Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am just about ready to launch my new shower and glass business. I have my business license, my insurance is in the bag, I have a bookkeeper and a great partner.. Sooo...why am I getting nervous all of a sudden? I have dreamt about this time for about a year, and have visualized how it will feel running my own show. I am still working for a glass shop and I know that sooner or later I will have to quit to go full time into my own venture. I have no problem with that. I am so positive that my business will work, and be successful down the road. But to be honest with you, I am kind of scared. I have a family of four kids to support, and one part of me is saying Im crazy for endangering my lifestyle and my kids wellbeing for a dream.  However, the part of me that was really passionate and kind of hellbent 20 years ago says go for it, or you will always wonder what could have been. Be alive and dont listen to the negatives.. Has anyone out there felt the same feelings Im going through right before they take the business plunge? I would love to hear some stories and  advice on how to get through this.

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Being defeated is only a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent. (Marily vos Savant-Author

LOL!! Hey...ya ever heard of Stage Fright? ;-D

So few people ever really put themselves on the line. It`s why public speaking is such a major fear for so many people. We go through high school, pretending we`re being unique, unusual, our own self, and so on, but all we do is expend tremendous effort to blend in, not stand out, and be just like everyone else.

Then we get older, get into the world, out in the marketplace, and we HAVE to stand out! Even so, most people retire, hide, say they`re "just observers," and never put their personality and "self" on the line...out there where anyone can smack `em around.

Criticism is a pain, and we learn all about it as little kids, then in grade school. Yet nobody helps us or teaches us how to handle criticism, contradiction, argument, disagreement, and aggression. Years ago, students learned in debate, rhetoric, and on the playgrounds. Most of that`s disappeared.

So here you are...making an intellectual, then emotional choice to be odd, unusual, strange, and different. You`re going to go out and start a business based on your skills, your say-so, your actions, your personality, and your Self.

:-) Of course people are going to stop, stare, point, laugh, and tell you you`re nuts.

You`re not scared of the business, or that you can do it. I think you, like so many people, are scared that you won`t know how to handle the laughing and pointing. You remember all the times you screwed up as a kid, or when you were singled out in high school, and it all comes flooding back.

The problem is that none of that`s actually real. It`s only body memories. As soon as you do your first job, and realize that when people call you "mister," or "sir," or by your company name, you`ll look around and wonder who they`re talking to.

You KNOW you can do the tasks! You also KNOW you can do them well. And you KNOW that when you`re done putting in a shower or glasswork, it`ll be really excellent. How do you know? Because you`ve done it, often enough that you`ve decided to charge money for it.

But you didn`t "know" all that stuff, back when you formed the basis of your current fear. And back then, you never had the chance to replace that fear. Not by standing alone in the world, proclaiming that you`re better than most other shower and glass people. You`ve never had to stand up and with a straight face, tell people you`re an Expert. :-)

It just takes repetition. Walk out on the stage, stand up straight, be proud of what you do, and do it with style. Worst that can happen is you get fired, go totally bankrupt, and die a miserable death alone in a carboard box. Right? How bad can that be?

Think of it differently than putting your family at risk..keep that perspective ...like " I can offer great opportunities through my new business for my family". Know that this is true, and go after it...never give up, try and try again until you find what works and don`t be afrais of the unknown. And never forget that there are so many people in this world willing to help you succeed..all you have to do is ask. Create realistic Goals..make them specific and go after them.. evaluate your steps and what you could do different, better or the same for other goals. There are always times in business where you have to feel overwhelmed but when this happens, it shows you are challanging yourself and that is good. When you feel alone in this, reach out, seriously...there are so many people that can help. Be excited about the "unknown" , it can certainly be a great adventure , that is you work smart enough, you will go far. Remember as Henry Ford said" Whether you think you can do something or not do something, you are right". So Think you can, work at it and you will realize you can!

Erin

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

Erin`s right...and we can borrow from AA.

You can`t change what`s happening around you, but you sure as heck can change your *perception* of what`s happening!

If you think of it as "oh no...how will I support my family," you`ll generate fear. If you think of it as "Hey! I have my first job for this new business I own all on my own, and from which I never can be fired...." that`s a whole different perspective.

 Thank you Craig and Erin, you truly have some great points. It just seems like when I talk to some of my friends around me, they cant seem to relate what I am trying to do in my life. I am going to be 45 in a couple of weeks, and it has been on my mind for about a year or so that I will never have the piece of mind, both spiritually and financially if I keep working for someone else and having to bow down to the way they run their business, all for the sake of keeping my job. It is really hard to find support sometimes without hearing the usual thing of it not being a good time to start a business, you need jlots of capital to start up, how are you going to do this, how are you going to do that, etc.,etc. Thank God I found this website about 6 months ago, it has truly helped me follow my dream, and its looking like it will be a reality. People like you are the ones that get me through the day and keep me dreaming my dreams. I totally realize that  I have a case of stage fright, but like you guys were saying, once i get going its just going to be like any other day, only it will be my show. I think the one thing that I really fear is that my present employers will find out what I am doing before I am profitable enough to take off on my own.  Ive never been fired before, but I guess that is what we have unemployment insurance for . I just cant waver from what I want to do, or I will always wonder what if.  Thanks for your support

