Are you planning to run your own business?

Some valuable pointers if you are planning to run your own business and want your business to thrive, not just survive.

In my opinion, it really doesn’t matter why you started out on your own, so long as you feel that you are in control. It also doesn’t matter what sort of work you’re doing, so long as you’re enjoying it. What matters is how you feel about being a soloist. The bottom line is, why are you in business? How can your work help to enrich other’s professional lives?

Before you run your own business, be sure you can answer these three questions honestly and to your own satisfaction:

Are you able to tell friends and former colleagues your ‘Elevator Pitch’ (20 seconds on who you are and why a stranger should care) without blinking or blushing?
Whilst saying it, do you look and sound sincere?
Does your genuine enthusiasm and passion for all
the good things you can do, shine through?

Let me tell you honestly that I (fantastic salesman that I am) had a lot of trouble answering these questions in the early days of my solo career. I found to my horror, that despite my great sales record, I’d always hidden behind my corporate business card.

I knew I was good, I’d got the trophies and references to prove it, but I just lacked certainty, because I’d gone from an environment where I thought I was doing everything to an environment where I was actually doing everything.

I didn’t even want to admit that I was working from home because the cost of renting an office was like the national debt compared to my ‘cash flow’.

So what happened? Well, I survived, and at last, my business is beginning to thrive! If you are planning to run your own business, here are three things a new soloist can learn from my experiences. Things that will hopefully help you to thrive, not just survive:

1. It's healthy to fail

That a few failures are almost a pre-requisite for success, mainly because it’s impossible to learn your own correct positioning unless you have a few ‘character-building’ experiences to guide you.

2. Know yourself

Remember, getting to know yourself is critical and it doesn’t really happen until you only have yourself to rely on.

3. Goals matter

Your focus on your goals and, much more importantly, how you can help your target market achieve their goals, is essential.

Do you run your own business? How about some tips and hints from you? Let’s hear your feedback, remembering that, we may be solo, but we ain’t alone!

Grant Hyman is a specialist Sales Consultant whose company, Sales Central, is dedicated to maximising the sales successes of clients by assisting in the areas of Training, Recruiting, Automation, Motivational Speaking and Coaching.

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Grant, I am currently experiencing everything that you write about in your article - so much so that I keep thinking that I'd be better off packing it all in and getting a "real" job! Then I remember my dream, go back to my business plan, and think of creative ways to raise my profile. It's not easy, but compared to facing a boss each day, it's better than the alternative! Diane Lee from Adelaide SA
Hear hear. The days of doubt are sometimes there, but these are far outweighted by the days of total freedom, autonomy and the total enjoyment. Megan from Sydney
Hi Diane, I suggest you have your dream written everywhere and use small timeline steps to get to your dream. re: raising your profile - I always think in terms of how my work might help someone else achieve their goal. I think Megan's comment is spot on, and as a former mentor (Hi Ron !) says "Nothing Great Is Easy". Cheers, Grant. Grant Hyman from Berowra, NSW
Hi Grant,
Actually I am in the process of finishing up and post-grad degree and diving into my own company. My first degree was electrical engineering. I have abcolutely no idea why I chose that career. I ended up going into IT in the boom working for Investment Banks. However, I managed to climb the ranks. It was strange because I just networked and everyone underneath had the skills - I was just intuitive. I got to the point where I thought to myself Why am I here? I had a stable job, excellent money but it wasn't doing anything for me. This was because I didn't really know myself and work out what drives me and motivates me on a day-to-day basis. I think you need to work these things out and then what you decided to do in a career will hit you like a light bulb. Another thing is confidence. You have to really believe in yourself and that will thrust you forward. I have probably written too much here...
Anyway, superb article and right on the ball!! sonia from sydney
Hi Sonia - thanks for your note. May I make some further suggestions to help shortcut your way to success? Firstly, study those who have built similar businesses to yours - libraries, the web and industry networking events. Secondly, ask for advice from the ones you admire (i.e. potential specialist mentors) - fellow alumni especially! Thirdly, if you get lost, hire a coach to help you along - the that has impressed me the most in my 7 years of Flying Solo is in fact the man himself -http://www.robertgerrish.com/coaching-consulting.html. Fourthly, I also recommend the Flying Solo book - it explains the rationale behind successfully going it alone in a way that really turns the lights on! Finally, keep focused on your goals - success is waiting for you, but you have to stay focused and energetic to achieve it. The Bottom Line? Go for it! Cheers, Grant Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
Hi Grant, your story is so familiar. I also have the awards a winner in my field, acknowledged by my peers but just when I should have sat back and taken it easy for a few more years to retirement. I thought it's time for me to try it on my own, to share my knowledge and make a difference! Well that was last september. And I have been fighting my emotions ever since. Coming from a 6 figure salary to making little to no money at first was an option I hadn't planed on, deminished confidence was something no one who knows me would have ever expected. It was great to hear you had similar self doubt, yet deep down you knew you had the ability to change.....and that you did. Well done and thank you. Kerry Sharp from Sydney

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