In the last article, we spoke about deciding whether you are really called to be an entrepreneur.  I hope the article gave you food for thought.  Today we continue by asking ourselves some questions that should clarify things a bit.  We have identified 15 questions which we plan to discuss in the next 3 articles.  Here are today’s questions.

How passionate are you about your business?

If you are not passionate about your business, chances are you will give up after the first client rejects your proposal or your services.  You need to realize at the onset that growing your business is going to cost you time, energy, and money.  How much time, energy, and money you are willing to invest in your business will determine its success, so make sure you are passionate about the type of business you are planning to start.

How do you feel about having to deal with the good, the bad and the ugly of people?

You just need to go to a restaurant to get a glimpse of how nasty clients can be.  I have often seen how unfair customers are towards the waiter/waitresses at a restaurant.  If you do not like working with people, you may have to discard your dream to have a business because most businesses are people-orientated. If you love people, you should not have a problem, but prepare for the days that you and/or your clients may have an off day because you cannot afford to lose a client due to a bad mood.

How good are you with numbers?

Every business requires you to have a basic understanding of numbers and dealing with cash.  I am not talking about bookkeeping or accounting.  I am talking about basic maths – simple addition and subtraction so that you can keep track of your finances. If this is not your forte I would suggest that you do a refresher course of some sorts before starting your business. If not, you may have to pay someone to assist you from day one or you will have to reconsider your decision to become a business owner.

How good are you with reading?

I know of many people who started a business without being able to read and write, and I applaud their efforts, but in this day and age, you will need to be able to do both in order to succeed in business.  At some point, there will be a demand to present a proposal or even to read one, so if reading and writing are not your strengths, you may once again have to step up on these skills to ensure that when you are called upon, you can confidently put your best foot forward as a business owner.

Do you believe in yourself? Do you believe that you will be able to push through when everyone else does not believe in you?

To be a success in business demands that you have a sense of self–belief that defies all the doubters and naysayers around you, and believe me, there will be many doubters and naysayers once you share your dream of being an entrepreneur.  As the saying goes, if you do not believe in yourself, nobody else will. Also, be aware that these doubters and naysayers could be in your inner circle and amongst your family members. When I decided to start my Virtual Assistant business, my family members found it the biggest joke ever, until they realized that I was determined to be a business owner.