Do I Need to Have Everything Together Before Starting a Business?
Thinking you need to have everything together before starting a business is one of the most paralyzing things that keeps people from going for it.
Do you feel like you need to be perfect, have a full client list, and the economy swinging, before you start your business?
YOU DON’T!
Starting a business is just that: starting. And feeling like everything needs to be perfect before getting started will keep you waiting and waiting, because there’s never a perfect time for anything.
The Myth
When you start a business, you’ll have several certifications in your field, a beautiful office space, a confirmed list of clients/customers, a high-end and functional website, an email list of 5,000+ subscribers, and an offer that’s professional, polished, and loaded with features.
You’ll immediately quit your job and have several thousand saved in both your personal and business bank accounts.
The above illustrates the goal, not the reality.
The Reality
You maintain your full-time job and work on your business at night and on the weekends. In the beginning you’re likely working seven days a week, but you feel so proud and fulfilled that you’re building your dream, so the hours aren’t depleting.
You can’t wait to quit your job, but you feel such security knowing you have steady income rolling in. Because of this, you won’t have to stress over your business needing to support you, so you’re better at setting boundaries and more discerning with the work and clients you take on.
Your “office” is likely your couch and the local coffee shop, but you’re already budgeting and planning for an office space.
While your website may not be perfect (or even close to what you envisioned), it’s done and it’s out there, getting traffic and building search engine optimization (SEO). Whenever you learn something new, you implement it and are improving your site over time.
Your email list may only have your mom and a few friends, but you consistently send emails, even if it’s just once a month.
What you offer, whether it be a product or service, may not be completely polished, but it gets the job done and your clients and customers enjoy it and have seen results.
And the really awesome part is that the reality is a much more sustainable route!
But what about overnight successes?
Yes, there are some overnight success businesses, but they often can’t sustain the immediate influx of orders/clients/demand.
By starting small, you’re more likely to learn as you go and adapt your practices to be able to account for a larger demand over time. As the fable goes “slow and steady wins the race.”
Don’t I have to be perfect?
Not at all!
We all have to start somewhere, and there’s no rule stating that you cannot make changes in the future.
My first business card used a pre-made design I found on Vistaprint. Within the year I had a fancy logo, and guess what? I printed more business cards and recycled the old.
Discover how my business evolved from MegaBug Photography to Miss MegaBug.
LEFT: My first business cards! I used a pre-made design from Vistaprint. | RIGHT: My final MegaBug Photography business cards, designed by me! The back is a photograph that I took.
When I started designing websites for clients, they were super simple. I didn’t know everything there was to know about design, copywriting, and SEO, but I knew what looked good and knew I could design a better website than my clients who wanted to hire me could have done for themselves.
My early websites costed $500, more if e-commerce was involved. Today, my starting website design rate is $3,195. I also have a fancy services page that I didn’t have when I started, and it has completely evolved over time.
Since designing my first website, I have learned so much about how to create a compelling design, interest visitors and guide them through the website, and how to optimize SEO to get visitors there in the first place.
Am I ashamed of my early website designs? Not at all! I’m proud that I got started and took the leap. My early websites are still functional and there are several that are still used by clients. I’ve also redesigned a couple.
Feeling like you have to be perfect will keep you from getting started. And the only way to get close to perfect (though it’s an ever evolving state) is to practice. The best way to practice is by doing.
As you’re evolving, your prices will increase. My website design rate went from $500 to $3,195! The increase came as a result of my practice and taking the time to watch webinars, take classes, and read blog posts to help me become a better designer.
Always remember, done is better than perfect, because done means you’re getting started. You can change and grow over time. The important piece is that you’re doing and working at it.
Along with tap dancing through our fears, the process of actually getting started is overwhelming. Need a roadmap? My Begin Your Business online course will guide you through the steps of starting a business, making it easy for you to complete small action steps each day.
Topics covered include determining your business name, setting prices, establishing an LLC and EIN, assembling your team (accountants, insurance providers, etc.), and writing a business plan.
Hey there! I’m Meg:
LOVER OF CATS, ROLLER SKATING, AND VW BUGS
I also love business and share all kinds of tips and resources to help you grow yours.
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