Don't Give Up That Latte
When I started my business, I did what everybody else seems to do, tell your friends and family about your new idea. After thinking about that a bit, that was probably one of my larger mistakes. Your idea is exciting to you, primarily because it's your idea, and not someone else's. Don't be surprised when someone eventually tells you that "you can't make money from that" or "there is no money in this". I don't know about you, but I'm rather lucky because all of my friends and family are business experts, yet only a handful of them run their own business.
One of the pieces of advice that I was told over and over again, was that if I was going to start my own business, then I needed to start saving every last cent and use it to fund this adventure. They all told me how much I was going to have to "sacrifice" in order to get this off the ground and running.
Did that mean I was going to have to give up my morning latte? Was I going to have to start walking to the grocery store instead of using my car? Did I need to shut off the heat in the winter and buy everyone an extra blanket to stay warm?
The answer to all of those questions is NO. In fact, one of the reasons that we go into business for ourselves is because we want more. Is buying a cup of coffee that costs $2, really going to make or break my business? Highly doubtful. I agree that when starting out, one must watch their expenses a little closer, we all know that. But what it doesn't mean is that we have to start giving up life in order to be free from the shackles of work. What kind of trade off would that be?
So I'm here to tell you that giving up the things you enjoy in life is absolutely the wrong approach. These are the things that motivate you , and what good is it to not be motivated? ...... I can't come up with a good reason either. If you enjoy a morning coffee, then have a morning coffee. If you are close to the grocery store and walking is an option, then by all means walk to the store. Not only will you save the environment, but you'll do your mind and body some good. But don't walk to the store just because you think it will save you on gas money. That's the wrong reason. Save money to be used for something important, like a hobby or college tuition for your kids (if you would like to donate for my kids college fund, send me an email, I'll get you all setup).
Remember, being in business for yourself is suppose to be fun. It's not meant to add to your stress levels and cause you undo pain. Have the right attitude and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Posted on: Jan 20, 2010
Filed in: Business
Tags:
Business, Freelance
0 Comments
No Comments yet, why don't you start it off ↓
Post Your Comment
Please use Markdown syntax for formatting. No HTML is allowed. By using this comment form, it's assumed that you agree with the terms of my comment policy.
Categories
Archives