What stops you from starting your own business?

[BusFact]

Yeah, I agree with what you say about capital. In most cases people can start off small with virtually no cash. Of course this is problematic if you need to draw a salary from month one, but it doesn't mean that a business cannot be started, it just can't grow as quickly as it would if it had oodles of cash. I merely commented on it because its the most common reason I've heard of for people not starting a business.

My view is that to create a growing, thriving business then one of the ingredients is almost definitely drive and passion. However one could still make money with a half-assed attempt. Allow me to use a rather convoluted analogy using your industry, about which I know very little:

(A) Someone who arranges cold calling for 2 hours every day, works hard to build databases of employers and employees, is driven to personally verify all prospects and passionately tries to find the right matches for clients, will stand a pretty good chance of succeeding nicely. Someone who builds this sort of business from scratch or from very little is the entrepreneur that most of us associate with that word.

(B) Someone else who's spouse works for a medium sized corporate that hires maybe twice a year, and who happens to be involved in the artisan training industry that trains the artisans this company requires, could have a business on the side. When the need arises he can present the top candidates to his spouse's company. Its no way as a polished as (A), but every one wins. He gets comm, candidate gets a job and company gets employee at below market rate. This is still a business IMO.

B can't really earn a living this way unless he expands his client base, but he can certainly drift along and earn himself a nice vacation each year.

Here passion and drive are not so important. Yes it limits his growth, but they are not necessarily a requirement for starting a business.

[HR Solutions]

However one could still make money with a half-assed attempt

Do You think ? ..... I don't

With regards to your two scenario's above relating to recruitment of employees. If you think a person can do it half heartedly twice a year and still do well and make money and do it professionally I again disagree. There are packages that cost us e.g. R6000 each per month x 4 that we subscribe to to enable us to find the right candidate for our clients, the employer. On top of this we have rent and normal overheads. Even if you are going to operate from home every now and again - how exactly are you going to find these staff you speak about ?? From gumtree ? How will you build a reputation ?

But look if this is something you are looking at, give it a try, don't let me put you off. I know you are using my industry as an example - personally there are just too many costs involved if you want to do it right. The recuitment data packages alone are the biggest expense and without them you cannot do it properly.

[BusFact]

If you think a person can do it half heartedly twice a year and still do well and make money and do it professionally I again disagree.

Nope I don't think they can do "well", but I do think they can make some money. In the example I gave they have no overheads or even any noticeable costs. Any comm he gets is profit. He is admittedly stuck with no growth prospects, and if a reputable recruitment agency offers a similar deal, his business will probably cease to exist.

Growth and decent profitability will indeed require much more effort and resources.

I suppose the point I'm driving at is that if the 1st prize (a thriving business) is being rejected by the dreamers with business ideas out there due to all its demands, then 2nd prize of earning pocket money with little effort is better than doing nothing at all.

At least by achieving 2nd prize, we may find some realise that they are actually on to a good thing and this will encourage them to put in the extra work and head for 1st prize.

[enos]

At least by achieving 2nd prize, we may find some realise that they are actually on to a good thing and this will encourage them to put in the extra work and head for 1st prize.

If you are not passionate about this why would you be motivated to put extra effort in it?

Effort is the result of passion. Without it you would never have the desire to go forward. Particularly if if see you have a good thing. Good things brings out the best in you (passion)

I think it's fair to say from this we separate between the boys of entrepreneurs and men of entrepreneurs. Boys think about capital before starting, they won't start without it, passion or not , men think about capital last. And are driven by passion.

[BusFact]

If you are not passionate about this why would you be motivated to put extra effort in it?

People are motivated by different things. If someone suddenly sees that their product is more successful then they expected and earns them more money than expected, that may create the extra motivation. Another may discover that running a business is not as scary or complicated as they thought, so are then prepared to put in the extra effort and risk. Yet another may get a feel good motivation from customer feedback which encourages them to do more.

I think we are talking different ventures though. You two are talking about a business from which you want to earn a living and perhaps leave a legacy. In those cases I agree, self motivation, passion, commitment, etc are all extremely important. I'm saying though, that the business world is much bigger than that and includes hobby businesses, sideline businesses, silent partner businesses, half-assed efforts, part time efforts, once-a- year effort, etc as well.

If passion, motivation and commitment are not there for a potential business, I don't think that should be a reason for not getting started. It may well be a reason to limit expectations and results, but not a wall to starting at all.

[Blurock]

If you are not passionate about your business, you will never achieve the same as top entrepreneurs.

I have seen too many mediocre businesses just plodding along and then eventually closing. The business is either sold for less than its potential value or closes down due to poor management, which leads to bad staff attitudes, which leads to dissatisfied customers, which leads to lack of orders, which results in an empty bank account.

People with passion will make a business work against all odds. There are also those dreamers that have an idea and don't know how to implement it, but a true entrepreneur will always find a solution.

An entrepreneur is someone who jumps off a cliff and builds a plane on the way down.

[Rory]

An entrepreneur is someone who jumps off a cliff and builds a plane on the way down.

Hahaha, sounds about right. I've got a big old parachute called a J.O.B. though. The idea being that once the plane is flying I can lose the parachute.

[BusFact]

If you are not passionate about your business, you will never achieve the same as top entrepreneurs.

No arguments with that.

An entrepreneur is someone who jumps off a cliff and builds a plane on the way down.

Lol. Brilliant.

[SilverNodashi]

Ask yourself - if one of your staff opened up a business similar to yours or not even similar - How would you feel and what would you question for example ?

Good for him! Hopefully I have thought him well enough to carry through with it.