How To Become An Entrepreneur: When Is The Right Time?

Have you wondered how to become an entrepreneur, but don’t know if you’re ready?

I was in your shoes, and it only took me 5 years to start my own business. I promise I’m not a perfectionist. I wanted to get the experience working for other small businesses before I started my own. I’ll share some insights with you that will help you reach your decision. But more importantly than that, in my follow up article, I will also give you actionable steps you need to take that can set you up for success. So, let’s see if you’re ready to cross your own proverbial Rubicon and embark on your entrepreneurial journey.

How to Tell If You’re Ready to Start Your Business

1. Internal Factors:  The buck stops here. No one will start your business for you or tell you a secret formula on how to become an entrepreneur. If it’s something that you always wanted to do, then just do it and don’t let anyone stop you. Get into the habit of taking action on your ideas and you will be ahead of the people who always talk about, but never follow up on, their dreams.
2. External factors:  Sometimes the choice is made for us. If you know you’ll be sacked, you can start your new venture on nights and weekends, using the impending increase in free time, and any severance, to give starting your own venture a shot.
3. Your experience: If you’ve worked at start-ups developing a more generalized skill set you will have a better idea what to expect, than if you’ve worked for larger companies developing a more specialized skill set. I worked for smaller companies and obtained a fantastic education from my previous employers on how to become an entrepreneur and run a business. If you come from a  more corporate background, see if you can partner with someone who has worked at smaller, more entrepreneurial companies. Are you prepared to make the sales calls AND take out the trash?  You need to be!
4. You keep coming back to “the idea” : This is how I personally choose which projects to pursue. Many times I’m interested in something, put it away, and then come back to it eventually. Once that happens, I know I should find a way to pursue that idea.

How to Become an Entrepreneur Bonus Tip: How Badly Do You Want It?

I saved the best and most essential tip for last. Everything in this article is predicated on your mindset. You have to want to be an entrepreneur so badly that you’re willing to work harder and smarter than ever before. The upside is that you’ll experience the most career fulfillment you’ve ever enjoyed. Once you want it badly enough, you’ll be able to take all the challenges in stride, and take advantage of all the opportunities ahead of you. When you get to that point, you will be the “Caesar” of your destiny. So go ahead…Carpe Diem!

Have you made the plunge into entrepreneurship? Share how you became an entrepreneur with us by commenting below.  We’d love to hear about it.
[author img=https://www.ivyexec.com/executive-insights/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Maciej-Godlewski-Headshot-Photo-150×150-e1387832763463.jpg alt=Maciej Godlewski]
This article was contributed by Maciej Godlewski, the CEO and Founder of Fired Up Digital, a digital marketing firm in New York City. Maciej writes on entrepreneurship and career issues facing the digital workers of tomorrow.[/author]