So as you want to start your business?
Well Done! This is an exciting project that you probably want to make to become more independent, to have no boss telling you what to do, and embark on a major project while creating something that belongs to you. It is also a great way to earn a living and achieve financial independence.
But starting a business is a path strewn with obstacles. In fact, 31% of people who wanted to start their business (poll of 2009, this rises to 53% for the under 35 years), but these 20 million people who wished to start a business, only 2.5% have succeeded in 2009.
With such a low success rate, one can imagine that it is difficult to successfully start a business. These figures mean that in any case more than 95% of the people who wanted to start a business are defeated by an obstacle that lies between desire and realization of this desire. What is the obstacle? It is different for everyone, and to be more successful they must be identified in advance. Here's an overview:
Well Done! This is an exciting project that you probably want to make to become more independent, to have no boss telling you what to do, and embark on a major project while creating something that belongs to you. It is also a great way to earn a living and achieve financial independence.
But starting a business is a path strewn with obstacles. In fact, 31% of people who wanted to start their business (poll of 2009, this rises to 53% for the under 35 years), but these 20 million people who wished to start a business, only 2.5% have succeeded in 2009.
With such a low success rate, one can imagine that it is difficult to successfully start a business. These figures mean that in any case more than 95% of the people who wanted to start a business are defeated by an obstacle that lies between desire and realization of this desire. What is the obstacle? It is different for everyone, and to be more successful they must be identified in advance. Here's an overview:
# 1: Procrastination
The first obstacle which abut most French is simply procrastination They call constantly to the start of their project to the next, even if their project is particularly dear. They then enter a sort of spiral of guilt, thinking that continually "soon I will create my company," or worse, "one day I will create my company," and delivering ever after.
This procrastination can have several sources. The most common is the fear of failure, linked to other fears: fear of losing money, fear of being ruined even afraid to look silly in front of others, fear of not being up to height, etc. Another common source of procrastination is perfectionism: they are people not willing to produce an imperfect result, which is impossible.
These fears lead to forms of procrastination more or less explicit, more or less insidious: the most transparent people themselves recognize these fears and realize that they paralyze them and lead them to inaction, but most people do not have that chance. These fears are often buried and they do not really mind, which leads them to adopt avoidance strategies despite their desire to start their own business.
These avoidance strategies bridge various forms, all of which come back to one thing: do nothing. Often, people who suffer from procrastination inundate themselves with trivial tasks that have no other purpose than to distract them from their most important projects, including the creation of their company. They are overwhelmed all the time, through their day and their week running, and do not stop to say "I'd like to build my business, but I do not have time with all that I have to do." The truth is that many of the things they do are not really important and do not bring them much in their lives, and this allows them to give a valid excuse for failing to engage in the project that really matters to them.
There are many other forms of procrastination, I will return in future articles, including tips on how to avoid them.
# 2: Find the idea
This is a very common obstacle that stops the majority of the French. They are indeed many to dream up their own business, but without knowing exactly what to do. They have the desire, but the idea. This can be very frustrating, especially for those that do not support employee and must be permanently endure what they feel is a grim situation every day, with a boss not very nice, a gloomy atmosphere, or just rage of having to work for someone while they want both to achieve independence.
Yet no shortage of ideas, it's everywhere around us and we crossed thousands every day, provided you know how to look for them. People who are blocked by the lack of ideas must use the strength of their desire to create methods to use to find THEIR idea that will allow them to create. I will discuss in later articles.
# 3: Moving from idea to project
This is also a great obstacle on which abut many aspiring entrepreneurs: those who have the idea many do not achieve it. To go from idea to project, it must be put into action, decide to make the first move and start to write down his ideas, give them structure and start talking around you, then interlocutors who can help us. This requires a kind of "take the plunge" to cross the chasm between the dream and the concrete, and that is that many designers and hand procrastinate endlessly overnight.
The first step to overcome this obstacle is simply to describe your idea in writing on one or two pages. This is enough to start, and by doing this you have made the first step to turn your idea into a project. I will discuss the other steps in an upcoming article.
# 4: Finding the right support structures
The lone entrepreneur myth that manages to create a company that absolutely everything is exactly that: a myth. Once your file created two pages, it will be difficult for you to have an idea of the next steps and how to take them if you do not get adequate support. The problem here is not to find a support structure is to find a GOOD accompanying structure. They are indeed very numerous, and have very different missions. It is difficult at first to navigate and choose well. I will address this in a future article.
No. 5: Market Research
One idea is good, profitable idea is better. It is most likely when you engage in the creation of your business, you are convinced that your idea is absolutely brilliant and the whole world will rush it. Your idea may be great, but it is unlikely that the whole world rushes to your products or services unless you have a business strategy and relevant and effective marketing. Above all, your products or services must be a NEED or WANT and interested enough prospects to become customers of your company.
To ensure that your idea has a real economic potential, you must conduct a market study. Market research is to determine who your potential customer, how much you can potentially touching, what is the best price for your product or service, and especially to answer this question: Does your company have a chance to survive and take off?
Market research can be done in different ways. The support structure you choose will help you determine the most appropriate for your project and then to analyze the best results.
I will detail in future articles how to effectively and simply market research.
# 6: Establish a strong case
Obviously a "file" of 2 pages is not enough, you have to describe in detail the project of your business, and establish a business plan. Without it you will be almost impossible to convince investors. This step is also the tomb of many people, as it is to move from "amateur" project serious work, which usually can not do so without the support structures for the creation and without devote significant time (at least several hours per week).
