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The Joy of being an Entrepreneur!


Starting a business is a dream for many. For some of us that have been fortunate and brave enough to turn it into a reality, it is both rewarding and empowering. It also offers a daily lesson in how to handle stress, amongst other things! It can be an emotional rollercoaster, a learning curve you never thought possible and an enlightening experience of how strong and capable you truly are! For those that stay in business against all odds, we learn to take the knocks and to get up again to face the next day with both enthusiasm and strength. Because that is who we are.

In later editions of Women Inc. this column will focus on actual marketing steps to help you start your business and offer guidance for the years ahead. However, for this first issue, I thought I would touch on the emotional side of being an entrepreneur. The strength and courage you need to fulfill your dream. The ongoing lessons. And the resulting joy.

The first step. Taking the first step to working for yourself is both daunting and exciting. The fear of the unknown. I believe that unless you have the backing of a large trust fund to rely on should you fail (something I certainly lacked!) the financial risk alone is enough to scare those that are easily frightened. However, my logic when starting my business was twofold. Firstly, I do not believe that in our current economic climate there is job security in most companies. That is not to knock the corporate world but really, who can confidently say they will always be looked after by the company they currently work for? And very few companies offer the perks of yesteryear. They simply cannot afford to. I must add that the experience we gain at these firms is invaluable so this is in no way meant to inspire you to up and leave a secure and stable job! I am, however, saying that you can create your own security while working for yourself. Secondly, I believe we are in a country where never before has the small business owner or entrepreneur been so encouraged. There is an energy amongst those that run their own companies that is both exciting and reassuring.

Believing in yourself. For most of us it is very hard to maintain a constant bullet-proof belief in our abilities. After all we are human and, as with everyone, some days are better than others! The best advice I can offer here is trust your intuition! It, for me, is bullet-proof! When I ignore mine, I pay the price. However, when you are having a bad day or doubting you have done the right thing, if possible take time out. Have a quiet coffee somewhere and focus on your strengths, on what you have achieved so far and, if all else fails, imagine you are back in the corporate world answering to your old boss! Somehow the freedom and joy of working for myself always restores my faith.

Be flexible. When starting a business it is important to have a firm idea of what your aims and intentions are. However, I have learnt that opportunities will constantly arise and you need to be flexible and willing to consider moving in other directions. If not, you will possibly lose out on achieving more than you thought possible. Again, trust your intuition – if it feels right, it is right!

Passion. What a wonderful word! Passion for what you do almost always guarantees an element of success. Team it with ‘joy’ and, working as hard as you will have to will give you endless pleasure! Realistically, not every day will fill you with passion but when quietly reflecting on what your company offers and what you have achieved, you should be filled with a joy for your work. If you are not passionate about working for yourself and what you do, chances are you will become part of the statistic of small businesses that fail in their first year.

Being a Woman. Women are incredible. We are strong, intelligent, capable and brave. And we have the gift of intuition. Not to say men haven’t. But this is about us now. We have so much to offer and so much to share. Look around you for other woman running their own businesses. Look for opportunities to help one another. Look for opportunities to work together. I have often found jealousy amongst woman in the corporate world and yet I seldom see it in entrepreneurs. I have met and learnt from some tremendous woman. From my own mother, to those I work with, share with and gain strength from. We are everywhere.

If you have any particular marketing questions you would like answered in future editions, please send them to . The views expressed in this column are solely Create-A-Stir’s and we take full responsibility for them!

June 2006