Entrepreneurship is the way our economy grows, and becoming a "micropreneur" and running a small, one- or two-person business is the way many companies begin.
But how do you know that you are you cut out for a certain business? Before you launch your micro-business, you need to consider many factors. Among them are these five key factors that can help determine whether you can effectively do the job you’re considering:
Aptitude - Are you suited to this job? Do you have what it takes? This is no small matter. If you aren’t a good “fit” for a job, you’ll regret it, probably right away - hopefully. It would be a shame to discover, months or years into a job that you simply aren’t “cut out” for a job. Questions to ask yourself: Do I have the right skills for this job? If not, can I develop them? What are my best skills? Do they match THIS particular job?
Attitude - Are you willing to put your all into the job? Will you feel great about going to work (even if “going” to work means going to a spare bedroom)? If you can’t approach the job with a good attitude, you shouldn’t be doing it. Questions to ask yourself include: Do I feel good about doing this kind of work? Is this a “dream” job? Do I think it can it become a huge success, over time? Can I get up every morning “psyched” about this job?
Ambition - Do you want to achieve something great with this job? That’s an important, but often overlooked, question that few ask when considering a job or a new career. Ambition means more than wanting to dominate your field and be the pre-eminent practitioner of your career - but wanting to do that is a start! Ask yourself: Can I become the best in this field? Will I be able to earn the respect of my peers in this field?
Action Plan - Once you know what kind of business you’re going to pursue, having a plan is really the first step along the journey to success. If you start out without at least a basic roadmap, how will you know where you’re going? What goals can you reach without a plan? The likely answer to that question is “none.” If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. Even a short, one-page “mini” business plan, outlining factors such as your mission statement, your plans for financing, a marketing strategy and short-term goals can help you from veering off-course. Ask yourself: What do I want to be earning in six months, a year, and two years? Who are my customers going to be? How much will I charge for my products and services?
The eBook "37 Instant Businesses" by Abbott ePublishing describes 37 businesses with a great deal of information on each, including: how to set them up, basic target markets, legal and other pitfalls to avoid, estimated income, level of difficulty in setting up each business and other strategies for success. Check out http://sn.im/37inbiz for details. Abbott ePublishing is online at http://www.abbottepub.com.
At Abbott Media, we empower microbusinesses and encourage the micropreneurs who run them to embrace innovation with both new and old media to inform, inspire and serve. Find out more online at http://www.abbott-media.net
