Do you want to start a business but something is holding you back?

[Lili Cruchelow]

I would like to hear from those of you that may have some fear about starting a business. I am trying to understand better what holds people back. I believe that becoming an entrepreneur is the best decision I ever made and I want to encourage other to do the same.

Please post your comments and share why you might be stuck and unable to get started with your business idea.

[bostoncitymass]

Hi Lili,
I have started a business, so I didn't get held back, but fom others that I have talked to it usually comes down to two things, lack of money and fear. Lack of capital to start the business, and fear of the unknown and fear of failure. To them it is to difficult to jump in with both feet start up a company and ride the wave. They seem to get caught up in the bad "what if's". What if something goes wrong? What if I get in over my head? What if I fail? Which is totally understandable, it takes guts, ego, and drive to start a business, it's not for everyone. But I think that if there is anyone that truly thinks they have what it takes to go into business for themselves they should change their mindset from worying about all the things that could go wrong to thinking about all the things that could go right.

[Nicky]

I want to start my own business but often times I'm confused about what to start. Second, I 'm intimidated by all of the competitions out there. How did you bypass your fears?

[Lili Cruchelow]

Nicky- focus on what you want to do. If you know you want start a business focus on how that will make you feel, on what being an enterpreneur will bring to you. If you keep your mind set on the possitive outcomes that you want, the fear will start to fade. You also need to figure out what excites you enough to put in the energy required to start a business.

Their is enough business out there for all of us. Find you niche, be passonate, and the rest will come.

[justin8]

For me it was deciding on an idea and sticking with it. i have so many things floating around in my head that at first I couldn't choose. One day I just picked one and went full steam!

[guidemesingapore]

I find most people are just afraid of taking risks. What holds them back is not knowing how much they will earn at the end of the month. Of course some have legitimate concerns as they have a family to take care of.

[ServiceBizBoost]

Let me clarify one thing. An entrepreneur is always an entrepreneur. So fear is not a fear. Take on the challenge and we will be able to get out of fear. Beat the fear.

[RealisticlyReal]

For me it's the business banking and required paperwork throughout.

[Lili Cruchelow]

When I first started my company I would have never been able to imagine what I am doing today. I started as a solopreneur and was hopeful to replace my income as a top sales person. Now, 5 years later, my husband has been able to quit his job and join the company, we cover 9 states and employ 6 people. We are learning about accounting, legal issues, workers issues, and experiencing rapid growing pains. Everyday we are learning something new and experiencing fear. The great truth we have discovered is there is never a moment of comfort. We exist outside of our comfort zone now and it is exhilarating! Don't let the fear of an unknown task prevent you from taking action. You will be able to figure out. There are so many resources to help you. Keep taking action steps and you can fulfill your dreams!

[maryannemuchui]

Hi i would like to start a fashion business, in my country Kenya. What holds me back is the fear of the competition out there.
I know my designs are good and classy, from the few designs i have done i get very many compliments. However I only design and get different tailors to do the clothing as i do not know how to make the clothes. This is another factor that holds me back. I have considered taking a tailoring course, but it will take me 2 years minimum to get the skill, in addition, it costs money that i currently do not have.
My dream is to one day have my own fashion label, open and stock my designs in my own ladies fashion boutique.
Starting Capital is also an issue. For the venture to be commercially viable i need to sell a number of items to not only break even but also to make enough to survive. How did you surmount the challenges, especially of fear ?

Maryanne

[NMServices]

I want to start my own business but often times I'm confused about what to start. Second, I 'm intimidated by all of the competitions out there. How did you bypass your fears?

That's also one of my problem. I'm triggered with the competitors, who have established their own business. Other than that, I don't know where to locate my business, I know that location is a very big factor to consider when putting up a business.

[Ashvini Kumar Saxena]

Hi,
When I started my business, I also faced similar questions but I looked at them differently. I thought of the worse that could happen and I found out most of them lead to money loss. I then looked at my bank account and thought 'I could take a risk'. Once I was prepared there was no looking back. In fact I lost money but gained a number of skills that I could have never gained in my job. So there are definitely more pluses to go for it. Too much thinking about 'if I am going to make it' does not make sense because no one can tell if you are going to be successful, but if you never tried it, you will never be.

Best of luck.
Ashvini

[Komelika]

Great thread. I have thought about going into business for the past few years. Justin sounds a lot like me. I get an idea in my head and put a lot of thought into it just to realize that I wouldn't enjoy that type of business. For me, the timing isn't quite right just yet. I have a great job that affords my beautiful wife to stay home with my amazing daughter and baby boy whom is due any second now. I do have plenty off time off to start a side business, but I don't want to miss these years with my kids. My wife and I have a some plans, both short and long term, and one of them is to have the house paid off in 10 years or less. Once that happens then who knows. I can imagine that no mortgage payment makes risks seem a little less frightening.

[Lili Cruchelow]

Its great to see that you all have the passion to start a business. I would suggest you forget about the competition for now. Focus on what you do best, what your niche will be. Then start taking steps toward opening your doors. I have put together a free report on the 7 steps to starting a business which may help those of you struggling. You can get it at my blog or at http://www.unemployment2entrepreneur.com

[altwebdesign]

maybe my point of view here will help..... mines the complete opposite.
I've been making my own cash with little ventures ever since i was like 12-13 and always knew it was how i would live my life, fear of competiitors never came into my head, it's what i've always knew and done, so for me, my fear is being employed by somebody else, it's just something that has never appealed to me, i know its the opposite to what many are discussing here, yet it's also so similar!

When i started doing web design, i didn't even have a computer! I had to walk miles to my parents to use theirs, I had no major business knowledge, BUT. . . I knew I was good at what i did and KNEW and truly BELIEVED that no matter what I would be a self-employeed web designer NO MATTER WHAT!