I asked people ‘What’s holding you back from starting your own business?’ Here’s what happened.
Starting your own business can be overwhelming.
So I asked people in a popular Facebook group on remote work this one simple question.
The result?
It got MASSIVE attention.
192 people responded and told me their reasons for not changing their live and starting a business they love.
192 future entrepreneurs, hungry for change.
Here are their responses:
Answers on the question ‘What’s holding you back from starting your own business?’ clusted into categories:
5% — Time, my primary job
5% — Sales or lack of clients
10% — No idea where to start
10% — Other reasons (Technology, Lack of skills, Legal, Coronavirus)
20% — The right business idea
20% — Mindset (Uncertainty, Energy, Fear of failure)
30% — Money
Not surprisingly, money is #1 reason for not following through.
But money. Seriously? This post was published in a Facebook Group on Remote Work. We all did read The $100 Startup, right?
There are tons of ways to start your own business as a side hussle next to your day job. With just one hour and 1% progress a week you’ll be surprised what is possible.
Buy the domain, build a simple website and share your idea.
If you need money for gear or materials, get creative. Sell your service and ask for a deposit (which you can use for buying the tools you need) or start with consulting work (sell the knowledge you already have on the topic).
Reason #2: Mindset.
Probably the most dangerous one.
It all has to do with change.
Change is hard.
As Tony Robbins says:
Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.”
— Tony Robbins.
We often say money, ideas or skills are holding us back..
But isn’t it a lack of clarity and confidence?
The constant worrying and overthinking?
Procrastination and avoiding the work we should be doing?
(sales and self-promotion, anyone?)
Comparing ourselves to others?
What-if scenarios?
…
Your mind is holding you back.
It’s the key to success.
So, who do you need to become?
Think about [your firstname] 2.0. Who is this person? How does he/she behave, talk and walk? How does he/she look? What clothes does he/she wear?
Go for a walk, put up some motivational music and shout ‘I am .. ’
Don’t talk to your friends, parents or neighbours.. they’ll often disencourage you and guide you back to the ‘safe path’ with the ‘save job’. (whatever a ‘save job’ is nowadays)
My advice: join a peer group with other future solopreneurs and business owners who are on the same entrepreneurial journey as you are. Support each other. Become accountability partners. Become [your firstname] 2.0.
Make it happen. And enjoy the journey.
