Follow Your Heart To Business - 4 Things The Books May Not Tell You About Starting Your Own Business

Many (most?) of us dream of the perfect job or business, but few of us ever get there. Usually this is not because of a lack of opportunity, but more of an abundance of fear. To follow you heart to your business dreams takes courage, lots of it. And a good dose of chutzpah helps, too.

Go to any bookstore and you will find literally dozens of books on self-employment, starting your own business, writing business plans, and so on. Pick a few or read them all; you are bound to get good practical advice. Take classes, work with a coach, join groups. If you don’t get overwhelmed by all the input you will be able to set the forces in motion and get started.

Here are four simple steps you may or may not get in those practical guides or from that experienced business coach:

Do listen to your heart (and your coach if you have one): I finally went for the gusto, back to something I first did when I was nine years old, after piddling around in dissatisfying jobs or unsuccessful ventures for years. Now I am happy and making money at it, too. Recently I ran across notes from coaching I did a couple of business flops back. What struck me is that I am now doing pretty much what the sessions pointed to, information I ignored for years. I stopped trying to put square me in the round hole.

Don’t talk too much to friends: This is not to protect your idea, although that may well be a consideration. This is to protect yourself. Your friends and family members may be well-intentioned, or they may be unintentional saboteurs. Well-meaning people can say mean things. Don’t listen to criticism and advice from people who don’t really understand what you are doing or why you are doing it. If you do listen, but don’t take it to heart. Trust in yourself.

Know yourself and your pace: I am a plodder; it takes me a long time to make decisions, take the first steps, make the calls. The ideas are there, they just sometimes take a long time to come to fruition. I know my pace. People are compelled to tell me to contact Oprah about my product, start looking into manufacturing/mass production, do this, do that. I am not ready to do all that, and I know it. I just smile and nod, and go at my snail’s pace. It works for me, even if it does not work for others. Maybe you are the sort to rush headlong into things and that is great. But if you take what seems like forever, don’t beat yourself up over it. Remember the Hare and the Tortoise?

Avoid panic and self-doubt: This is probably the hardest step for me. If there is a lull in business I freak out and think I will go broke. Invoking the lessons of “The Secret” may or may not help. I obsessively look at similar products on line and question what I am doing, even though I know I am doing what is right for ME and is working as is. Do your best to avoid comparing your business or product to others that are similar. If you are struggling financially, get a part time job, get a loan, but don’t throw in the towel if you are truly doing what you love. Take a deep breath and another step forward.

So, in addition to all the practical aspects of starting a business, keep these emotional steps in mind as well. Being on your own is not easy, but it is worth it if you do it right. Trust your instincts, follow your heart, do what you love. Good luck!

Peace with each of our own hearts possible. Every heart that finds peace, even for a moment at a time, gets us one step, one heart closer to a universal peace. If you follow your heart and build a business you love you will be making a positive step not just for yourself, but in a small and important way, to all human beings. See how one entrepreneur is doing that at http://www.peacefulheartsdolls.com

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March 7, 2008 | Filed Under Business 

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