Valuable Start Up Advice from 10 Successful Entrepreneurs

Becoming an entrepreneur can at times be a scary thing.  Leaving the comfort of your 9-5 job, doing projects or tasks outside of your comfort zone and of course the financial stress of being your own boss.

I connected with some entrepreneurs to get their thoughts and wisdom.  Each was asked “What is one piece of wisdom or guidance you would give to someone looking to become an entrepreneur?”

It’s going to be very tempting to dive right in and start with the “fun” work – the website, the outreach, etc. And that fun, sexy branding work is most definitely important, but before you get to that, you need to first focus on your mindset. The mindset you approach your business from will determine whether you succeed or fail. That’s why it’s important to move from a victim mindset to a victory mindset as soon as possible.

[bctt tweet=”The mindset you approach your business from will determine whether you succeed or fail. ” username=”ericajlerman”]

Just begin. There is such a vast amount of information online about becoming an entrepreneur, and so often we find ourselves wanting *all the things* and for everything to be perfect. Perfect doesn’t make money – doing your thing does. Everyone gets that butterflies in the tummy, sweaty palms, oh crap feeling – but I want you to know you’ve got this, you can do this, and the only way to learn and make it better is to just begin.

[bctt tweet=”Perfect doesn’t make money – doing your thing does. @UKHJCreative” username=”ericajlerman”]

It’s okay to feel down sometimes. We all do. We all get into ruts, we all hit walls. And it’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Acknowledge it, accept that it’s a stage you’re in and it’s okay to feel that way. Then take small steps out of it. One small step at a time.

Make sure you have a support system. Running a business is no joke. There will be several ups and downs. Usually more downs when first starting out. Without a support system, those times can be a massive struggle to get through. Surround yourself with people who love you and believe in you.

[bctt tweet=”Running a business is no joke. Make sure you have a support system” username=”ericajlerman”]

Focus on building relationships with potential customers, rather than sales.

[bctt tweet=”Focus on building relationships @yourbrandfound” username=”ericajlerman”]

You are not the first person to become an entrepreneur and it’s likely there are people who are in your niche or even sell the same product or service.  Connect with others, ask for help, collaborate – build and foster relationships with your peers as it is these people that can ultimately help you take your business from good to fan-freakin-tastic!

[bctt tweet=”Connect with others, ask for help, collaborate – build and foster relationships with your peers #bizbuilding #entrepreneurship” username=”ericajlerman”]

Whatever you do, be yourself.

[bctt tweet=”Whatever you do, be yourself. @peppermakepeace” username=”ericajlerman”]

Stay true to yourself. Don’t get distracted by competitors or other entrepreneurs. Live, build, and grow YOUR dream!

[bctt tweet=”Live, build, and grow YOUR dream! @vaology #virtualassistant #va #livethedream” username=”ericajlerman”]

Managing your mindset is everything. There are so many moments where you feel uncertain, scared, nervous, afraid. You doubt your company; you doubt yourself. You get a lot of “no’s” and even some of your “yeses” get unhappy. What you’re doing is imperfect, and every day – especially early on – it’s the energy of throwing yourself at a boulder to roll it an inch. But eventually it does roll. You just have to keep pushing, every day, despite adversity or resistance or “not feeling like it.”

You cold call even though it scares you. You throw an event even if only one person comes. You finish the project even if it’s imperfect. You go out and meet people in person even when it’s raining or snowing or you’d rather be on the couch. Nothing will ever be 100%, and the most important part is not waiting until you are – it’s getting yourself as good as you’ll get, today, and then doing what you need to do anyway.

[bctt tweet=”Nothing will ever be 100%, and the most important part is not waiting until you are @measuremake #onlineempire”  username=”ericajlerman”]

First off, the decision to be an entrepreneur should not be made on a whim, nor something you can do on the weekends. One piece of advice I have for someone looking to become an entrepreneur is to ask yourself a lot of questions. “How do I feel about working for someone else?”, “What would happen if this venture doesn’t work out?”, “Do I need this in my life in order to be happy?” Be honest with yourself, the answers to these questions will provide insight into how you feel about entrepreneurship and help you determine if it’s what you want to do.

[bctt tweet=”The decision to be an entrepreneur should not be made on a whim  #onlineempire #entrepreneurship” username=”ericajlerman”]