Starting my own business (Bennett Evolution) has been the most empowering aspect of my life. I say this with earnestness and no hyperbole. Though small (and hopefully growing), I’ve found contentment that was not a part of my early career.
I attempt to be open and earnest in these posts. I appreciate you spending some of your valuable time reading my musings. I balance my openness with my desire not to blame others while also being true to my lived experiences. I say this to share that for a large part of my adult life; I was an emotional disaster. I wasn’t the husband or the father I wanted to be.
Largely, this was due to my professional ordeals at work. Working in organizations with bosses and tier structures is not a fit for my personality. It took me entirely too long to learn, accept, and do something about this reality.
Clearly, I’m speaking for myself. Many (perhaps most) people operate happily and effectively in work organizations. Meaning, work environments with tiers and hierarchies. I count my wife as one of these people. She is the most accomplished and competent professional I know. That wasn’t me, however. I struggled feeling as though I fit in, anywhere. My tolerance for bosses is nonexistent. Meetings of any kind felt like the ultimate waste of time. They depleted me.
I have worked with many clients at Bennett Evolution who have felt as I did in their careers. They struggle with feeling valued and empowered at work. And these clients have ideas germinating in their minds, desires that they would relish to leverage into their own entrepreneurship. I love this for them! I’m enthused by everyone that shared with me that they want to work for themselves and become an entrepreneur.
The difficult part, however, is gaining confidence. The confidence to propel them to take the initial steps to start their business. People (often) have brilliant ideas that the world’s consumers would enjoy and/ or find valuable. The entrepreneur in me lights up when I hear their propositions. I often think “this idea, (with proper execution) has no chance to fail.” Or better “this idea will succeed.” That is if this person across from me doesn’t stand in their own way.
Come and talk with me at Bennett Evolution if you’re in consideration into the transition to entrepreneurship but feel that there is an internal impediment. Until then, let me leave you with a few considerations for starting a business and the positive mental health benefits of business ownership.
Considerations
Tolerance of Risk – This is an important consideration that I’ll address in a future post. Starting a business is, of course, inherently risky. However, you can hedge the risk (i.e.. proper business planning, not entirely leaving your current job, etc.). These can mitigate some of your exposure to risk.
Preparation/Developing a Business Model – Don’t stall yourself out before you start. Think about your business. Fall in love with it. Then prepare. Preparation is where I see many people falter. Challenge yourself to put together a SWOT analysis, develop an elevator speech and work on a one- or five-year business plan. Once you take these steps, obstacles melt, and a path forward begins.
Confidence (Self Efficacy) – Excellence is connected to confidence. You need it. Or, to develop it. I’m not saying confidence is binary, either you have it or you don’t. You can cultivate it, through preparation.
Recruit Others – Take steps out of your comfort zone. Share your idea(s) with others. You may be too close to the idea to see how amazing it is. Let others buoy you.
Benefits
Calling your own shots – Having control over my direction professionally and time are exponentially important to me. For many, overseeing professional direction is directly linked to mental well-being.
Profound satisfaction – There is deep satisfaction associated with accepting, getting comfortable, and overcoming risks. Those negative thoughts and cognitions get small.
Financial Fulfilment – Having control over your own salary is rewarding. No more asking the boss for a raise, promotion, or more time off. You’re the boss. The phrase “you eat what you kill” applies here. What that means is that you take out the middle- man for your money. You want more money? Have a good plan and execute it. You want even more money? Work harder and longer. But the fruit of your effort is yours.
