Being in 20-something, a substantial amount of people wants to take a leap into entrepreneurship, head start. In fact, the lifestyle changes of “being your own boss” is so enticing, that a Kauffman start-up index found that over 550,00 young entrepreneurs around the nation are fruitful to take up risk and build their own business than work for someone else. However, being one in your 20s is the most exciting, exhilarating, rewarding, and at the same time most challenging experience in it.
Now, what makes you an entrepreneur?
An idea and courage, it’s as simple as that.
You need an idea that you can build a business on. Every great business starts out with an idea that is commercially competitive. If you have an idea that you want to initiate to the market, then you have half of what is needed to be an entrepreneur.
The other half (courage) is what will determine whether or not, and how hard, you are trying to give your idea a reality. Being courageous means doing something despite the fear – which leads you to a willingness to take action plans, to take bold decisions to build great global companies, and to take all necessary steps to build your business.
Those two combined should be sufficient to get you working on your idea. You are now an entrepreneur. But what makes you an entrepreneur to a successful entrepreneur in your 20-something. Here are some essentials steps you need to perceive,
# 1 Take a leap of faith.
In a world where procrastination is the sequence of the day. People are used to giving different excuses for not starting a business or a venture. An entrepreneur must be determined, despite changes, uncertainties, drought, or terrible discouragement or lack of funds. However, an entrepreneur would still decide to start. They will tell you that the most vital thing is that they started. The first and the most important step to becoming a successful entrepreneur is to take a leap of faith and start.
#2 Resilience
Inevitably, there would be people who throw shade on your idea, scoffing, and finding every way they can pull you down. This is where resilience and self-esteem come in handy. High self-esteem will enable you to manage your emotional response to the critic, and resilience will help you take the criticism without being negatively affected by it. Always listen, in case there is a valid point, but don’t let it affect you emotionally.
#3 Plan your finances
Start-ups and entrepreneurial businesses need money. It’s just a part of the lifestyle. Many entrepreneurs spend too much time looking for money and not enough acting, but that doesn’t mean that you can leap into the abyss without a plan. For most entrepreneurs, they’re using their own savings to start their business. Yet, the might be risky. Have a plan and you minimize your risk. Plan out your finances in the beginning and try to stick to it, but know that the plan will have to be adapted along the way.
#4 Build your Network
You shouldn’t ever stop networking because you never know where your next lead will come from. There is no such thing as too much networking. Chances are, if you network with enough people, you’ll hit into another entrepreneur who might have the ideas and connections you need. Meet everyone you come into contact with and have a short chat. You never know who you’re sitting next to and what connections or resources they might be able to offer you. ( And the best source to network with people around the world – LinkedIn )
#5 Get inspired
Being an entrepreneur is a creative pursuit. As an entrepreneur, you have to make connections, solve problems, and create new things that no one has thought of before.
Creators and creatives need to be inspired.
Successful entrepreneurs take time for the things that inspire them. Maybe your inspiration comes from reading books, maybe it’s doodling —whatever it is that inspires you, do it. It’s good for your business. Successful entrepreneurs are inspired. Don’t let that magic slip for too long. Whenever you can, and definitely when you’re feeling burned out, get out there and get inspired. Inspiration is the spark for ideas. Ideas make successful entrepreneurs.
# 6 An ability to win people over
Winning people over is the first breath of your company. If you cannot get people to see the potential in your idea, your company is dead in the water. Being able to win people over is a necessity. People are far more likely to pay attention when you go to great lengths to showcase your idea.
# 7 Never stop learning
Keep building on your arsenal of knowledge. Read a lot of books. Follow industry news and events and learn from other entrepreneurs. Make sure that you pack the right qualifications needed in your industry — it adds a great deal of credibility in the workplace. People will not ask you how old you are when you know what you are talking about and have the qualifications to back up what you are doing.
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”
– Mark Zuckerberg
Succeeding in business doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, that’s abundantly a myth. You need a certain amount of time to get hang of it. Although, being an entrepreneur in your 20s is worth every challenge. So, start early and make every step count! At the end of the day, a unique vision and a well-crafted roadmap by a talented leader are the factors that determine the disruptive capability and relevance of a start-up.
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Click Here 7 Essential steps to becoming a successful entrepreneur in your 20’s.
