You dream about what it would be like to start your own small business. It has been on your mind since you were in school, and there are times, particularly on Monday mornings, you daydream about it. But you are not really sure what it should look like. You do not have the first clue how to get started, and of course, you are afraid that you should put your heart and soul into it, only to fail and look like an idiot. You just talk about it out loud, because you do not want family and friends to laugh at you.
But everything is possible! The only limitations we have are the ones we put on ourselves! With planning and learning stages, and do your homework, if it's something you really want to do, you can do, and do much to be done, too!
I am not saying that it's easy! Nothing worthwhile. I had to learn a lot, about myself, about the company, about my clients and potential clients. And it never ends, because my interests and passions change with the years. But, how exciting!
When my daughter started kindergarten, I went back to school. It took five years to get through school, but I had a vision: I wanted to help people become healthy and fit in the privacy of their own homes. After school, I did not have the plan fully in place, even in my mind, but after six years of work in a hospital, I was ready. I opened MEG Fitness in June 1996. This has been an incredible turn! I'll never look back at my life with regret that I did not pursue my dream. I really have learned that the only limits are the ones that I myself impose too! So, I continue to dream bigger and allow my vision to become bigger. Why not? What is the worst that can happen?
That's what you have to ask yourself. If you never try, you will be happier? If you never try, how will you know if you could have done? Consider some of the well-known names in sport, like Michael Jordan, the basketball player, he threw more MISSED plans that those who have made their mark. What if he had not had a chance to see what is possible for himself?
Well, now that you are ready to take the next step! First, to help you concentrate, I recommend that people begin to prepare their business plan. The Small Business Association has invaluable resources on their website (www.sba.gov). This was the route I took. A year before I left the hospital, I started working on my business plan. It helped me to determine exactly who I was, what I suggested, why, that was my ideal client, which is my target market (at the time), which was my competition, which I offer you my services, the way I would offer them, and so forth. As I coach other health professionals who want this dream, I now use a 3-page business plan for customers who do not intend to seek external funding. Regardless of the type of business plan, it will help to answer many difficult questions for you.
There are specific resources to the most specific areas, too, including other professionals who help others to boot. Do your research to see who you can turn to for support and ask questions as you progress. Once you have your business plan in place, this is not the time to celebrate, yet! How are you going to achieve the goals that you have come to this plan? You need a marketing plan next. Now, although the marketing plan is also part of a business plan, it is really just the intro! The marketing plan will become your style, your calendar, and define the actions you will take to ensure that these goals reality. If you use it seriously, it will be your daily guide to making your dreams!
But everything is possible! The only limitations we have are the ones we put on ourselves! With planning and learning stages, and do your homework, if it's something you really want to do, you can do, and do much to be done, too!
I am not saying that it's easy! Nothing worthwhile. I had to learn a lot, about myself, about the company, about my clients and potential clients. And it never ends, because my interests and passions change with the years. But, how exciting!
When my daughter started kindergarten, I went back to school. It took five years to get through school, but I had a vision: I wanted to help people become healthy and fit in the privacy of their own homes. After school, I did not have the plan fully in place, even in my mind, but after six years of work in a hospital, I was ready. I opened MEG Fitness in June 1996. This has been an incredible turn! I'll never look back at my life with regret that I did not pursue my dream. I really have learned that the only limits are the ones that I myself impose too! So, I continue to dream bigger and allow my vision to become bigger. Why not? What is the worst that can happen?
That's what you have to ask yourself. If you never try, you will be happier? If you never try, how will you know if you could have done? Consider some of the well-known names in sport, like Michael Jordan, the basketball player, he threw more MISSED plans that those who have made their mark. What if he had not had a chance to see what is possible for himself?
Well, now that you are ready to take the next step! First, to help you concentrate, I recommend that people begin to prepare their business plan. The Small Business Association has invaluable resources on their website (www.sba.gov). This was the route I took. A year before I left the hospital, I started working on my business plan. It helped me to determine exactly who I was, what I suggested, why, that was my ideal client, which is my target market (at the time), which was my competition, which I offer you my services, the way I would offer them, and so forth. As I coach other health professionals who want this dream, I now use a 3-page business plan for customers who do not intend to seek external funding. Regardless of the type of business plan, it will help to answer many difficult questions for you.
There are specific resources to the most specific areas, too, including other professionals who help others to boot. Do your research to see who you can turn to for support and ask questions as you progress. Once you have your business plan in place, this is not the time to celebrate, yet! How are you going to achieve the goals that you have come to this plan? You need a marketing plan next. Now, although the marketing plan is also part of a business plan, it is really just the intro! The marketing plan will become your style, your calendar, and define the actions you will take to ensure that these goals reality. If you use it seriously, it will be your daily guide to making your dreams!