Entrepreneur’s Block: 9 Ideas For Getting Your Venture Started
Why haven’t you started your business yet? Or if you have, what’s keeping you from taking it to the next level? Some people experience mental road blocks at one point or another, which cause us to put off or even put aside plans for growing a business.
Don’t let this happen to you! Below are nine common areas which cause many people struggle to make real progress toward their business goals. Do any of them look familiar?
1. Resistance to Change: This is a biggie. Whether you’re thinking about going into business for the first time or you’ve had your company for years, progress toward your goals requires change. It has been famously said that if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. So learning how to embrace change, learn from it and capitalize on it, is essential to finding success.
2. Negativity: Negativity can come from those around us or from within. If you have people telling you it can’t be done, or if you’re telling yourself that, it can be very difficult to make progress. The best way to break this block is to turn the negativity around. Rather than fight it, say, “Ok, but let’s assume it could be done. What would I need to do to make it happen?” Look at your situation in terms of a solution, not as a problem-this will open your mind to creative thinking and you’ll come up with answers you never saw before.
3. Clinging to the Past: If you’ve tried starting a business or making a change in the past and it didn’t work out, you might be thinking of that “failure” as a reason to put off moving forward with a new venture. It helps to remember that some of the most successful entrepreneurs failed many times before they found ultimate success. The difference is that they learned from their setbacks and refused to give up. If you persevere and refuse to let the past dictate your future you’re bound to be rewarded.
4. Resisting Help: As an entrepreneur, you’re probably a fairly independent person. In most cases, that’s a good thing, but it can turn into a problem when you begin to resist help. Again, looking at some of the most successful entrepreneurs, one thing they have in common is that they surround themselves with smart people who can help them accomplish their goals and grow their business. So find mentors, coaches and role models. Ask them to help you. You might be surprised how many will be more than happy to lend a hand.
5. Poor Time Management: Business owners are busy people. We wear a lot of hats and have a lot of responsibilities. Poor time management can be a big detriment to success, so effectively managing your time is a must. Having a number of important tools, like contact management, invoicing and reporting, all in one place can save a ton of time and make life easier all around. The more you can streamline your operations by consolidating tasks, the more time you’ll have to focus on building your business.
6. Fear of Failure: This is a block that can keep people in a rut, doing what they’ve always done. Being successful in business means sometimes pushing beyond your comfort zone and that includes taking risks. Know that you can’t fail so long as you look at setbacks as learning experiences and opportunities to get one step closer to your goal. It might be easier said than done, but if you can do it, it will make all the difference in your success.
7. Fear of Success: To many people, this sounds crazy. Who would be afraid of success? It is very real for a lot of would-be business owners though. With success comes responsibility, and that word that keeps coming up – change. If you aren’t mentally ready for what it really means to be successful, you might put off doing what it takes to get there.If you identify with this, planning will help. Plan for your success and the changes it will bring. When you feel ready for it, the fear will go away.
8. Lack of Money: This might be the number one road block for many people who want to progress in business, but it doesn’t have to be. Many very successful companies were started with very little capital. This is called bootstrapping and it takes more work and more creativity than if you have a bunch of money backing you up, but it makes the rewards that much sweeter!
9. Lack of Knowledge: If you don’t know what you’re doing – and you know you don’t know what you’re doing – you’ll have a hard time progressing in your business plans. Luckily, the solution to this is 100 percent effective. If you’re lacking essential knowledge to start or grow your business, go out and get it. Yes, it takes some time and work, but with the vast amounts of information on the Internet there is almost nothing you can’t learn. So do what it takes to get the knowledge you need, then make it happen!
If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you’ll find that you can identify with one or more of these blocks. The true key to overcoming any of them is to recognize the block and then take action. There isn’t any obstacle you can’t bust, as long as you’re willing to do what it takes!
Adam Toren is a Serial Entrepreneur (Co-founded YoungEntrepreneur.com), Mentor, Investor and award winning Co-Author of Kidpreneurs (Basic Principles of Entrepreneurship for Kids).
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