4 Steps To Take Before Launching Your Own Business

By Ashley Stahl, Originally Published in Forbes

I know firsthand just how scary it can be to take the plunge and launch your own business. Trust me—selling my car to hire my first business coach was one of the hardest decisions I ever made. I was so anxious, I thought my heart was going to beat right out of my chest.

But it was the best investment I ever made.

It was the first major step towards pursuing my true passion. It was a massive investment in myself, so huge that failure was simply not an option… I knew I was ready. Well, as ready as I’d ever be (you never actually feel “ready” to start a business).

Running a business has its perks, but it’s definitely not for the meek of heart. If you’re thinking of starting a business, here are a few steps to take before you truly lock it down.

1. Get clarity on what you want your business to be. You don’t have to have all the details figured out from the start — actually, the strongest leaders are those who adapt well to change — but make sure you’ve got a focused vision before diving in head first. What’s your passion? What do friends say you’re really good at? If you pursue starting a business that’s in line with who you are and what you’re all about, you’re far more likely to succeed.

2. Invest in a mentor or coach. Don’t let the sticker shock scare you off. Hiring an expert in your field to help guide you instead of spinning your wheels trying to reinvent the wheel is the best investment you can make in yourself and your prospective business. My business wouldn’t be what it is today without the investments I’ve made in various mentors over the years.

3. Decide you’re going to take the plunge, then take it. And don’t look back. Don’t let failure discourage you. The: Walt Disney had several failed businesses before he achieved success, Lady Gaga got dropped by record label early in her career after just 3 months with them, and J.K. Rowling was on welfare (and a single mother) when she wrote the first Harry Potter Even Oprah experienced devastating failure: she was publicly fired from her job as an evening news anchor at a Baltimore news station in 1977.Not every step along the way will be a total success, but failure only comes when you decide to give up instead of just shifting your approach.

4. Write a business plan. Not the most stimulating task, but focusing on the details and writing a plan is the true first step to creating your company. It makes your company real, makes it truly come alive, and commits your vision to a tangible form.

Starting my career coaching business and sticking it out through the highest of highs and the lowest of lowest has been the most humble and rewarding experience of my life. If you’ve toyed with the idea of starting your own company, stop holding yourself back.

Be brave and take the plunge. You’re as ready as you’ll ever be.

For a FREE course to land a new job you love, launch your dream business, or find your purpose, visit AshleyInternational.com.