Let’s be real for a second here. The journey to starting and running your own business can be a lonely and difficult one. I have so many people come to me with spectacular ideas for businesses. I can see the passion and excitement in their eyes. However, they are never able to convince themselves to take that leap of faith and start. That’s all it takes. Starting.

Now don’t get me wrong, there is a massive amount of work, time, dedication, and sacrifice accompanying being an entrepreneur, but the first step is always to START.

Starting is often the most challenging part of the journey.

You have what it takes to start your business and build the life of your dreams. I believe in you. If you are looking for a sign, THIS IS IT! Take that leap of faith. Dive in headfirst. Stop caring what other people think. START.

I will be your business pal through the journey to support you in whatever ways I can. This blog was made for you, the aspiring entrepreneur. It outlines five tips to help you overcome your fear, start your business, and grow it into a wildly successful entity.

Keep reading to learn how to stop your limiting beliefs from holding you back any longer.

1. START BAD. LEARN FAST.

One of the most common roadblocks I see with new entrepreneurs is the desire to have everything figured out before they begin. I get it. I felt that way too. I’ll let you in on a little secret right here: Nobody has it all figured out. Even the big influencers you see on Instagram and Shark Tank do not have it all figured out. We are all playing a little game of fake it ‘til you make it. Eventually, you do make it, and the thing you were once faking becomes second nature to you. This confidence only comes through experience. The sooner you start putting yourself out there and DOING, the sooner you will learn. It is okay if you are not perfect when you start. Nobody has it all figured out when they start. Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. Don’t let it stand in the way of you and your dreams. START.

2. STOP THINKING. START DOING.

We can think of great ideas all day long. I bet you have thought of some of the most awe-inspiring ideas this world has ever heard of! If you are like me, you may even have a list on your phone of all your business ideas and new inventions. Your ideas are great. I feel it in my bones. You are only one step away from taking your great idea and turning it into a reality. Your ideas need action. Stop thinking and start doing. You can analyze an idea for years and years until you look up one day and realize time has passed you by and you no longer have time to make your dream into a reality. Don’t let your ideas be smothered by procrastination and a constant dreaming of the what-ifs. START.

3. GET OVER YOURSELF

I hate to break it to you, but nobody cares about you as much as you think they do. Sure. Your mom and family members love you immensely. At the end of the day, they aren’t the ones constantly evaluating everything you do and trying to think of where you went wrong and how you could’ve done something better. The only person doing that is you. Everyone else is too worried about themselves. It is not being selfish. It is human nature. Nobody is sitting and watching your every move to see if you succeed or if your efforts result in a failure. They likely won’t even spend an extra second thinking about it besides the time it took them to scroll through your social media feed and read the caption (if they even do that). The biggest obstacle you will face is yourself. Stop worrying about what other people think about you. Most of them do not even have an opinion. START.

4. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR NUMBER ONE SALESPERSON

Throughout your business, you may remain small or you may grow rather large. No matter the size of your company, you will always be your number one salesperson. Nobody will ever care about the success of your business as much as you do. It only makes sense for you to put more effort into its success than anyone else. Own it and do it well. Even if you are not currently a good salesperson, you need to learn how to be one. Selling is a skill. You can practice it to improve. START.

5.ALWAYS PLAN FOR SUCCESS

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t-you’re right.”- Henry Ford

Mindset is everything when you are starting your business. There will be days where you feel like a complete failure. There will be days where you feel like a champion. No matter the highs or the lows, you have to always believe in the success of your business. The second you start doubting yourself is the second your mind starts finding excuses as to why you cannot perform the actions necessary to succeed. Know you are going to succeed and plan for it. Set up automation as early as you can. Lay a firm foundation for your business from the beginning. Invest in project management tools to organize the mass amount of requests you will be getting. Having these systems in place when the time comes will help you scale more effortlessly. You will grow quicker than you are expecting and need to be prepared with the necessary back-end systems. START.

There you have it! I hope you found this post insightful, and perhaps even inspiring. If there is any way I can help you to establish your business or grow it to reach its full potential, reach out to me. You can do anything you put your mind to. You have to START.

Upward and Onwards,

Bailey Thibodeaux

Founder of Honeywave Creative