3 Key Shifts To Make BEFORE Starting A Business
Dreaming of starting your own business, but feeling overwhelmed by the thought of getting started? You’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs face the same fears and uncertainties before taking the leap of faith. But guess what?
By making three crucial shifts BEFORE starting your business, you can build a solid foundation to transform your talent into a profitable business.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into these shifts and help you gain the confidence and encouragement you need to Jump Smart!
Starting a Business - Mindset
Mindset is everything when starting a business. I believe the very first thing you can do to help yourself when starting a business is to get your mind right! Many people have ideas, dreams, and talents but everyone is not brave enough to pursue them. The fact that you are reading this tells me you have the tenacity it will take to bring your dream to reality. Stepping out of your comfort zone and creating a business is a big deal. In order to prepare yourself for success, I believe there are two things you need to settle in your mind.
First, Entrepreneurship is the road less traveled. You are literally signing up to take the hard route. It takes a strong level of faith and mental toughness to keep going when you face challenges. Ask any successful entrepreneur and they will tell you, it’s just part of the game. You can build the mindset needed by believing in yourself. Oprah said it best “You don’t become what you want, you become what you believe.” Even though it may get hard or you may face opposition, you can decide in your mind BEFORE you start a business, that you are the person for the job!
You can make this shift by changing who and what you let speak into your life as you start your business. This can mean changing the people you communicate with the most and being intentional about what you listen to. Choose to surround yourself with what inspires you to go after your dream of starting a business.
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Second, Expect to win. Zig Ziglar said “To be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” You may have heard the statistics about what percentages of businesses fail, but you don’t have to focus on those. You can choose to focus on the positive. You can choose the mindset that your business will succeed.
You can make this shift by listening to podcasts where successful entrepreneurs are interviewed. Listening to them will keep you motivated and inspired. You can also set realistic goals for your business journey and track your progress. When you take these actions, you will be able to look and see all the progress you have made to keep you going on the hard days.
Deciding in your mind that” it may get tough, but I will win” will set you up for success when starting your business.
Starting a Business - Money
“Show me the money!” I can literally hear this quote from the movie Jerry McGuire with Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr. in my head. I always get a good laugh from it. It’s definitely one of those iconic movies scenes that are hard to forget.
Something I think people forget about when it comes to starting a business is getting a grip on their personal financial habits. If your money habits are not on point, it is wise to address them before starting a business. You don’t have to be a personal financial guru by any means, but you should have a solid understanding of what money is coming in and out of your hands each month. You will need to have the same understanding when it comes to handling your business finances. Why not get started now with your personal finances?
If you really want to take it to the next level SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! Starting a business is risky and will likely require some personal money to get started. You can do this by minimizing extra expenses while you build your business. Temporarily scaling back on splurges or indulgences while you work on building your business will give you the extra cushion while building your business. Even with the best business plan, It takes time to gain traction and get your business in front of the customers who need you. Having some cushion in your personal finances will keep you going until your business breaks even and starts to bring in profit so you can pay yourself.
Getting a handle on your personal money habits now sets you up to win financially when you take the leap of faith to start your business.
Starting a Business - Motive
Have you ever watched one of those infomercials late at night selling you something you don’t need? It is easy to see when someone is being salesy and when they just want your money as opposed to providing a solution that will really help you. This makes their motive feel questionable. If you are looking to start your own business only for the money you will gain, your motive may be in the wrong place. A solid company is based on solving a real problem or providing your customer with some type of enhancement or transformation that will add value to their life.
People can sense when you are only trying to get money from them as opposed to adding real value to their life. If you take the perspective of “what can I give versus what can I gain” first, you will be able to see what your customers are really looking for and provide services or products that meet their needs. Once you do that, the money naturally comes second. You won’t have to worry about misleading your customers if your true motive is to add value.
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Having a proper motive can also enhance your marketing efforts once you start your business. Your marketing copy won’t feel salesy because the language won’t need to be worded to beg or trick customers into buying. Customers will easily be able to see the value of your services and products and how they will make their lives better.
When you prioritize genuine value and purpose in your business, not only will your customers trust and resonate with your offerings, but your brand will thrive organically, solidifying a reputation of integrity and authenticity.
One of the most beneficial things you can do to transform your whole life is to start a business. When you take the time to prepare you will set yourself up for success. It all starts with getting your mind, money, and motive right.
Take the next step, join the JSBA Crew
Take the next step, join the JSBA Crew
Join our awesome community over on Instagram for expert tips, motivation, and support from fellow aspiring entrepreneurs.Â
Remember, you’re not in this alone – we’re all in this together, learning and growing as we chase our dreams.
Don’t let fear hold you back any longer. It’s time to make those shifts, embrace your inner entrepreneur, and start building the business you’ve always dreamed of. You’ve got this!