 

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Being defeated is only a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent. (Marily vos Savant-Author

Join the Club!! This sometimes is the hard reality of bettering ones self. You really have to get used to people around you being indifferent. Some folks have a hard time supporting people when they are advancing themselves for various reasons, which you always have to keep in mind so you can avoid having hurt feelings. Alot of times, they may "just not get" what you are doing, they are envious of your courage or would love to advance where they are but either don`t have the drive or want to even try. Starting a business can be a lonely place. I know this first hand. Friends don`t understand that you don`t have time to just "hang out" and family gets upset when you can make it to every event. Having your own business creates a new way of life, and in order to succeed you have to believe in what your doing, do whatever it takes and ignore any negativity from people who are unsupportive. I have 2 friends who I thought were close, i always would do anything for them...but as soon as I can`t drop at a dime for them, they disappeared, even bad mouthed me. People like other people at their level for the most part, it makes them feel comfortable...when one rises up, other feel angry that you are leaving "the club", they will try to bring you back to it. In the end I believe that advandcing yourself will be what makes your life truley a life worth living...you have a chance of building a really awesome legacy for your family...so ignore naysayers and look for those fols who are few are far between who are sincerely wanting you to succeed, and stick with the, they will help you to go where you want to go. As the saying goes here in the south "It aint easy"....and nothing worth anything really is...so buckle up and be excited about the unknown, don`t be afraid. When you feel alone, stop in here...these are folks in the same position as you and know how it feels. You are never alone and if you ever have an obstacle...it can always be figured out. So Go for it!!

 

Erin

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

If I had a dollar for everyone who told me to get a "real" job, or to forget this "music silliness and settle down," or to "get with the program," or whatever else people with limited imagination "feel" is important advice....I`d be a millionaire.

Fuggeddaboudditt... :-D Just because someone`s your family doesn`t mean they know much about who you actually are.

Annnd ANOTHER thing....! If you keep working for someone else, what sort of retirement plan do you have? Pension? 401K? Social Security? What if all those fall apart? What if you can`t put enough into your portfolio to generate a reasonable income? On the other hand, with your own business, you have a chance to take some serious control over that future.

Hey showerguy - where`s your photo, your profile information, your contact information, your website?

Increase your level of success by promoting yourself and your services. People on this site will give you lots of marketing suggestions if you just give them some basic information to start with.

The best medicine for uncertainty is preparation. Make sure you`ve done your homework and have a plan together. Do you or your partner have a marketing kit? If not, let me suggest John Jantsch`s Duct Tape Marketing book to get you started. At a price less than $20, how can you miss? (besides, I highly recommend it - and I`m a selective reader).

Showerguy,
    First- JUST DO IT!
    Second- I have found that friends and family can be discouraging at times. Remember whose dream this is. As long as you have set out to succeed by getting your dreams down on paper, well now its a goal! And from there you have probably got a business plan (you have done this, right?) set up..so you are now ready with a plan!
    Now attack it with all you got and don`t look back! You have come to a great place for support and encouragement.... only you get to decide ultimately if you are gonna fail or succeed and I would say you are already on the right track!
  So good luck and remember...have fun while doing this, because when you do something you love you`re bound to make it!


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Ed Engstrom
edengstrom@hotmail.com

Ezkidsnet.com

We keep your kids safe online!

showerguy

I also took the plunge this year after talking about it for more than 20 years. I Made all the excuses, the kids (now they are in their mid 20`s and approaching 30), the job ( which was taken without my permission hehehe), fear, timing, not ready, not enough experience, hell I even talked myself into it would be TOOO successfull and eat my life.

Well as much as I`d like to take full credit for taking the plunge I can`t, over the last 4 years my closest friends have changed from corporate employees to self employed millionaires, whom I am ever grateful to.

My wife finally said to me either do it or stop talking about it.

I got fired for being physically depleted after 2 weeks of 20+ hour days,on either side of christmas.

Jan 11, 2007 10:30 am is when I got the phone call saying "we don`t need your services anymore". I called my wife told her what had just happened, then started calling my network, the first guy I called; Tom (one of those millionaire friends) said "congratulations, better get out in the workshop". I went out in the workshop, and started organizing. Tom actually made my first sale for me, sold 30 chairs, the next two weeks I worked on chairs and interviewed. the day I delivered the chairs, I was also offered a job, for more money.

When I reflected on the two weeks (my mental crisis was over) I realized I had a business. I continued working in the workshop and selling products, developing products and making custom stuff for people. the company I went to work for knows what I am doing, and when the time comes will let me work part-time and finally when it is time part ways.

At the end of the day in my long winded way, if you don`t start now under control, with options, you may find yourself desparate doing it under twice the pressure.

Take a deep breath, know everthing will be ok, and smile, Everything ALWAYS works out sooner or later.