| Entrepreneurialism can sound like a frightening | | | | anything. |
| word (and that's not just getting the spelling right!) | | | | Most of this scaremongering is meant well, but |
| The trouble is that many people assume that | | | | generally comes from those who could never |
| entrepreneurs are go-getters of the modern | | | | become entrepreneurs because they have no self |
| world, the high flying successes with bank | | | | belief, no courage, and have packaged away their |
| balances bursting at the seams, and the Midas | | | | dreams and ambition in a small cardboard box |
| touch that turns ideas into gold overnight; they're | | | | which has been locked away in a filing cabinet in |
| the people whose bank managers call them up | | | | the basement of the office block in which they |
| asking for a loan. | | | | have willingly becoming imprisoned until released |
| The truth is very different. Ask any entrepreneur | | | | back into society when they retire. |
| and they'll gladly put you right, and assure you | | | | There is risk in anything, as we can readily see |
| that nothing could be further from the truth. Many | | | | today, with the stock market looking gloomy, |
| of the common assumptions people associate | | | | traders panicking, businesses crashing, and |
| with independent business owners, or sole traders, | | | | increasing number of people finding themselves |
| are woefully inaccurate, often gleaned from the | | | | out of work. There is no longer such a thing as |
| media's obsession with personal individual success | | | | job security, or a job for life - in any business. |
| and the American Dream. Let's look at what being | | | | Entrepreneurialism is a way of protecting yourself, |
| an entrepreneur really means, and who these | | | | to a certain degree, by taking greater control |
| people really are. | | | | over your finances, job and future. |
| Most entrepreneurs are ordinary people like you | | | | You become the boss, aware of all aspects of |
| or me. They are very rarely the high flying | | | | your business, and able to make sensible decisions |
| successes, flung skywards through their success | | | | both within your business and your personal life, in |
| in the city; in fact, those who already have a | | | | full knowledge of the situation, and all relevant |
| successful city career, in what one might term a | | | | factors. Who can honestly say that, while working |
| 'traditional' or 'normal' job are the least likely to | | | | for a company or business, your boss keeps you |
| step from behind the security of their desk, and | | | | fully informed of every possible risk and problem |
| brave the world alone. Generally those who do | | | | occurring which could potentially jeopardize the |
| take the initiative are those who are either fed up | | | | future of your job, income or even the |
| with the monotony or sheer frustration which can | | | | company? Very few! |
| come with many jobs these days, or who have a | | | | Entrepreneurialism is not risk free - that would be |
| burning personal desire or passion, a dream they | | | | absurd to suggest, but the risks are known, and |
| feel compelled to follow. | | | | manageable. You're in control, and that alone can |
| We all have dreams, hopes and ambitions; | | | | make a world of difference to your peace of |
| entrepreneurs are, in the main, simply those | | | | mind. Stress is largely down to a feeling that you |
| people who have got up from their comfortable | | | | are not in control; no matter how much needs |
| office chair with lumbar support and arm rests | | | | doing, or whatever the pressure, stress only |
| and stepped outside to do something about those | | | | becomes an issue when we feel over burdened |
| dreams, ambitions and desires. They are, largely | | | | with worries and pressure, and unable to control |
| speaking, passionate people, with self belief and | | | | where we are and what we are expected to do. |
| determination. | | | | If you have a business idea, a hobby you'd like to |
| But let's consider the next assumption that tends | | | | turn into a home business, a work from home |
| to walk into such a discussion: risk. Most people, at | | | | opportunity you'd like to pursue, or a ground |
| least, most people who have never tried, will | | | | breaking product or service you'd like to launch, |
| happily tell you that starting out on your own, | | | | then running your own business may well be for |
| becoming your own boss, and starting up your | | | | you, giving you the opportunity to follow your |
| own business idea is incredibly risky, and that it is | | | | dreams, lower stress, feel in control, and be |
| likely to cost you a fortune, and that you'll see | | | | positive about your future. All you need is a plan, |
| very little income for years, and even that is | | | | and a dream and, of course, belief in yourself. |
| assuming you survive long enough to earn | | | | |