacles and roadblocks, and being a hard worker is the only way to come out on the other side. Having the resources and the motivation to keep going are the necessary tools you need to build a successful business from the ground up.
Unfortunately, not everyone reaches their goal of starting a small business. Life gets in the way, and maybe they were not as prepared for it as they thought. The reality is that when starting a small business, a lot of unexpected obstacles get in the way. Research shows that nearly 70% of small businesses will fail before they reach the 10-year mark, and more than 50% fail within the first five years. It’s not uncommon for a small business to go under. To set yourself apart from the crows, you have to stay persistent even when things get tough.
“It is not all smooth sailing, and a lot of times, there are roadblocks in the way that is out of your control. Understanding that not everything will happen the way you want it to is important because then you might not get hung up on the little things. There will be times when you get frustrated and feel like taking the easy way out, but you have to stay strong and remember why you started doing this in the first place,” says Corey Pearson, Chief Quilt Artist and Brand Ambassador at Linda’s.
Being proactive and understanding that mistakes are inevitable will set you on the right path. Staying organized and having smooth internal operations will give you the chance to adapt when things get out of your control. When chaos ensues, that’s when things start to fall apart. Small businesses can be tricky, but you have to work hard on all levels to be successful; it doesn’t just happen.
A lot of the time, when mistakes or setbacks happen it’s all a part of the process. Your business and you as an entrepreneur cannot grow if you don’t fail a little. Putting in extra hours, getting advice from other business owners, and speaking to your target consumers can help you get a little more insight on how to improve. There is no manual on how to be successful, you just have to work hard to get there.
“Once you get through the obstacles and small setbacks, you will feel much more confident in your abilities as an entrepreneur. You cannot grow until you fail a little, so remember that it’s normal to have mistakes or errors. Everyone goes through it, but it’s how you handle it that really matters. Believing in yourself and your abilities is the key to success and making it to the finish line,” Pearson says.
Don’t forget why you started this business in the first place. You probably had a bright idea and wanted to make an impact on the community. Your heart is in the right place, and persistence is key to staying motivated and inspired. You have the skills and ability to put your dreams in motion, but you have to keep putting in the work to see the reward.
Owning a small business is no easy feat; numbers show that it’s not for everyone. It takes guts to put yourself out there and work towards your goals, and it takes even more guts to keep pushing when the going gets tough. Understanding that things are out of your control can help you take back some of that control because you can feel confident and motivated to work harder. Obstacles are inevitable, but being a hard worker means pushing yourself every day.
Published by: Holy Minoza
