Before you dive bomb into entrepreneurship

Remember that wild dive bomb you did as a kid drenching everyone around you, stinging your skin and making you delirious with excitement?

Well that is entrepreneurship dear ladies. The sensible thing to do for before entering into entrepreneurship is to have a business plan, to have start up capital; to have researched the markets etc and so on and so forth.

Now I will dispense with some more sensible advice. Some of the correct reasons to go into entrepreneurship include:
1. You have a passion for a specific product or service.
2. You have a particular talent, skill or interest in this field.
3. You have identified a gap in the market that you know you will be able to fill far better than existing suppliers can.
4. You are able and willing to do the marketing, sales and administration on your own until you can afford competent staff.
5. You have the correct personality characteristics to handle the pressures of entrepreneurship.

Some people enter entrepreneurship because they find it difficult to work with others and are attracted to the independence that entrepreneurship brings.

Some people start out of desperation because they are unemployed, unemployable or are desperate to fire their boss. These are technically considered to the wrong reasons for starting a business and I wholeheartedly agree.

Being an entrepreneur is grueling. Yes, I know that it has been said before. But think of the old Salticrax advertisements and that end-of-the-month Salticrax where you have no toppings. Being an entrepreneur can mean no toppings for a while. Sometimes that “a while” can last for months and even years.

When you dive bomb, there is wild abandon, but there are also annoyed wet people screaming at you, some are laughing, some stay with you and some just get up and leave.

Sometimes you land badly and hurt yourself. The sting of the water can be very painful and injuries can also be severe, like those in a failed business.

Do that dive bomb ten to fifteen times a day and everyday and you will find that you and your supporters’ nerves can get quite raw.

You have long, excruciating hours, creditors who do not care if you had a bad sales month, and the list can go on and on. You may be seen by your family as a deranged lunatic bent on destroying your family and yourself because of your own selfishness, greed and ego.

Can you put up with that pressure? Are you that confident in your abilities, in your family bond and self respect?

Yes, you are? Well that’s great, because a great many businesses were started for some more egocentrically and somewhat foolish reasons and have flourished with their self made dive bombing women appearing grinning at the other end of the swimming pool.

Okay, your bikini may be a bit lopsided and maybe you even lost it in the water, but hey, nothing beats the rush.