Creating your own business is one of my most fulfilling things you can do in life. If you know you don’t want to spend your career working for someone else and making their dreams come true, it’s safe to say you’re leaning toward entrepreneurship.
This doesn’t mean that working for yourself is easy. However, you can follow these 5 steps to find your inner entrepreneur and validate your business idea.
Step 1: Conduct A Skills Audit
The first step in finding your inner entrepreneur is conducting a skills audit. A skills audit is a way to find out what you’re good at and what other people will pay you to do. The number one reason I hear people say why they won’t take the leap to being an entrepreneur is because they don’t know what they would do as a business. A skills audit is the solution to that problem.
You’ll want to write down everything you’re good at. Think about when people ask you for advice, what’s the common topic? Are there things that you’re good at fixing? What can you do faster than the average person can? These are a few questions you can ask to determine your skills. Then you’ll want to pick the skills and tasks that interest you the most.
Step 2: Decide On Your Niche
Next, you’ll want to find the intersection where your skills and interest meet the market. What are people willing to pay for? Simply do a Google search for each of the products/services you are considering offering.
If there are other people offering the same thing, that’s a good sign. You don’t want to go into an oversaturated market, but you also don’t want to have to create a whole new market just for your product/service. Once you’ve validated your business idea, you can brainstorm ways to differentiate yourself from the competition.
This is your niche – the category your business falls under and how you’re different from the rest. When you decide on your niche, you’ll find it a lot easier to come up with a clear vision for your business.
Step 3: Create A Website
There are very few businesses that don’t require a website. In today’s age, it’s important to have a presence online. Whether your business is selling crafts or consulting, a website will make you look like more of an authority in your field.
For some, a simple one-page website with your information will do. For most, a full blog will be necessary. A blog that you post to on a regular business will eventually make you a thought leader in your industry and generate more business for you. For some of you (and me), your blog is your business!
The best websites are self-hosted. This gives you full ownership of your website, more flexibility in terms of design, and the ability to monetize it however you want. I use Bluehost for my web hosting.
Step 4: Become Part Of a Community
Success doesn’t have to be lonely. And yes, you will be successful. If you want to find your inner entrepreneur, you have to believe that success will happen.
Join online and local communities to connect with other people who are on the same page as you. It’s important not to operate in a bubble by yourself. For introverts (like me), I know this can be difficult. But being online gives you the perfect opportunity to connect with all kinds of people whether you’re finding community through a blog or Facebook group.
Step 5: Invest In Yourself
If you’ve come this far, you know you’re meant to be an entrepreneur. It’s important to know that you won’t know everything in the beginning. Getting started now is better than waiting for perfection, which never comes. You’ll have to learn as you go.
As you progress in your business, you’ll want to invest in yourself. This can be through books, online courses, and conferences. I’ve personally used all three methods. Depending on your business, the resources you seek out may look completely different. No matter what your version of investing in yourself includes, all that matters is that you’re willing to learn and grow.
