Career Crossroads. 6 Tips to Make Your Transition to Entrepreneurship Easier

You logged into that conference call, the regular operational call with your senior leaders and peers. Soon enough you realized that your mind was not there. Your mind is in the escape room of your entrepreneurial dream. Since you opened that possibility in your mind, your thoughts produced strategies and practical actions. You know in your heart that you can do it. You know that this project/idea is your passion now. But is this the right moment? Are you really equipped with all the necessary competencies in order to handle the roller coaster of your entrepreneurial start-up? – you may wonder. If not now, WHEN?

Spring. You look back at the spring season of your career, a moment in time when your career journey was influenced by parents, role models, teachers, mentors. They all “knew” what was best for your career. You paid attention to their advices and sometimes you were not even sure that you followed your own path - have you ever imagined that maybe, for some time, you were just an actor in other people’s dreams?

Summer. The summer of your career involved hard work, training, exposure, competence development, networking, adding more and more complexity to your roles/projects. Your job titles became more and more sophisticated as well as your benefits package. From time to time you question your ability to be successful in a different “maze” but soon enough you realize that your addiction to structure & resources given by big companies, status, benefits, teams – it is a little higher than you expected. In your rare moments of introspection there is a red light question in your mind: Am I on the right career path?  The summer of our career is probably the critical moment when you decide if your professional life will be just a series of jobs/roles or it will be a construction, a manner to express what makes you special as a professional, a way to provide value, to contribute – a career. Somewhere between your Summer and Autumn career season – you feel empowered & equipped to choose your own path! A challenging one.

Autumn. You have the energy, you have the knowledge, you have proven experience & performance, you have a strong network, you have financial freedom, you have motivation to succeed, to inspire, to build something special. How to make sure your work is aligned with your passions,  values, or beliefs? Is your current work/role enough to build your future LEGACY?

Winter. If today  will be the winter of your career, would you digest the idea of failing to follow your dreams? Make a leap in time, dream about your career winter – this is all about legacy, it is about value created, it is about the positive change you manage to bring into this world or in people’s minds & hearts.

There are many ways to express who we are as professionals. You can choose entrepreneurship in any season of your career but if that moment came for you now - that business idea, that beautiful project generates many sleepless nights and internal debates. While sitting in that boring conference call, you just know that you are ready to embrace the unknown!  Do not hesitate, express yourself! 

6 Tips to Make Your Transition to Entrepreneurship Easier

?? Financial Planning. Your business might not generate income from the first months, be prepared to to manage your business solely on the basis of your current savings at least for the first 6 months. Discuss your financial planning and potential lack of income with your life partner and also set the expectations correctly together with your business partner – if you choose to have one.

?? Strengthen your Support Circle. This is a good moment to activate your mentors, your supporters, your positive friends, your family. You still need grounded people, ready to show you in a constructive manner, cracks in your strategic plan – listen to them, but also trust your instincts!

?? Strategic Networking. Reactivate your network. Find out their challenges, offer your support! Discuss your business ideas with trusted contacts, gain support! Keep them informed!

?? Personal Branding Inventory – losing your status by leaving your corporate job to follow your entrepreneurial dream is not easy. Your mind is flooded with doubts, different scenarios not always positive. The best way to fight with self-doubt in this case is to have a clear vision of who you are as a professional: your values, principles, accomplishments, competences, or your main differentiators as a professional, the value generated, testimonials etc. Make a chart of who you are as a professional beyond corporate titles and business cards and keep that visible for the moments when you have second thoughts.

?? Your dream needs your time! If you have decided to go in parallel – job & entrepreneurship – make sure your business  has your attention and prioritization in order to succeed! From my customers’ experience – failure comes from lack of dedication.

?? Regular self-introspection. Transition to entrepreneurship will put a lot of pressure on your ego, on your self-worth. Look inside, put all your worries and difficult questions on paper and no matter how grey the situation looks like - believe in yourself! You opened a door full of opportunities, enjoy this journey and if at one point you will realize that this is not your path – it lies in your power to change direction! Do not forget this. Failure in entrepreneurship is common. Failing your dreams is unacceptable.

If today will be the winter of your career, would you digest the idea of failing to follow your dreams? Make a leap in time, dream about your career winter – this is all about legacy, it is about value created, it is about the positive change you manage to bring into this world or in people’s minds & hearts.

Make a difference! 

Photo sources: africa.com, robgonsalves.live, archibase.com