I am an entrepreneur.
If you are reading this, it is likely you are one too.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have been self employed for a very long time. I don’t have one boss…I have hundreds (my clients).
As long as I am willing to get my work done – no matter what, I have been able to go to my children’s functions, take off for doctor appointments, or make my mom really happy and represent the family at funerals and other day long events. I can take a vacation…but usually get very antsy after 3 days…because of my responsibility to my business.
Tomorrow, when I wake up, I am going to ask myself “what I want to do today”…and the answer is going to be “whatever needs to be done” and “whatever I want”! As long as I haven’t been procrastinating, I can do anything. I love what I do.
An entrepreneur is a person who begins and manages his/her own business. She may work alone or hire employees. An entrepreneur often does things differently because they feel that they have a better way to do business. I believe that entrepreneurs lead by example and make a tremendous positive influence in the business world.
I would prefer to do business with an entrepreneur. Why? Because entrepreneurs care. They know that the future of their business lies in the hands of a happy customer. They want things to be right for their customer because they take ownership of the outcome.
The main characteristic that will help sustain a business owner through all the crisis and decisions that must be made while owning a business is “drive”. Willingness to work very hard. Entrepreneurs commonly put in 12-hour days.
You may hear about the business owners who put in 3 hour days…but, they either were very lucky…or put in all the blood sweat and tears before and now are living off their old work. You have to be a hard worker to see results in entrepreneurship.
I often get up at 3 a.m. and work straight through until almost bedtime. That is when I am in my creation stage. I have been in my creation stage now for over a year. If you have been around me much, you can see…I am blooming with ideas and working like crazy to bring them to life.
Entrepreneurs wear many hats. We are the jack of all trades. We need to learn a lot about everything…and know enough to ask …or seek the answers if we do not know. Business owners seek out advice from books, consultants, their “tribe” – from any source that will help them to do a better job.
Successful owners of health coaching practices have some common characteristics. We have health coaching knowledge gained through education and work experience. It is really hard to offer health coaching without knowing how to perform the services properly. Most have worked for someone else, either as a health coach or in some other business situation.
Entrepreneurs are self motivated. Self motivated people do not wait for their boss to assign them work. Health coaches who need to be prodded into working will find it difficult to put in the time and effort necessary to operate their business.
Being the boss is fun. It is also a daily gamble and a lot of really hard work. Those who may be considering owning their own business have already met the first prerequisite and that is the dream.
Next, they must get the skills and background in health coaching and business that will make it easier for them to achieve their dream.
Are you deciding if you should be an entrepreneur? The first step is a list of pros and cons.
There are lots of great things about being an entrepreneur…there are even more cons. You have to really want it and you must be willing to work like crazy…and love it!
What are your dreams? Are you ready for entrepreneurship? Share with us here.
I am soooo ready to be my own boss. I haven’t really ben able to focus as much on my business over the past couple of years due to family issues that took my time and focus. But, now I’m really ready to see my dreams come true. I’m tired of someone else setting my schedule, deciding who I will work with, or for how long. I’m changing careers now. I’ve been an educator for 20 years, and I am finding that I am losing the passion for teaching abc’s and 123’s. But, gaining the passion for teaching about nutrition and learning how to live a healthy life style. This is what fires me up, gets me talking, wakes me up in the middle of the night, because I’m so ready to get a new career moving. Follow my passion. I realize how much hard work it will take, but with some support and more education, I’ll get it going. I’m finding it overwhelming right now. I don’t know where to start. I’d like to work with families. Right now, I just need to clients. I’m not sure where to start on that either.
Tamatha, you are not alone. Thank you for your heartfelt and thoughtful reply. I think teachers have gentle souls and I think you are going to be a fabulous health coach. Be sure to opt in and use the materials in “Health Coach University” here – they are free. If you can swing it …join our “Building Abundance Course” this fall.
I have been working as a independent contractor (Pediatric Physical Therapist ) for 20 years. So I know what it takes to be independent and self-motivated. The challenge for me as a health coach is to get clients. I always had several contract with agencies who called me and ask me if I could take on some more clients. I never had to go out and look for clients myself.
I also got paid through the agency who took a big chunk for themselves, so I never had to worry someone would not pay me. It is quite an ideal set up I have but I feel I am burning out, crawling on the floor in peoples homes and just constantly being on the road. I think in my older years I would prefer to work from home, having a less physical challenging job. Nevertheless, getting clients and closing the deals is my biggest concern,
I am so ready to work for myself. I have just recently completed school with IIN and then had lost my job but needed to find work until I was able to focus on my business. I still need to learn learn learn… just how to run a business as I have always worked for others. I’m tired of working for others. Sure my job helps people but I can’t do what I want to do. I just need to dive into this program and learn and plan. Thank you