Research, Plan and Strategize: The Fundamentals of Starting Out as an Entrepreneur

Being an entrepreneur is one of the most liberating choices you can make in your work life, but it’s not one of the easiest.

When you choose to hack your own path through the workplace jungle, you’re taking on a lot of risk and uncertainty. No matter your industry, you’ll face financial risk. Even freelancers struggle to find clients from time to time. You’ll also have to adapt to the varying demands of your business—you’ll have to be good at both forward-facing client communication, and head-to-the-books labor. 

And just because you’re in charge doesn’t mean you don’t still conceptually have a boss. There will always be commitments to customers and business associates. There will always be deadlines. 

But the benefits are numerous. Your business is your ship, and you set the course. You choose your own hours. You choose your goals. No one can say no to a day off, and nobody makes you wear a tie. But most of all, you directly receive the rewards of your labor. 

There are many methods of entrepreneurship—from working as a freelancer out of a coffeehouse to building up a large venture backed entity. The choice is yours. Below, we’ll discuss some of the most important things you’ll need to know if you intend to make this life-changing decision. 

Follow your dreams.

Many entrepreneurs have a fanciful vision of the powerhouse startup—the business journey paved with gold, where a single tweet or app concept will make them millions of dollars. This road is a myth. 

As an entrepreneur, if you want to succeed, you must be ready to pay the cost in late hours, tight deadlines, and trash bins full of empty coffee cups. It will be challenging and test your determination at times. 

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