Guest Blog: by Lireko Dorothy Ncube
Perfect moment? I am not really sure if there is such a thing. As an entrepreneur, there is no time like the present to make your dream a reality. It might take you a while to dive in at the deep end, but just know that you are delaying your destiny. A minute, a week, a month is way too long to have your dream deferred. Take a leap of faith and get on with realising your entrepreneurial dream.
As you begin your very personal entrepreneurial journey, commit to learning as much as you can, accepting where you make mistakes and finding the best ways to correct them. Along the way, embrace your own key strengths, make the most of them, and you will definitely be on your way to building that business you have long dreamed of.
Here are 5 tips to help you take that first big leap of faith and start your entrepreneurial journey.
1. You'll never be 100% ready
Remember, there is no such thing as a perfect moment to become an entrepreneur. Nor do you have to be 100% perfectly ready to start - just have faith and dive in.
2. Smart resourcing
Obtain the resources you need for your business success – be it hiring people or getting the right materials to assist you. However, make sure you do your research first to identify everything you will need to enable you to begin. You might also need some financial assistance in the early stages of your startup, so prepare your budget, look carefully at the financial numbers, and importantly make sure in the early stages of your business that you bootstrap and avoid getting into unnecessary debt.
3. Know your limits
Do not commit to achieving things you cannot deliver on your own - ask for as much help as possible. There are things we can do on our own, but the truth is we are just not experienced or talented in everything - someone will always be better than you at a certain task, and that is where the concept of delegation comes from. During my years working as an executive assistant, I encountered so many managers that were not able to do the simplest of tasks such as photocopying or scanning, something that I was able to do with my eyes closed - yet they knew how to delegate. That is a useful skill for an entrepreneur to have also. So recognise that some people are good at things we might not be good at, accept that fact, and make your plans to delegate accordingly. It will save you time, energy, resources and will allow you to concentrate on the important things for the business.
4. Ask for help
Find yourself a coach or mentor. If you have never been in the business world before, find a mentor or coach to show you the ropes. You will definitely need some insightful knowledge on how the business and entrepreneurial world functions, as well as a bit of guidance on the rules and regulations in your local environment, so that your business is compliant in the markets it operates in. It is critical from the outset to follow the ethical path that you are required to adhere to in the country where your business is based.
5. Be strategic
Have a well researched business plan and then implement it - yet, remember that in the world of entrepreneurship, the ability to be flexible, and to ‘pivot’ when the market creates an interesting opportunity for you, is also important.
Finally, always remember that a minute wasted can never be recovered, so don't waste time overthinking things, just do it - there is no perfect moment like the present to begin your entrepreneurial journey.
Lireko Dorothy Ncube is a guest editorial contributor to Lionesses of Africa. Lireko lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is a regular blogger on entrepreneur lifestyle and communications topics.
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