Back in the Mad Men days of typewriters, rolodexes, and message pads, being in business usually meant a brick-and-mortar office, lots of staff, and archaic technology by today’s standards. Success stories still abound from the heyday of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, and every other garage-to-skyscraper household name we’ve come to know and rely on. Their pioneering fortitude set the stage for today’s groundbreaking entrepreneurs.
If you thought about going into business for yourself but still hesitate to do so, let me make this one point excruciatingly plain:
“Stop waiting. The time has never been better to launch your own unique enterprise.”
Even Forbes agrees that consumer driven businesses are on the verge of explosion.
You see, comparing all the tools available to entrepreneurs today versus even ten or twenty years ago, it isn’t even any kind of a contest. Revolutionary technology has not only given small business owners a leg up in getting launched, it’s actually offered them leverage and a level of freedom never before realized – until now.
From wi-fi to smart phones and the endless array of apps to choose from, to business books you can download on your Kindle, to virtual assistants, the world has become the proverbial oyster for all those wishing to “hang their shingle” and be in business for themselves. And overhead? Well, we started our business at our kitchen table. Now, we run a multi-million dollar business from our very own building in Nashville, TN. All it took was a few short years, a lot of trial and error, and finding our “secret sauce” that meant success for our business.
And, even though we as a nation are staring down the nose of a hotly contested election, don’t let the possible outcome deter you from your best laid plans. Your most important decision won’t be what tools to use or when, but rather what kind of business to go into – products, services, or both.
Only you can answer that question. Chances are, though, that if you’re reading this blog, you’ve already got a pretty good idea of what type of business to pursue. The challenge is giving yourself permission to try – and possibly fail – at running your own shop.
So, just know that your idea for a business – and especially one that you’ve been “kicking around” a while – probably has legs. Strike while your gumption is up and don’t be afraid to get wet. Once you do, you’ll probably never look back.
So come on in, the water’s just fine.
Allen Baler is a leading entrepreneur and Harvard grad. Allen Baler is a Partner in 4Patriots LLC, based in Nashville.
Disclaimer: This blog post is not a substitute for the sound advice of a business professional with expertise in the subject matter discussed. Please seek appropriate counsel on what strategies make sense for your business.