Georgia Entrepreneurs – What it Takes

This is a short podcast that covers the basics about what being an entrepreneur takes – the effort, the hours, the passion. Do you have what it takes to open your own Georgia business?

This is an interview format podcast with Ron Johnson from the SBA interviewing Cheryl Mills, who works with the Office of Entrepreneurial Development at the SBA.

Highlights from the podcast:

Ron Johnson: Cheryl, what are some important characteristics that lead to successful entrepreneurship?

Mills: Starting a small business can be exciting and rewarding.  However, becoming an entrepreneur or working as one each day is not for everyone.  In business, there are no guarantees.  There is simply no way to eliminate all of the risks associated with starting a small business.  It takes a special person, with a strong commitment and specific skills to be successful as an entrepreneur.

An entrepreneur needs to be a self starter. It will be entirely up to you to develop projects, organize your time and follow through on details.

Do you get along with people? Business owners need to develop working relationships with a variety of people including customers, vendors, staff, bankers, and professionals such as lawyers, accountants or consultants. Some say the hardest part of being self-employed is dealing with employees and demanding customers.

There is a good deal more information contained on the podcast – listen to it at the link below.

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Is Entrepreneurship for You?

It can be said that new Georgia business entrepreneurs will get out of it what effort they put into the business. Each year better than half a million businesses are filed in the USA. Many of those businesses promptly fail, or don’t make it past a year.

How can you make sure you’re ready to be a new Georgia business owner and successful? This podcast covers some interesting material you shouldn’t miss.

( Transcript)

Do you have any other tips for deciding whether starting a new Georgia business might be right for some of your fellow entrepreneurs?

Starting a New Georgia Business

I read something yesterday that said 72% of US citizens are thinking about (or already have) starting their own business. I think that figure must be close to correct. A recession – or, if I dare say it – a depression will do that to you.

All the sudden you’re not in charge anymore – if you ever were. If you are not running your own Georgia business you are not in control of your life and you are not stable enough to give a great life to your family. Anyone can get fired for any reason. The contract you signed with the Georgia company you work for leaves them some loopholes to fire you and move on. As much as you want to think you’re a permanent employee of that company, common sense says otherwise.

You need to be the one making the hiring decisions. You hire you, and it’s permanent. You are the boss – and you’re not firing yourself. You build up your company and every hour you’re putting into it is compensated. Every hour you work you’re building the base… every hour you’re working for someone else is building their base.

It’s easy to stay motivated when you’re starting your own Georgia business – it’s essential isn’t it? At first – sure, and that’s when the motivation comes strong. Knock this new business out of the park.

If you haven’t yet started your new Georgia business you can start by working after hours – after your regular job. Get things started, and get them ready to let you go full-time. There’s not really any other way. Don’t waste all your start-up money in one massive change – quitting your job and starting your business – spending tons of money on advertising, marketing… wow.

There’s a better way. Use the internet to create a web site. Get started on Web 2.0 activities. Find out how to get noticed in Google. It isn’t difficult. It’s essential. The essential is not difficult because you’ll be motivated to knock it out.

Research the world of internet marketing – and find out everything you can, and then pay someone to fill in the blanks for you. There are experts on email list building (Aweber.com). There are experts for teaching you how to write online web articles (problogger.net). There are experts for showing you how to make an incredibly easy site in 10 minutes (wordpress.com). There are experts for every single piece of the puzzle.

Learn what you can to get started on your new Georgia business and do everything you can during your off time. Yeah, it’s a struggle. Put 2-5 hours into your new business where you’ll be the owner – and knock it out 5-7 days a week. Get to love what you’re doing. Get to the point where you can go from working for someone else to working at your OWN Georgia business.

Believe you can make it work – because right now there are literally millions of people around the world that are making money from their small business. There are millions in the USA alone. There are people on your STREET that have their own business in Georgia and that aren’t going to get fired during this period of economic instability.

There are people you know right now that can help you pull it off. You have resources to connect with.

There are people online right now at Twitter.com, problogger.net, shoemoney.com, aimforawesome.com that can help you get going. They can answer your questions. Get active in the comments section of the blogs and web sites that are focused on the niche market you want to play in.

Get there and learn what you have to about how the internet can help your new Georgia business. Get to be an expert eventually.

In 5 years? You’ll have something. Nobody gave you it. You built it. You built a business from scratch that is going to survive any economic instability. You know – out of all my friends that are doing business primarily online – none of them are really affected by this economic “disaster” that’s happening around the world. They’re still doing OK!

Get there with your new Georgia business. Get to a space where life is stable… get away from working for others. Out of the 72%  – be in the 1% that takes action today to get started.

1. Choose a new business idea.
2. Incorporate so you can deduct expenses for investing in it – buying computers, whatever you need – if used FOR that new business it’s deductible.
3. Learn everything you can.
4. Work hard for 6 months… a year.
5. Break away from your job.

It IS just like that. Don’t make it harder. Don’t make it some impossible dream. There are so many Americans living this dream today – be one of them.

Go on…