Dear Start UP!

When starting your own business, it's easy to think that you need to have things "perfect". What does perfect mean anyway???

There is no such thing as perfection. Things will be perfectly imperfect and you must be fine with this. You will beat yourself up a million and one times but you must commit to learning and getting better!

This is a roller coaster of emotion and learning but the journey promises to mold you and if you channel your mindset, you can ONLY get better!

When you are starting your business, focus on what the business absolutely needs to commence operations! I have spoken to small business owners who were adamant on having a physical presence... in some industries, this is not necessary starting out.

You have to begin making money before you spend it!

Yes, we want a physical presence.. and it is apart of the vision but you have to dissect that vision. You have to break it up into realistic milestones.

You can consider revenue milestones! You can also consider the number of customers you have managed to retain. It's up to you to assess and determine an appropriate milestone for you and your business.

Considerations...

Do you need all of that equipment to start out? You have to be strategic! There will always be something that you can purchase for your business but you have to determine whether or not it is necessary at the time.

Do you need to hire someone straight out of the gate?

Can you afford to pay yourself the same salary as you were accustomed to on your 9-5?

Be realistic! Your lifestyle will change. It is not permanent! It is a temporary inconvenience for a permanent fix. Don't you love stability and the ability to purchase anything you want... when you want to? Yessss! This does not happen over night so you have to start somewhere! That somewhere most often starts with "little" but with discipline, a vision and the determination to succeed, "little" PLUS "little" PLUS "little" EQUALS "MUCH" and then at some point your additions will turn into multiplications and voilà!

When you pursue entrepreneurship in all of its glory, you are supposed to enjoy FLEXIBILITY, PROFITS, and SUCCESS... But this does not come without DETERMINATION, SACRIFICE, DISAPPOINTMENTS AND PATIENCE.

These DISAPPOINTMENTS are OPPORTUNITIES to LEARN, and do not forget it!