Is it a good time to start a business?

With Melbourne in lockdown (again!) and most businesses struggling to maintain revenues, many people are out of work or having to reduce their hours and incomes. Some are doing it tough. We are all stuck at home and craving the basic freedom of going to see our friends, our favourite sporting teams or having a holiday. Give me some sun!!

But when speaking to my clients and friends, I find not all are struggling. Some are doing really well. They are loving the simplicity of life. Enjoying time with their family and the concentrated focus on their work. It doesn't seem to be related to their level of introvertedness or the amount of money they are earning. It seems to be more about their level of satisfaction with their work and whom they are spending time with.

When you boil it all down, the difference is how much you like and are proud of your work. Without the distractions of doing lots of 'stuff' like sports, travel, socialising, restaurants, bars etc We are faced with the satisfaction or lack thereof, of our base life. Work, home and relationships.

If we are fulfilled with these foundations of life, it seems to be the difference between fulfilment or not. Of course, there is always wine and TV, to keep us happy, but we know it's a momentary diversion. If we are honest with ourselves, we know if we are really satisfied with where we are or not.

Which camp are you in: are you fulfiled with work or not?

It's a big question I know! (grab that wine now perhaps...) and one that isn't answered in a simple blog and I don't profess to have all the answers. There are those far wiser and more articulate than me who have some words of advice that helped me navigate my own journey and I wanted to share them with you. It may just help you figure things out during this difficult period.

Over to Steve Jobs and his top tips to a fulfilling life and career...

1. LIVE LIFE BY YOUR OWN RULES.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

2. ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR HEART, NO MATTER WHERE IT TAKES YOU.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

3. GIVE YOUR BEST EFFORT IN EVERYTHING YOU DO IN LIFE.

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected. Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles.”

4. DON’T LET MONEY DEFINE YOUR EXISTENCE.

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me. My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”

5. DON’T EVER STOP DREAMING BIG.

“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

6. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, KEEP IT ALL INTO PERSPECTIVE.

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”

It's a good reminder to think like we are going to die one day - because the truth is we are. Sorry to break it to you! So why not take this opportunity of more time and focus to take stock, think deeply and make some changes in your life and career.

It's easy to fall into the easy trap of thinking it's a terrible time to make a change, let alone start a new business.

But is there really a perfect time to start something new?

Well, that depends on the type of business you want to start and more importantly why you want to start it. Let me explain...

When I started my business over eight years ago, it was a terrible time to make a change. I was recently separated and navigating through a very emotional and financially difficult process. But for some reason, it seemed like the best time to change my career too. To stop the large monthly paycheques and go out on my own was extremely challenging. However, I felt it was right for me, rather than being a logical choice.

If you have ever been drawn to something that doesn't quite make sense looking forward you will understand what I mean. Often these choices, if followed, make complete sense looking back.

I made the jump into my own business many years ago and it was tough but oh so rewarding. I don't regret a thing and am now enjoying the time at home to reinvent many aspects of my career - because I can. I have control and choice. It's the freedom I am lacking in my lifestyle represented in my own work.

Only you will know if it's the right time for you to start your own business. But don't let the market or environment dictate that. Listen to your intuition and trust yourself. Work hard and take a chance before it's too late.

Best of luck!!

Andrew

P.S. If you are looking to start a business or grow your current one, building a powerful personal brand can have a massive impact on getting new clients, partners and staff. That's why we partnered with the best L&D company in Australia to build a brand new Personal Branding course - check it out here. (link https://www.socialstar.com.au/personal-branding-course-from-social-media-college)