If you’re someone like me who doesn’t get satisfied working an average 9 to 5 job, there’s a high chance you thought of being you own boss and starting your own business at some point in time. It’s a valid thought; after all, self employment is the American Dream, isn’t it? I mean look at all the successful people we know today; Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Bill Gates. What do they all have in common? All of them are self made, starting up their own business from scratch. Today, they are the most well known names around the world, but do you know what else they have in common? All of them failed at their first business attempt.

Wait What?

You didn’t think the path to success was an easy one, did you? In fact, before he became one of the pioneering figures in the automotive industry, Ford failed numerous times at his earlier business attempts, leaving him broke and penniless for a total of five times!

It’s Risky, but It’s Worth It

I’ll tell you this; in the business and career game, the only thing that differentiates you from the crowd is your willingness and vision. Without these two things, you are just one of those average Joes who are content working for someone rather than themselves. Now don’t get me wrong, that isn’t really a bad thing per say. After all, the risks involved in a business startup are ten times that of getting a normal desk or office job, so the latter is relatively safer. But the return that comes with a startup (if it’s successful) is also ten times that of a normal job. And I am not just talking about the financial gains either.

The Path is Riddled with Obstacles

So the point I am trying to establish is this; the path to business success is plagued with difficulties and unforeseen circumstances. There will be numerous failures every now and then; you’ll need to get back up and continue. Remember how I said vision and willingness are the two most important things for a successful business. Well, that’s because the former will help you see the light at the end of the tunnel, while the latter will make you get back up again. Sounds pretty cliché doesn’t it? How about I back it up with some statistics? According to Forbes, 543,000 businesses get started up in North America each month. While that may seem like a very optimistic figure, here’s the big kicker; an even greater number of businesses shut down per month. Here’s a more heartbreaking statistic; approximately 80% of non-employer business reported a figure of less than $50,000 in receipts, which is around the salary of an average school teacher. Want me to continue? No? Okay. The whole purpose of the article isn’t to deride prospective entrepreneurs; rather, it is to prepare them for the tough road ahead. Need help starting your own business? Feel free to contact us and discuss your plans.