The Challenges Involved In Becoming An Entrepreneur

By Angel Dudley


Young people have always been advised to be steadfast in their jobs, to stick it out and to earn a long term reputation with a chosen employer. Those rules have certainly changed. More and more people now depend upon their own skills to earn a living and to create financial security for themselves. Becoming an entrepreneur is a dream that is followed by many people but there are dangers and pitfalls involved.

There are any number of reasons why people decide to enter into the world of commerce. Some people think that they have excellent ideas that have not been explored before. Others are convinced that financial security can only be attained by owning and running a business. Yet others want to remain in control of their own lives and some even go on their own because they detest being subordinate to a boss.

It is unfortunate that so many new businesses fail within the first year or two of operation. In most cases this can be ascribed to the fact that the owners do not pay enough attention to vital aspects such as cash flow management and administration. They spend all their energy on the development of their ideas and they do not take the many mundane aspects of business management into consideration.

A novel plan is often a wonderful reason to start out in business but much preparation is needed. It is vital to perform proper market research and to evaluate market expectations. Many new businesspeople simply fail to understand that unless they prepare the market for their innovations they may not make any headway. Marketing strategies and issues such as pricing and distribution also need careful consideration.

Many successful new business owners opt for a franchise. There are many good reasons to consider this option. Franchises use proven business models and the mother company offers extensive support to the new owner. They also provide marketing material and they are able to negotiate better deals on leases and finance. Franchise companies normally do whatever they can to make sure that new franchise holders succeed.

One of the biggest shortcomings of new businesses is the failure to develop a long term strategy. Change is inevitable and businesses should not only react upon those changes, but they should foresee them and make plans in time. This is the only way in which to use change to advantage rather than to fall victim of changed business environments.

Perhaps the biggest threat to the continued success of new businesses is the inability of entrepreneurs to delegate and to assemble competent teams. They are so used to do everything themselves that they are reluctant to allow others to take responsibility for certain tasks and functions. This can be deadly for growing enterprises.

Becoming an entrepreneur is a dream shared by many people. It is a difficult route, however. It is necessary to stay on top of the market, to develop new skill all the time and to learn how to trust others. Running a successful business can be exhilarating but falling into a morass of difficulties can be a nightmare.




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