Today I was thinking about the mass amount of people who leave their job every day, either by choice or by force. Either way, anywhere you look, statistics show the numbers are huge!
Whether people are fired from their job or whether they quit in the hopes to pursue the dream of running their own business, the tendency nowadays is to “start fresh” as an entrepreneur and not go back to the 9-5 we were used to until recently.
The possibilities today are endless. Starting a business from scratch is as easy as pie and, with the latest developments in technology, anyone should be able to work as an offline consultant, freelancer, marketing specialists and what have you.
The reasons why people choose to leave their jobs and become their own boss can vary. Some do it for the freedom, some for the big money or some do it simply because they're following a passion. Whatever the case, some people “make it” in the business world, while others find themselves on square one even after years of trying.
Ask yourself if you're really ready to make a big change
While the idea of working from home, in total freedom, sounds great, there are still some aspects everyone must consider before making the big change.
Personally – and to be completely honest – loosing my former job was a blessing in disguise. However, if you're thinking of leaving your job and entering this online money making realm, you should definitely consider the following:
- Is it more likely to find what you want in your current job, or somewhere else?
- If you were fired from your job today, what are your realistic options to get things under financial control?
- Try this before jumping head first into a new business: post your resume on a few major job sites – like Monster.com or CareerBuilder.com – even if you're not immediately planning on leaving your job. You're probably going to find out that you still have some options, just in case you're not financially or emotionally ready to leave a steady job and salary for something you might not be able to control right away.
Fear of the unknown, however, shouldn't decrease your motivation. All you have to do is put things into perspective and put some feelers out there.
Only you can know if you're ready to do this or if you still need a certain level of security before you jump head first into something new.
Think big! But start small and get ready to work your way up to success
The word ‘entrepreneur' gets thrown around quite a bit these days.. It kinda sounds like a members only club. Everyone should feel that they can start their own business, not only the “natural born” entrepreneurs.
If you start a business for the right reasons and if you're ready to put in the work, it's impossible not to make things work!
Did you know there is a new group of people out there starting businesses? They're earning a profit, yet don't even call themselves entrepreneurs. A lot of them don't even think of themselves as business owners. They are just doing what they love, on their own terms, and get paid for it.
Anyone – yes, even YOU – can be one of those people. As long as you remember to think big, but start small.
You don't have to spend your entire life savings or take on an insane amount of risk. Starting a business on the side while keeping your day job can produce all the cash flow you need.
You don't have to work miserable 60-100 hour weeks forever. Once you get all your pieces in motion, working 10-40 hours a week should be enough.
Last but not least, remember: you don't even need an office! Today, you can work from home or collaborate with fellow Offline Sharks you've never met, who live thousands of miles away.
Let's face it, it's an amazing time that we live in! So let's replace the fancy sounding word with something a little bit more down to earth. Instead of “entrepreneurs”, lets just call these people “Sharks”.
Anyone who creates a new business is a Shark. You don't need an MBA, a fancy suit, or a briefcase. All it takes is an idea, some confidence and a little motivation.
Anyone can become a Shark today, as long as you're patient
You will not be a big hit right away. You will not get rich quick. You are not so special that everyone else will instantly pay attention.
It may sound harsh, but no one cares about you. At least not yet. Get used to it.
You know those overnight success stories you often hear about? That's not the whole story. If you dig deeper, you'll find people who have busted their asses off for years to get into a position where things could take off. And on the rare occasion that instant success does come along, it usually doesn't last, as there's no foundation there to support it.
Trade the dream of overnight success for slow, measured growth. It's hard, but you have to be patient.
The best way to succeed with a new business is to start building your audience today. Start getting people interested in what you have to say and then keep at it. In a few years, you too will get to laugh when people discuss your “overnight victory”. But you'll also get to enjoy your newfound freedom and success!
