Stop constantly assuming that you don’t have enough information to start your business. Many people want to go into a business of one kind or another but they feel they don’t have enough information to do it.
I spoke to a woman recently who wanted to become a party planner. What was stopping her was that she felt that she doesn’t know enough to become a party planner. I told her, “Why don’t you do your first event for free, first two of them for friends or whatever it is. You’ll learn and by the time you get your fourth or fifth event, you’ll know everything there is to know about being a party planner.”
People have this terrible fear that they don’t know enough and they cannot go into business because they don’t know enough.
Just bite the bullet and go in; you’ll do okay!
While I understand the need to sometimes jump into the fray to get experience, you’re looking at this from one point of view only.
Arguably, there are situations where the concern is real and the person really doesn’t have enough information or experience to start a business.
In that case, there are options such as interning, shadowing others and simply learning more before actually putting that business idea into action.
In your example, offering to do an event or two for free may, or may not, be a good idea. If it’s an issue of self-confidence or a perceived lack of experience you may be right. Sometimes just getting started is the most important step.
However, what if the prospective business person really doesn’t know enough? Not charging won’t save the day when the event comes crashing down in metaphorical flames.
Dealing with business fears is always a balancing act. It’s tough to know when you can wing it and when you can’t but knowing that, and sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone, is one element of making smart business choices.
Debbie,
The woman I was speaking to KNEW enough to be a party planner. She was just too scared to actually take the plunge….
But I agree with you 100%. before you open a business of any kind, you had better have done your homework to make sure you aren’t doomed to fail before you even begin….
As someone who went bankrupt in real estate because I didn’t know enough about what I was doing, I have to add, “It’s better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven’t done.”
I learned a lot from my foolish mistakes.