I
don’t know what it is, but you have an idea that’s been floating around in your mind for a while. It has certain inherent risks and if it goes wrong your business might suffer.
Maybe you want to reinvent your business or create a new product or start from scratch and do it all over again.
It doesn’t really matter what it is you’re worried about, you should know this… you can do it.
Yes, you can.
We’re all threatened by change. We have a natural tendency to ask the big scary question, “what if?”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“What if it’s just a waste of money?”
“What if I go bankrupt?”
“What if people don’t like the idea?”
“What if fill-in-the-blank?”
About 8 months ago, I was sitting in a cramped apartment in Virginia (shared with 3 roommates), going through these questions.
I wanted to start a freelance writing business, to be my own boss, not have a definite salary cap, and run my own life.
But I was scared.
My job at the time was fairly secure, it paid the bills (but not much more) and it had a nice benefits package. Just what everyone needs, right?
It depends on your personality…
Do you want to be in that stable job? Do you want to work for someone else and have a clearly defined set of tasks to complete every day?
Some people do and that’s fine for them. That’s there personality. But they’ll never be a success story in the business world. They don’t care, they want to shine in some other aspect of life. But it wasn’t me.
Then a simple shift in thinking changed my life. I asked a different kind of “what if.”
“What if I don’t do it?”
Will I get frustrated and upset with myself? Where will I be at this time next year if I don’t do it? Where will I be in 10 years?
If I didn’t make a change, I knew exactly where I’d be. Just about comfortable, a little higher on the pay scale and doing the exact same thing.
To me, that was unacceptable. I’d simply be an unhappy number on a corporate chain.
But today, I’m much better off. I have a decent stream of clients. Work booked for a couple months into the future, and I feel rewarded for the work I do. Also, I know it’s making a difference and improving my clients lives and businesses.
If you want to make a change, the first thing you have to do is shift your thinking.
And then you need a plan.
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post called The Three Most Important Business Questions.
But here are 6 more questions that can help you get started…
Write them down now along with your answers and as you move along toward your goal, you can adjust and correct them.
Why Do I Want This?
When you can answer this question, it becomes your purpose statement. You’ll learn things about yourself that you hadn’t tried to put into words before. You’ll start to define who you are and that will give you a better picture of how badly you want to implement your idea.
What Do I Need To Get Started?
Do you need training, education, time, or resources? If so, write down ways you can acquire them.
If you need training or education, where are the best places to get it?
If you need time, what can you cut out of your schedule now to make time to work on the idea or business? There’s always something. It may be your Saturday golf trips or it may just be waking up a half hour earlier every day.
When you cut out time and plan to do something, your mind will be working on ideas in the background the whole day and you’ll be amazed at what you come up with when you sit down to actually “do the work.”
What Resources Do I Have Now That I Can Use?
How much money do you have that you can spend? Where else can you get it?
You probably already have some of the equipment you need. For instance, if you’re starting a home-based business, you probably already have a computer and Internet access. You probably also already have the basic office supplies like a printer and paper.
Open a new bank account and start funneling what you can afford into it. Heck, you can even just get a coffee can and start stuffing your extra cash in it.
Is There Anyone I Know That Can Help Or Partner With Me?
Partnering with someone more experienced can totally redraw the learning curve. You’ll have someone who’s “been there, done that” and they will share that knowledge with you.
Start talking it up with your friends and family. Get them excited about your idea.
Don’t know anyone that can help? Fine, I didn’t either. Go to a conference with other people who share a passion for your business goal or idea. Network your butt off and come back full of fresh ideas and new contacts.
And while you’re there, don’t just talk to other attendees. Yes, they’re great contacts to make for the future, but the people with all the knowledge and experience are the speaker. They’re usually happy to talk to people, answer your questions and hear new ideas.
Experts in most areas are experts because they were determined to be. If you’re determined to be an expert, your enthusiasm and passion will show and you’ll be on their radar.
Then exploit those contacts for all their worth. Don’t just take, give. Share your ideas, your goals, your plans. They don’t have time to go around stealing people’s ideas and they may just take notice and say, “Hey, I know someone you should talk to.” If you’re lucky, that person may be the expert himself.
How Long Will This Take?
Set a definite timeline.
I’ll have x done by Janurary.
I’ll have y done by March.
I’ll have z done by April.
Just be realistic here. You’re probably going to get the timeline a little bit wrong, but it’s important that you try your best to meet those deadlines. If it’s taking longer than you thought to do something, readjust the timeline. If it takes less time, bring back the next one.
Where Do I Want To Be In 5 Years?
Write down exactly what you want and then picture yourself there. If you really believe you can do it, your mind will recognize all the opportunities to get there as they appear.
Ever notice how just after you make a major purchase, you start seeing a million ads about that product, or you start to hear snippets of conversation from other people who have just made that same purchase?
Well those ads and conversations were there before you made that purchase, but your mind was dismissing them as irrelevant.
When you make a decision and set a goal, you’ve established that as relevant and you’ll naturally pick up on that information without subconsciously dismissing it.
Why Haven’t I Started Yet?
I don’t know… why haven’t you. Get going. If you can think of any more questions you should be asking, leave them in the comments below.
Henry Bingaman 
