How To Make Your Small Business Ideas Successful

Business - Staying in the Game
By Lesley Geller

successful What was the great inspiration that made you say, “Yes, I want to start my own business?” Was it something inspiring someone said to you, or simply an insight that called to you on your own? You may recall the bounce in your step and a rush of adrenalin when you finally made the decision. You may even recall telling everyone you knew about it, making endless lists of ways this would work and within no time at all, you had begun.

You were certain of the time commitment involved, the dedication, your knowledge, and even your contacts that could help and understood that this was not going to be an overnight success. Yet as months or even years past, you began to hear the same questions over and over in your head.

Can I really do this?

The most challenging part of having your own business is that you lose the camaraderie of co-workers and peers. Although at the time, that may have been exactly why you left, there were some positive sides to having a team to turn to. Even with a small team, you were able to bounce ideas off someone else and get feedback. In addition, when lacking energy and enthusiasm, you could often retrieve a little energy back by simply collaborating with them about anything on your mind. Perhaps sometimes even just a walk to the coffee pot was enough to get you back on track.

Yet in business on your own, the collaborating is done mostly in your head, with your own self-sabotaging thoughts. And while the conversation may vary, mostly it may sound like this: You can do this. Or: Maybe this isn’t for me.

The first few years of a small business will determine those that can make it and those that can’t and the biggest difference between the two will be the support they have as they begin to grow. If you can simply hold onto the inspiration that created energy and excitement when you first began, you can end up being a success story, not a statistic. Here are some simple strategies to help you do just that:

Talk the talk.
The truth is that as simple as it sounds, it works. If you truly want to create this new venture you will need to keep talking about it. Until it truly comes to be, which could be several months, the only thing that will keep it alive, will be your speaking. Talk to anyone you can think of that will support you in your endeavors. Talk to people who are knowledgeable on the subject and to those that will simply say just what you need to keep you going. Getting other people excited about your idea, will keep you excited as well.

Walk the walk.
Then begin to walk in a fashion that supports what you are talking about. Start living into it like it is not only going to occur, but is already occurring. You may think this sounds a bit arrogant, but the fact is that if you think like it will occur, you will be more apt to stick to your belief that it can occur….and it will. People around you will buy into it as well, which will keep you focused on your direction.

Create Support
Create a support system that will be in place whether you are feeling optimistic or not. Look through your local newspaper to find networking groups. Not only will these help you meet others in business, but it will keep the speaking alive, which will keep your business alive. Hire a Business Coach to meet with weekly. Just like famous athletes hire a coach to get them to the next level, a Business Coach will help you achieve goals that may now seem out of reach. Enroll in a Coaching Workshop. Group coaching is a great way to get the same results that you would from a personal coach, but also enables you to meet others in the same situation. The energy from the group alone will be enough to propel you into action each week and the best part is that most sessions are done on the phone and about half the price of a private coaching session!

So, talk about it. Walk like it’s already yours. And when you start to feel that rush of energy starting to fade, talk about it even more, just a little bit louder, and call in the support.

You can make it happen.

Lesley Geller is a Business Coach. She helps successful professionals exceed their expectations of growth. She works with small business owners, as well as individuals in large corporations looking to reach the next level. Lesley graduated from the University of Maryland and is certified as a Coach through the Coach Training Alliance, which is recognized by the International Coach Federation. She is also a Freelance Writer and co-author of: 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life.

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