(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Last week I wrote an article asking the question, Do You Really Want a Job? Nearly all of those who responded said “NO” they would prefer to not count on the uncertainties of a job in this current economic climate. This necessarily leads to the next logical question, “If Not a Job then What?”
I mean the obvious answer to “what” is a business. However, that is a awfully broad answer and one that needs a bit of consideration before you just jump in and start!
To begin with, since somewhere around 80% of people say that they hate their jobs. Around the same number of working Americans saying that they are looking for a different job. So, trying to start a business in your current field might not be a great idea. Having a business you hate doing is way worse than having a job you hate!
Here are a few practical steps to help you answer the question and find the right business for you:
- What is it that you absolutely love to do? Loving what you do certainly makes “building your business” a much more pleasant thing to do.
- Who are your potential customers? In other words, are there enough people who both need and want what you have to sell to make your business a success?
- What kind of business do you want to be? Home-based, mobile office, or brick and mortar? “Franchise-styled,” direct sales, or service oriented. Choosing the right kind of business both in location and type can be the difference between success and failure.
- How will your new business effect your life plans. Many people jump into a business trying to escape the efforts of a job only to find that a business requires more of them than they a willing to give or worse yet they give it more than it deserves and the rest of their life falls apart around the business.
- How much time and resources do you have to develop your business? It is rarely a good idea to quit your day job until you are reasonably certain your new venture has the capacity to replace your current income.
I personally agree with the majority of the comments that the advantages of a business far outweigh those of a job, but I also understand that reasonable steps must be taken to assure the success of your start-up business. Be careful, be creative, and be successful!
