Are you an entrepreneur who hears “Everybody needs ….” to start a business? Don’t be so sure.
There’s a lot of talk about all the things you need to be successful in business. The long list can seem overwhelming and daunting and squelch a lot of really good ideas before they ever get a chance. I’m here to tell you from experience, it may not be true for you.
If you’re an entrepreneur who’s got a great idea and knows how to work hard, this is for you.
Here’s my top three list of things you don’t need to make your idea an actual business that can thrive.
1. You don’t need a bunch of money.
There’s a lot of talk about start-up costs, and first-time entrepreneurs might get lured into the mindset that they have to spend a lot to make a lot. That’s what we’ve all heard for a long time, right? Wrong. You don’t have to take out huge loans or get investors. You don’t have to write huge checks on a hope and a prayer. If I had waited for someone to invest in me when I started Lemon Squad, I never would have gotten it off the ground. Use what you can to get going without going into massive debt. Free or cheap online resources are everywhere. That said, we all have to spend some money to get going, but don’t be fooled by the idea that it has to be a lot of money. You can do a lot on very little. Look for places you don’t need to spend money. Come to your business from an abundant mindset rather than a scarcity mindset, and realize that you may already have all the resources you need to get started.
2. You don’t need a business degree.
This can go right alongside how you don’t need a bunch of money (like student loan debt) to do well in business. You don’t need that degree. I’m not just talking about the big names who never graduated grade school. I’m talking about successful business owners everywhere who follow their own inner guidance. Follow what takes your attention and what you’re interested in. Formal training is nice, don’t get me wrong. Today, I sit at the Lemon Squad table with a group of people who worked very hard to earn their business degrees. They know things I don’t, and they use language I’ve never learned. BUT – and this is huge: they know business, while I know mybusiness, which is inspecting cars and protecting consumers. If you know your product or service inside and out, then you have what it takes to begin.
3. You don’t need a mentor.
I’m not saying you don’t need people – because you absolutely do. But you don’t necessarily need somebody to take you under their wing and guide you step by step to build your successful business. In other words, you don’t need somebody to hold your hand. We can absolutely learn from other people’s experience, but when it comes down to it, trust your gut and intuition. Be open to insights from others and asking for help when you need it. Don’t believe that somebody knows more than you just because they have more years in the field. Listen to yourself no matter what – it’s your business – and you’ll know what to do in each case, no matter who comes up with the idea. (And sometimes the best ideas come out of the least likely person.)
I’ll be talking a lot more about this in my new book, Born to Build, coming out early 2024. In the meantime, stay tuned for my next blog on three things you DO need to build your successful business.
*Image courtesy of StartupStockPhotos