| 1. Ask yourself - which is more important to you - | | | | while. So - do you have some cash or credit that |
| security or independence? Assuming that you have a | | | | you're willing to invest in your own venture? |
| job to begin with, but maybe you're not completely | | | | 4. Do you have self-discipline? Remember that you |
| happy with it - you need to consider whether you just | | | | won't have a boss breathing down your neck - you're |
| want to change jobs and keep the "security" (as if | | | | going to have to make yourself get up, get to it, and |
| there was much of that any more) of a steady | | | | get things done. |
| paycheck, or if you really want to chart your own | | | | 5. Can you think long term? If you're looking into going |
| course and be your own boss. Are you just looking for | | | | into business, that's way different from a lotto ticket or |
| a raise or a better paying job, or do you really want to | | | | get rich quick scheme. Don't expect "overnight |
| run your own show? | | | | success" - that's a pipe dream. Are you prepared and |
| 2. Consider your "why". So, you'd rather be your own | | | | determined to stick with it for the long haul, if |
| boss than an employee. But, is that just so you can be | | | | necessary? |
| lazy, and not punch a clock for someone else? If you | | | | 6. Do you take responsibility for the results? When you |
| expect your business to really go, there must be a | | | | run your own business, you are where the buck stops. |
| reason that's big enough to still get you up and into | | | | If you tend to want to blame someone else for the |
| your own office or shop. Do you have a passion for | | | | way things are, that will no longer work. |
| some subject or art or craft that will drive you to do | | | | 7. Can you delegate what can be offloaded? If you |
| whatever it takes? It may be your family, a lifestyle | | | | run a traditional business with employees you'll probably |
| goal or it may be a charity, but if you don't have a real | | | | need to have a manager to allow you to keep from |
| "why", the work probably won't get done. Remember - | | | | living in the shop. If you grow a big internet business, |
| your business rests on you. | | | | you'll eventually need to outsource some |
| 3. Consider the investment and risk. The size and | | | | communications, at least. Can you let go a little? |
| strength of your "why" will influence this decision, but | | | | 8. Finally - do you care about serving people? Sure, |
| understand - you will have to spend money to make | | | | you ultimately want your business to pay you, but that |
| money. The thing about being an entrepreneur - in | | | | will only happen if you give others something of value. |
| business for yourself - is that you must accept that, | | | | If you believe and practice the old adage that "you will |
| along with the potential for making more profit than | | | | get what you want if you help enough other people |
| you could ever expect in a wage or salary, there also | | | | get what they want", you can make it as an |
| comes the risk of having less income, at least for a | | | | entrepreneur! |