I know how it feels.
You have this dream of being great. This dream of pure success and monetary fulfillment. You have a great idea, even. The only thing you struggle with is the lingering hesitation and "there is no way I can do this" thoughts. Even though you can. It is possible!
Becoming an entrepreneur was something that I always wanted to do, from the moment I was in high school and could take business classes to the moment I graduated, and even to the moment I decided not to go forward with attending college. That is when my doubts started setting in. How am I going to afford this? Am I smart enough to run an entire business? Do I have what it takes to even be slightly successful in today's business society?
All of this until one day I just decided to go for it. I just decided to research and find all of the necessary information that I possibly could in order to legally begin my very own business. I figured out my vendor's license, how to become an LLC and keep my personal assets protected, and how to manage all of my expenses and income (especially expenses) in the way that the IRS needs you to keep track. It was a struggle. I purchased bookkeeping software, stock for my e-commerce clothing store, and a website.
I know what you're thinking, "it sure must be nice to have the money to get you started!" Although I promise you that was not the case. I started my business from my very first credit card with a credit limit of $500.00. I had to convince myself that in order to keep my dreams a reality, I would have to sacrifice pocket profit for business assets in order to keep my store running. And let me tell you, it was hard. Everything I would sell would go straight back onto my credit cards. I was making zero pocket money. In order to keep my daily life in check I did continue working my full time job in order to ensure I had a way to stay funded should my business not work out in my favor.
That's exactly when the sales started coming in. I started getting closer to paying off those credit cards as well as being able to put money back into new merchandise. Although I was still not making a pocket profit (and I'm still not), I was able to earn myself a sense of pride that I never thought I would have since I decided not to go to college. I'm still building, and learning to thrive in the business industry.
To any young adult who has the dream to create their own empire and build themselves, there is so many resources available to you. The best resource is going to be your state's SBA (Small Business Association) website. They have information on how to get funding such as small business loans as well as start-up lines of credit. You will be able to take free mini courses on anything small business related. And you will also be able to find any information and answers to any questions that you have.
Just because of the situation you may be in at the moment, do not ever think that you can't achieve what you dream of. Network with the people you need to, utilize your resources, do your research, and believe in yourself. You can accomplish anything that you set your mind to. I am now a full time employee, a wife, a mother, an entrepreneur, and a writer.
Never say you "can't", because you can.
