Written by: Fayola Delica, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Have you ever been excited to go on a vacation that you had been preparing for months, maybe even years? In getting ready, you gather as much information as possible such as tourist attractions, dining and entertainment locations, flight, and hotel, or even how to get around, i.e. car rental, public transportation, or private car service. You prepare as much as possible to make sure that you have the best experience on your vacation.
Well, in starting a business, this is the same process you should follow as you journey into becoming an entrepreneur or a small business owner. There should be a lot of time spent in planning and strategizing when you decide to take that BIG LEAP of moving from employee to entrepreneur. Yes, it is filled with so much excitement, enthusiasm, fear, and sometimes doubt. However, all these are common when one is about to step into unfamiliar territory. Being your own boss is completely different from having a boss—being someone else’s boss comes with a different mindset.
As you are thinking about starting your new business, you may be asking yourself, “Can I really do this?” “Will I be able to make a living doing this?” or even say something like “The market is too competitive, there’s already something similar to my product and/or service.”
These may all be valid questions and reasons to ponder on, but the real question you should be asking yourself is, “WHY do I want to become an entrepreneur?” When you ask yourself this question first and then go through a reflective inventory of understanding your true WHY for starting a business, you will have more clarity, leading to more confidence, dedication, and determination to go and start that business.
When I knew my time as a healthcare provider had come to an end, I did not know what direction I should go in next as I sought a new career path for over a decade. I began to reflect on the various stages of my life, as well as the hardships I had been through. Then, I asked myself, throughout my life, what life lessons have I learned? Also, what are my strengths and weaknesses? From five years of doing some soul searching, I found my path of becoming a Coach/Consultant/Mentor and a Speaker/Author as my personal and professional training in nursing and education provided me such skill sets to maneuver through the maze of life.
Not everyone will have to take as long as I did to find their WHY. I had to not only find my WHY but was also processing some terrible hardships I was going through at the time. Yet, some people take days, weeks, months, or even years to get to the answer to their big WHY.
Having said that, this first step should not be taken lightly because when you have identified your WHY, it should not be connected to making more money, a better lifestyle, or anything with selfish motives. If the answer to your WHY is related to your own personal gain, then you need to go deeper.
Back in 2015, I met Mr. Brad Sugars, Founder of ActionCOACH on his Billionaire Tour during one of his stops in South Florida. He shared with us that your reason for being in business, your WHY, should be much bigger than you. If it is and is genuine, then the money will follow.
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.” -- the late Dr. Maya Angelou
Dr. Fayola Delica, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Fayola Delica is a native of Miami, Florida. She is an Apostle and an Ordained Pastor, International Award-winning Healthcare Professional, International Award-winning Serial Entrepreneur, International Award-winning Motivational Speaker, Multiple International Best-selling Author, Multiple 1 Best-selling Amazon Author, International Award-winning Beauty Queen, Global Talk Show Host, and an Educator. She believes it is your winning season, and you should be living your best life NOW. In short, she is your Passion and Purpose Activator. She helps you to live out loud by living out your divine purpose in the areas of business, nonprofit, and ministry.
