Why we don’t support cliff jumping

I’ve been helping people start and run businesses for twenty years. An opinion I formed early on, that has only deepened and strengthened, is my advice to not take unnecessary risks.

There’s a story about being a business owner or entrepreneur that says you must necessarily be a risk-taker.

Untrue.

Obviously, we all take risks to a certain degree. It’s risky driving a car- what if you’re in a collision? But being in business is NOT about taking risks unnecessarily.

The most common way I see this play out is when someone quits a stable job to start a business that hasn’t yet brought in money, or maybe only pocket change.

My most common advice is to have people take their time, to build up skills and experience, to slowly expand a tiny business until it has some hope of actually supporting you.

Is it frustrating to do it that way? Yes, it is. Absolutely. Trying to squeeze business development in around a job, among other responsibilities, is not easy.

However, it’s ALSO not easy to keep a roof over your head and food in the fridge and the heat on with a brand-new baby business.

Are there people who grow businesses quickly? Sure, you can find those examples. However, it’s not the norm.

What you face in starting business includes:

• Learning to be effective with brand-new skills, like the sales conversation, crafting an offer, asking for referrals, managing money, tracking expenses and profit.
• Facing emotional demons around self-worth, confidence, and more.
• Finding a rhythm of working productively and effectively alone for yourself, without anyone enforcing an external schedule on you.

Among other things…

I tell you all of this so you can have more compassion for yourself. The stories of people who leaped from a secure job and made their business work? Nearly every one of those stories, when I’ve dug in, they’ve had support. A spouse with a job, an inheritance, previous experience running a business.

Plus, let me tell you, over the years plenty of folks have shown up at our door having spent a great deal of a nest egg, retirement account, savings, and not having gotten traction with their business after a year or two, and needing help.

Or they’ve spent a LOT of money, high four-figures or five figures, on a big promises program, but haven’t seen the results.

So please, please. Be kind to yourself.

You can build a business. You can be successful. Just embrace a realistic sense of what it takes. And don’t fault yourself for not wanting to take risks.

Sometimes fear is wisdom speaking to you. Sometimes anxiety is telling you to pay attention to something.

Sometimes all the stories they tell you are just stories, and are missing big details.

I wrote a guide, free, no opt-in needed, on how to figure out if you are being manipulated into spending too much on business development training. It’s called Don’t Buy Now. Get it. Share it with those who need it.

Similarly, I created a Readiness Assessment which walks you through the stages of business development, so you can have a realistic sense of what you need.

Persistence AND kindness. Learning and patience. Urgency AND safety. Life is full of nuance, and so is building a business.

I want you to fly!

With love,

Mark Silver, M.Div.
Heart of Business, Inc.
Every act of business can be an act of love.

This Friday’s Virtual Retreat

This Friday, April 30th, I’m leading a Virtual Spiritual Business Retreat. No white boards. No complicated strategies. No training.

Going deep into your heart. Immersing in love and strength and wisdom. Clutter clearing your mind and taking a profound drink of deep nourishment.

Then hearing guidance, getting clear, being able to step forward with inspiration.

Pay from the heart. Join us?

Click: The Heart of Business Virtual Spiritual Business Retreat

The Waiting List

We developed our Learning Community to answer what I wrote about above. Affordable, long-term support, spiritual and practical.

Although it’s only open for enrollment sometimes, we’ll probably be opening up for a short window just for folks on the Wait List. Take a look and join the Wait List, so if you’re moved, you can jump in when we do.

Take a look: The Heart of Business Learning Community.