How to Decide if It’s Time to Start a Business

By Michelle Andersen

There I was seven years ago, my own boss for the first time. Freelancing had turned into a real business. The recession would coincidentally inspire me to take the opportunity of not getting hired anywhere else and hire myself. With a little client experience that had gone well, I thought I had what was needed to make a business float – smarts, talent, and a client-friendly personality.

As it turns out these were not the things I needed.

Eighteen months in, I was able to let go of my pride finally and admit I was stuck. Not making money, working on unfulfilling projects, and feeling entirely frustrated, I would make a decision that would change the course of my business, and my entire life in a really good way. I needed help. I had to admit I didn’t have all the information. Friends and family would cheerlead about the romantic idea of being an entrepreneur, but the reality was, I didn’t know why I was hitting a wall and feeling miserable. So I turned my pride into something I that would become my biggest asset – vulnerability. I had to be vulnerable enough to let go and get new information, so I hired a coach. At the time it felt like an extravagance to spend money on myself when I really needed to spend it on rent. I would go on to make my investment back in the first coaching session.

But it was deeper than the risk of losing my investment – it was the fear around knowing I would have to change.

One thing the ability to be vulnerable and to change would lead me towards was myself. As a few of my coaches would point out – being in business is one of the best self-development paths you can be on…but only if you are open to growth.

So how do you know if it’s time to start a business?

Are you willing to be vulnerable enough to take responsibility for all the things you don’t like about your current situation? Because guess what – when you’re the boss, it’s obviously not happening because of someone else. Today I don’t make any decisions without my team of experts and you’d better bet I keep at least one coach on board at all times. There is never a “good time” to start a business. But it is always a good time to take responsibility for the gift you have to share with others, and figure out how to get it into the light. Ways to begin setting yourself on the right path are to get around a community of growth-minded individuals, hire a coach or expert to hold you accountable, and be willing to admit when it’s time to get new ideas from somewhere and then get them! Aviatra Accelerators has helped many women explore and launch their businesses – this can be an excellent resource for any female entrepreneur looking for a place to start. As a proud board member I always enjoy sharing my lessons with others so that they may find value in the mistakes I’ve already made.