DO I DARE?
When you are considering becoming your own boss, a small business owner or consultant, it’s natural to have that fantasy of the big client walking into your life!
The “one” who is going to throw you that big project with that big price tag on it, relieving all the stress of “just skimming by” on those little jobs.
CAUTION: once you put aside those dreams of a vacation in Tuscanny, you need to consider the scope of the project. There really is no room for fantasy in the running of your business. Tuscanny can wait! Truly, it can.
SCOPE: the scope is the quality of results, the performance and what the project is supposed to do. You must consider the amount of work required to meet the objectives of the project.
BE REALISTIC: you do not want to be that person who is trying to stuff that square peg into the round hole. Don’t be that someone who is uncomfortable or who does not belong in a particular situation. This will definitely tarnish your reputation as a qualified and intelligent businessperson.
I am definitely not suggesting you should not meet a challenge head on. Waking up every day and running your own business is a challenge! But you have GOT to pace yourself.
PRESENTATION: hopefully during your infancy stage of planning to be your own boss, you had a realistic plan of the image you were going to present of your company, or of yourself if you are a one∼woman∼band.
GREED: we all have been taught what the “root” of that is. Far wiser is the woman who knows her limits in business, than the one who jumps right in screaming, “pick me!”. You will be far more respected for declining a project than failing to deliver on your word!
REFER SOMEONE: through your network of business associates you may know someone who has been a mentor, or a success in their own right. They have three people on staff to handle the job your “big client” is in need of. REFER HER! The client you just passed on will appreciate your insight into their needs and the fact you were not intimidated by referring them to someone else who would be the right person and the right size company for the job.
RUNNING THE MARATHON: you cannot run around the block near your house one time and convince yourself you are ready for the Boston Marathon. But you can accept assignments from a small entity who is in need of a savvy, professional as yourself. Stick with the smaller businesses and you will become far more noticeable in the professional arena. Again, pace yourself. After your time of running a few 5K races you know if you are ready for the “big one” or need more time in preparing for that challenge down the road.
READY: time will tell when (or if) you are ready to take on the “big guns” or if you have been able to sustain your finances at a level that works for you, and you are happy, have minimum stress and are continuing to enjoy….being your own boss!
∼PACE YOURSELF & PACE YOURSELF∼
