Your dream is to become an entrepreneur, captain of the ship, and master of your own destiny. You have striking talent and the requisite drive, and maybe you’ve grown weary of spending all of your time and effort working for someone else. If you’ve always wanted to start your own company, maybe the time is now.

There’s no question that launching a business can be satisfying and rewarding. On the other hand, the sheer lack of a safety net can be unnerving and paralyzing to many aspiring business owners. That’s quite understandable, though, especially when you consider the hard reality that approximately 80 percent of all new businesses fail within their first three years of existence.

Nevertheless, many people succeed at transforming their self-employment dreams into reality. You can, too, by learning from and drawing on the experiences of others. There is a wealth of information available – be sure to take advantage of it. Carefully study the business models that have succeeded, but spend even more time examining those that have failed. As you do, you’ll notice several overriding themes emerge.

Clarity of Vision

To start and maintain a successful business, you must have a clear vision. Think carefully about your purpose, or the driving force that brought you to this point in the first place: What are you trying to accomplish, and why? Define a compelling goal that guides the way, like a beacon that shines brightly before you. It should speak to your very core, consume you, and draw you toward success. Without such a vision, you’ll find it much too easy to make excuses and give up when things get tough. And rest assured, things will get tough.

Surely, you’ve heard the expression “Failure is not an option,” which is commonly credited to a flight director in NASA’s Mission Control. This is the creed that you, too, must live by. Simply put, if you lack the clarity of purpose to forge ahead, you won’t. And your mission will fail. Do not allow this to happen.

Support From Those Around You

Here’s the truth: Starting a new business is hard work. But it’s also more than that – it’s all-consuming. You’re a hard worker, though, and this is your dream, so you’re undoubtedly ready. But what about the people around you? Keep in mind that once you embark on this exciting new journey, your family, spouse, loved ones, friends, and partners will necessarily be impacted in a number of ways.

Essentially, a new business is “do or die,” and it will all depend on you, especially in the beginning. The more you put into it, the more likely it will succeed. Therefore, you will need to adopt an “all the time” mentality and lifestyle. This will likely mean workdays that stretch into evenings, work weeks that infringe upon weekends, and limited, if any, opportunities for vacations. These circumstances can present a real hardship to others who require or want your time. To ensure the success of both your business and your personal relationships, you will need to secure the initial and continuing buy-in, support, and understanding of everyone you care about.

With a clear vision that you take pride in, and the support of your family and friends, you’ll be poised for victory. Just remember: The business person who achieves great success with his or her very first venture is rare. If – or, more accurately, when – you experience a setback, don’t be discouraged. Instead, step back, take a breath, evaluate what went wrong, determine how you can improve, and focus on the positives. When you truly enjoy what you do, success is almost certain to follow.

Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to business / employment.

Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to business / employment. http://www.glassdoor.com/Job/Laser-Spine-Institute-Houston-Jobs-EI_IE241460.0,21_IL.22,29_IC1140171.htm

Author Bio: Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to business / employment.

Category: Business
Keywords: business, employment