So, you’re an entrepreneur now…welcome! Have you been asking yourself lately, “What the hell was I thinking??”
You are not alone. Actually, with the economy in its current funk, once safe corporate America has opened the floodgates releasing a tsunami of former executives, aged 40 and over, into the wild. Deemed ‘unemployable’, ‘overqualified’, ‘not the right fit’, pick your label; in self defense and because you don’t want to join the ranks of the foreclosed upon, you’re hanging out shingles in droves and are beginning new careers as entrepreneurs. Many of you however are not properly prepared or even well suited for your new careers. Truth be told, until a few months ago many of you may have thought of ‘entrepreneurs’ as business mavericks.
Well, welcome, now ya are one.
If you also happen to be over the age of 55, you are also a member of an elite club…you belong to the fastest growing segment of newly minted entrepreneurs.
In my work with small business owners, the most common mantra is “I’m not going to let anyone control my paycheck ever again!” Those of us in business longer than 30 days, smile knowingly and allow your delusional state to continue. “You’ll learn soon enough”, we think to ourselves. While only you control your paycheck, there are lots of important business factors that you must learn how to control, or they will control your ability to have a paycheck.
The vast majority of clients come to us within the first 6-9 months of starting a business. They are driven to look for help by the sudden realization that the world is not beating a path to the door, the marketing isn’t working, spending 80 hours a week doing ‘stuff’ isn’t paying off and that the severance money used to launch the venture is rapidly drying up with no rain clouds in sight. These are only a few of the reasons that 9 out of 10 businesses fail.
Most of our clients are very happy that they own their own business but VERY unhappy that the business, their employees or what few clients they do have are controlling everything they do and there is little to show at the end of the month except equally frustrated family members and a dwindling bank account.
There is no secretary to call, no marketing department to blame, no sales force to deploy, no tech support, no committees, no one to point at to say… “it’s THEIR fault we have no business”. The realization sets in that there is simply only a mirror. It’s nerve wracking, frustrating, disappointing and creates a lot of self-doubt.
How do I know, I lived through it almost 22 years ago. Encouraged to start my own business by lots of ‘prospective clients’ who either never materialized or took months to show up with checks, I almost closed the business and gave up.
You’re reading this and that’s a good sign. I can help you figure it out and get you back on track. Coaching entrepreneurs is a unique process…it takes one to coach one.
I can help you assess and dissect your vision, your plan, your message, your marketing, your goals and match them against your skill set and determination. The match, or mismatch, drives what you do, what you need and what you need to outsource.
Before we talk though, I want you to download our FREE assessment tool, complete it honestly and completely and then we will have a basis for discussion. Even if you never call me for help, I wish you well and I hope that this FREE assessment tool helps you re-focus your thinking, process and message. Remember, regardless of whever you are on your entrepreneurial journey…always “do business on your own terms” ®.
I hope to talk to you soon.
Bob Holdsworth is the co-founder of Ultimate Outcomes! LLC. He is the author of several nationally published articles, a sought after speaker, an ass-kicking business, marketing and life coach, a part-time real estate investor, a veteran paramedic, a very happily married husband, the dad of two awesome twin sons and is a dangerous golfer, avid reader and is severely allergic to neckties.
Bob can be reached @ BobH@DefineYourOutcomes.com
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