insideKENT Magazine Issue 73 - April 2018 | Page 152

BUSINESS
COMMON FEARS WHEN STARTING A BUSINESS... cont.
REALITIES TO FACE
Validate your idea
Most people easily fall head over heels with
their own business idea from the minute they
think of it, which is essential, but can also lead
to an over-protective defense of it and a fear
of seeking validation from others who might
not see it as quite as revolutionary. You need
courage and a thick skin to start a business as
well as a resilient and considerate attitude
towards constructive criticism. Share your
idea with friends and colleagues that you trust
will be truthful with their take on what you’re
planning. Good friends tend to be more brutal
than family members and will look at your
idea from a rational and practical perspective,
so don’t be afraid to approach them and work
through any potential pitfalls.
Set attainable goals
There is a massive amount of detail to think
about in starting your own business, as well
as practical processes to put in place, but if
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there’s one trait successful entrepreneurs have
in common it's the ability to set realistic targets.
Start by working out what your overall
company mission is and break that down into
smaller, achievable tasks that serve as vital
stepping stones towards completing the bigger
picture. Smaller goals will make your
company’s overall aim more digestible and
less intimidating, and starting from the
conclusion and working your way back to the
introduction will automatically steer you in
the direction of where to actually begin. If
you’re a perfectionist, learn to adapt – not
everything has to be perfect for you to start
building your own website, or talking about
your business idea to anyone who’ll listen.
Work-life balance takes time
Pouring a majority of your time and energy
into a business is going to impact on the time
and energy that you have for your social life
and personal relationships – there’s no two
ways about it. If you’re already an
entrepreneur, the likelihood is that the line
between your professional and personal life
is already a bit blurred, but it’s impossible to
start a new business without wondering how
your family and friends will react to your new
focus. At first, you may feel all you do is work
and juggle your other commitments, possibly
dropping a few personal plans along the way,
but the long-term ability to focus some of
your time on your family and friends – which
will benefit you too – is essential, and running
a business doesn’t have to be an all-
encompassing hindrance. There is definitely
no one-size-fits-all solution for every business
and founder, but if you surround yourself with
business associates who understand the need
for balance and who won't make you feel
guilty about also living your life, the need to
nurture your business constantly should lessen
as you achieve more success, confidence and
control over what you’re doing and where
you’re headed.