A lot of people dream of being entrepreneurs.
But when it comes to starting or growing a business you’re either taking action, or you’re coming up with excuses to explain away your inaction.
One or the other.
Think of excuses like fast food:
Quick, easy, and comforting, but a regular diet of them will lead you to a future of disappointment and regret.
If you’re serious about being your own boss, you absolutely must take excuses off the menu.
The good news is that the vast majority of excuses we give for not getting to work are simply untrue.
Here are 5 of the most common that keep you from reaching your true potential:
5 Excuses That Kill
Your Entrepreneurial Dreams
1. “I’m too busy.”
You may think you’re too busy to start your first business or take your current business to the next level. But you’re not.
Don’t believe me? Try this.
Track the time you spend on Facebook, TV, surfing the internet, playing video games, etc. for the next seven days.
Did you just find an extra 10 hours in your week? 15 hours? Even more you could devote to your business?
The “I’m too busy” excuse is really just a way of saying, “I’d rather do _____, than build my business”.
If you want it badly enough, you’ll prioritize your schedule to find the time to reach your goals.
2. “I’m not ready.”
Do you need to read just one more book, attend just one more conference, or sign up for just one more coaching session and then you’ll be ready to launch your business?
Au contraire.
You’re ready now.
I can almost guarantee that no matter your current skill level there are clients and customers out there who will benefit from what you can bring to the market right now.
You can spend all your time waiting and continuing to “get ready”.
Or, you can launch now and use books, workshops, and coaching to figure things out and get better as you go.
Which will it be?
3. “I’m scared.”
Make no mistake: launching a business is scary.
What if you struggle to get clients? What if no one’s interested in your product? What if you fail?
And, yes, all of those are very real possibilities — and they’re all scary to think about.
But you know what else is scary?
Relying on your boss for financial security.
Praying you survive the next round of layoffs at your company.
Looking back on your life with regret and saying, “Geez, why didn’t I just go for it?”
You’re going to experience fear, worry, and anxiety no matter what.
Why not choose action over anxiety and get to hustling on YOUR dreams and goals?
4. “I can’t leave my job.”
You’ve got bills to pay; a family to provide for; not to mention health insurance and other job benefits to consider.
Maybe leaving your 9-to-5 isn’t a viable option for you at the moment.
Fine then. Don’t leave.
Get up an hour or two early and focus on your business before you head off to work.
Make cold calls or email potential clients on your lunch break.
Skip sleeping in on Saturday mornings and work on your business before spending time with your family.
You don’t have to quit your day job to launch your own business.
You just have to decide that building a business that supports YOUR dreams is at least as important as the 40+ hours per week you devote to supporting someone else’s dreams.
5. “It’s not the right time.”
This is a catch-all excuse that smothers your dreams like a wet, soggy blanket.
Right now, as you’re reading this, you could probably come up with a dozen or more convincing excuses for why you need to wait just a bit to launch your biz:
You just bought a house. You want to wait till the kids are older. You’re in the running for a big promotion at work. And let’s not even get started on this economy.
The timing will be better next month, next year, next whenever.
Except it won’t.
There will always be something you can use to explain away why now isn’t the right time to move forward.
The truth is, NOW is the ONLY time to get started; because this moment is all the time you’re guaranteed.
Don’t wait on “perfect” timing that, deep down, you know won’t arrive. The timing is as good as it’s gonna get right now.
Action Or Excuses?
The Choice Is Yours!
If you decide to cut greasy burgers and crispy fried chicken out of your diet, it’s not like those things magically — poof! — vanish from your reality, right?
You still see the golden arches beckoning you as you zip about town. You can almost hear The Colonel whispering “come get your biscuits and bucket of chicken” as your stomach grumbles and growls.
You face these temptations on a daily basis.
It’s the same with excuses.
You don’t overcome the “I’m too busy” excuse and check it off your to-do list forever.
You overcome it today, tomorrow, and all the days after that.
Yes, it’s a lot of work.
And just like choosing a balanced diet over the convenience of fast food it isn’t always easy.
But it’s the only way to seize control of your destiny and build the life and business of your dreams.
Your future starts now.
Choose action over excuses and make it the future YOU want!
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