The life of an entrepreneur can be a roller coaster. There will be days when you feel like a million bucks and days when you want to forget why you started this journey. Successful entrepreneurs are people who commit to continuing to grow despite the times when things don’t work out as planned.
I have been an entrepreneur since I was 19 years old. In my first year of business, I made $55,000 in seven months, and the business quickly grew. Today, I operate my second business—a lifestyle business that involves writing, speaking all over the world, and consulting companies and other entrepreneurs. This business generates multiple six-figures and allows me to spend each day doing what I love.
I’ve experienced every emotion you can think of these last 17 years as an entrepreneur. There are five things no one tells you—or at least; it’s not discussed much—about entrepreneurship. These five things could be the difference between making your dreams a reality or you/your business becoming another statistic.
1) You’ll Fight the Constant Urge to Want to Quit
Life, on its own, is already hard. Take what you deal with on a daily basis and add in trying to start or run a business—it amplifies what you’re going through. There will be more times than you’ll care to admit where you contemplate quitting. It will feel like the better option—it’s not. Realize those feelings and urges are a part of this journey, and to be successful, you have to learn how to constantly overcome them.
2) You’ll Make It Up As You Go
It’s smart to have a plan for your business, but a lot of times, you’ll have to make the plan as circumstances unfold. You can’t and shouldn’t plan for everything—flexibility in your business is important. While you may see another entrepreneur and think they have it all figured out, realize they’re just like you and making it up from time-to-time.
3) There Will Be a Daily Battle For Your Time
As you grow and become successful, you will naturally grow your following. Whether it’s social media friends/followers, email subscribers, customers, or more, people will want some of your time. They want advice, their questions answered, or the opportunity to network with you.
Most of us are people pleasers and have a hard time saying NO. The problem is that your time is your most precious commodity. By saying yes too much, you’re taking time away from the things that could help you grow in your life and business.
There will be a constant and consistent battle for your time as you become more successful. It’s your job to stay in control. We’ve been taught that it doesn’t hurt to ask, and in most cases, that’s true. So, people will ask, but that doesn’t mean you automatically have to give away your time. This is your life and business; you have to do what’s right for YOU. That will mean saying NO and upsetting people—that’s life.
4) A Lot of Things Seem Important But Aren’t
As you grow a business, you will be bombarded with messages from others about what’s important. It can be a Facebook ad, an email from a marketer, or something you hear on a podcast. You will hear about some strategy that helped a certain entrepreneur achieve a certain result.
While it may have worked out for them—it doesn’t mean it will work for you. More than that, just because those strategies seem important doesn’t mean they are. A lot of things in this journey will seem important but aren’t. Examine each one and do what’s right for you.
5) The Freedom is Priceless
Each of us has different goals, dreams, and things we want to accomplish in life. The one tie that binds us is a desire for freedom. We long to live life free and on our terms. We long for control of our time, income, and decisions. The freedom entrepreneurship can provide can help us live life free. It may take some time to build up to this level of success and freedom, but it IS possible.
Entrepreneurship can be one of the most rewarding forms of work if you pursue it in the right way. You can build a business and life you love. The key is to focus on what works for you and your goals—they will be different for all of us. Just make sure you’re ready for what could be a bumpy roller coaster ride.