This is a good support structure is essential. It will help you think about all the details that you would have overlooked and which may prove crucial to the success of your business, and formalize your project. This formalization has two main advantages:
To clarify the project in your mind, consider weaknesses, discover strengths you would not have suspected
Skip amateur to professional project constituting a real detailed file detailing the founding idea of the company, its mode of operation, the customer acquisition process, the number of planned staff, etc.
The file will obviously include the most important data from market research and detail your customer acquisition strategy. This strategy is extremely important and will be carefully scrutinized by your funders! It is also very important to define for you, since your business even with the greatest will in the world will not last long without clients.
The first obstacle which abut most French is simply procrastination They call constantly to the start of their project to the next, even if their project is particularly dear. They then enter a sort of spiral of guilt, thinking that continually "soon I will create my company," or worse, "one day I will create my company," and delivering ever after.
This procrastination can have several sources. The most common is the fear of failure, linked to other fears: fear of losing money, fear of being ruined even afraid to look silly in front of others, fear of not being up to height, etc. Another common source of procrastination is perfectionism: they are people not willing to produce an imperfect result, which is impossible.
These fears lead to forms of procrastination more or less explicit, more or less insidious: the most transparent people themselves recognize these fears and realize that they paralyze them and lead them to inaction, but most people do not have that chance. These fears are often buried and they do not really mind, which leads them to adopt avoidance strategies despite their desire to start their own business.
These avoidance strategies bridge various forms, all of which come back to one thing: do nothing. Often, people who suffer from procrastination inundate themselves with trivial tasks that have no other purpose than to distract them from their most important projects, including the creation of their company. They are overwhelmed all the time, through their day and their week running, and do not stop to say "I'd like to build my business, but I do not have time with all that I have to do." The truth is that many of the things they do are not really important and do not bring them much in their lives, and this allows them to give a valid excuse for failing to engage in the project that really matters to them.
There are many other forms of procrastination, I will return in future articles, including tips on how to avoid them.
# 2: Find the idea
This is a very common obstacle that stops the majority of the French. They are indeed many to dream up their own business, but without knowing exactly what to do. They have the desire, but the idea. This can be very frustrating, especially for those that do not support employee and must be permanently endure what they feel is a grim situation every day, with a boss not very nice, a gloomy atmosphere, or just rage of having to work for someone while they want both to achieve independence.
Yet no shortage of ideas, it's everywhere around us and we crossed thousands every day, provided you know how to look for them. People who are blocked by the lack of ideas must use the strength of their desire to create methods to use to find THEIR idea that will allow them to create. I will discuss in later articles.
# 3: Moving from idea to project
This is also a great obstacle on which abut many aspiring entrepreneurs: those who have the idea many do not achieve it. To go from idea to project, it must be put into action, decide to make the first move and start to write down his ideas, give them structure and start talking around you, then interlocutors who can help us. This requires a kind of "take the plunge" to cross the chasm between the dream and the concrete, and that is that many designers and hand procrastinate endlessly overnight.
The first step to overcome this obstacle is simply to describe your idea in writing on one or two pages. This is enough to start, and by doing this you have made the first step to turn your idea into a project. I will discuss the other steps in an upcoming article.
# 4: Finding the right support structures
The lone entrepreneur myth that manages to create a company that absolutely everything is exactly that: a myth. Once your file created two pages, it will be difficult for you to have an idea of the next steps and how to take them if you do not get adequate support. The problem here is not to find a support structure is to find a GOOD accompanying structure. They are indeed very numerous, and have very different missions. It is difficult at first to navigate and choose well. I will address this in a future article.
No. 5: Market Research
One idea is good, profitable idea is better. It is most likely when you engage in the creation of your business, you are convinced that your idea is absolutely brilliant and the whole world will rush it. Your idea may be great, but it is unlikely that the whole world rushes to your products or services unless you have a business strategy and relevant and effective marketing. Above all, your products or services must be a NEED or WANT and interested enough prospects to become customers of your company.
To ensure that your idea has a real economic potential, you must conduct a market study. Market research is to determine who your potential customer, how much you can potentially touching, what is the best price for your product or service, and especially to answer this question: Does your company have a chance to survive and take off?
Market research can be done in different ways. The support structure you choose will help you determine the most appropriate for your project and then to analyze the best results.
I will detail in future articles how to effectively and simply market research.
# 6: Establish a strong case
Obviously a "file" of 2 pages is not enough, you have to describe in detail the project of your business, and establish a business plan. Without it you will be almost impossible to convince investors. This step is also the tomb of many people, as it is to move from "amateur" project serious work, which usually can not do so without the support structures for the creation and without devote significant time (at least several hours per week).
This is a good support structure is essential. It will help you think about all the details that you would have overlooked and which may prove crucial to the success of your business, and formalize your project. This formalization has two main advantages:
To clarify the project in your mind, consider weaknesses, discover strengths you would not have suspected
Skip amateur to professional project constituting a real detailed file detailing the founding idea of the company, its mode of operation, the customer acquisition process, the number of planned staff, etc.
The file will obviously include the most important data from market research and detail your customer acquisition strategy. This strategy is extremely important and will be carefully scrutinized by your funders! It is also very important to define for you, since your business even with the greatest will in the world will not last long without clients.
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