Want To Start Your Own Business Right Now? Consider This First

Welcome to another edition of my Weekly Journal! I use this space to share a bit about jewelry, and a lot about my journey from lawyer to jewelry business owner. In this week's journal entry, I want to address those of you who've been planning to start your own business but haven't yet. And my message might be a little surprising. The coronavirus is in full swing and we've all been ordered to stay at home for the past four weeks or so. By this point in time, we've all become a little more thankful for things that were always a given - fully-stocked grocery store shelves, the ability to go to a restaurant, even toilet paper. Maybe by now you even miss your Monday to Friday routine, your desk, and your somewhat annoying co-workers. It's funny how a tragedy can make you see things in a new light.

I'll never forget what my Dad said when he was in hospice care, just a few weeks away from the end of his life. When I asked him what he missed about his life before cancer, he said that he'd do anything to have a normal day at the office. That resonates deeply, doesn't it? It's not the fancy vacations, elaborate birthday parties, spa trips, or concerts that we miss the most. It's the simple, everyday things like a normal day at work, being able to hug a friend you haven't seen in a while, attending a class at your favorite workout studio, and heading to your favorite coffee shop to do work on your laptop. 

Has this time period sparked a new appreciation for your current job or career path? That's not a bad thing! Maybe you've realized that you've been too focused on the things you hate about your job, when there really is a lot to like. The great thing about times like these - where there's more opportunity for reflection because there aren't as many errands to run and events to attend - is that they can help us see things with a fresh perspective. I've said it before and I'll say it again - starting and running your own business is not easy and it's not for everyone. Some people aren't built for the entrepreneurial lifestyle where there is constantly a lot of uncertainty and things rarely go to plan. If that's you, maybe this time period is trying to teach you that where you are is just fine.

In addition, when you make a big, life-changing decision such as the decision to quit your job and start your own business, it's better to make that decision from a centered, balanced place rather than as a means of escape. You know what I mean? A lot of people who want to start their own business want to do so because they want to escape their current job. That's powerful motivation, don't get me wrong, but it's important to understand WHAT you hate about your current job and WHY you hate it before you run away from it. Otherwise, you'll be starting a new business from a place of angst and escapism. I love the definition of escapism - it means "the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities." And you guessed it - any new venture that's started as a means of escape doesn't have a high likelihood of long-term success.  

So consider this first, before you start a business -- are your reasons behind it valid, rational, and grounded in reality? If you have high job dissatisfaction right now, have you discussed it with a therapist, counselor, advisor, or even a trusted friend? It's important to work through these issues first, so that you know your true motivation for wanting to start your own business. Because I have to imagine there's nothing worse than quitting your job, only to find out that you were taking it for granted and wish you could have it back. Come to think of it, a lot of things in life are like that, aren't they? This week, be appreciative, be grateful, and welcome new perspective shifts.

xoxo,

Stacy