Do you have a great idea that the world is going to love? Have you always wanted to be your own boss? Entrepreneurship may just be the path for you! Read on for a few things I’ve learned from launching my own business.
#1 – Find Your Launchpad
Your passions are the perfect launchpad for starting a business. Ask yourself two questions: What do I LOVE to do? How could I make money at it?
When I was 17, I loved health and nutrition. I walked around health food stores looking at all the products and planned my weekly meals using lots of new recipes. The idea came to my mom first. She said “Isabel, you could make money doing this!!” Fast-forward a year later, I was working full time planning menus, grocery shopping, and cooking for my very own clients!
Don’t feel passionate about anything right now? Use a problem as your launchpad. Billions of successful products and businesses exist today as a result of yesterday’s problems and inconveniences. I always use kitchen tools as an example. Do you find slicing a banana by hand annoying? Go grab the Chef Matic Banana Slicer! Never have a free hand when headed to the kitchen trash can? Luckily someone invented the hands-free step-on trashcan a while back. Keep a notebook of all the little inconveniences or problems you experience every day, and try to come up with at least 25 good solutions for each of them. Chances are, you may end up with a really successful business idea!
#2 – Team Up with God
We all know when we surrender our thoughts and ideas to God, they flourish. And when we try to do things in our own strength, things are often sour from the start. Talk to God about your dreams and desires. Ask Him what he thinks about your business ideas. If you don’t have any ideas, ask Him to give you one. He will help you find your launchpad! God put desires in all of our hearts so they may bear fruit. If your dream is to start a business, chances are, God gave you that dream and he’s going to help you achieve it! Submit your desires to Him and let Him lead you.
Starting a business isn’t easy and can be discouraging. In the very beginning of my business, I hardly made any money. It was almost impossible to imagine that my business would actually be successful someday. When I prayed and asked God if I should keep pursing it, He gave me a vision of a sign that read “Success.” Any time I would get discouraged and pray, I would see that same vision! Now two years later, I have eight employees and we made six figures of income last year! God is always faithful! He knows the plans He has for you, so trust Him even when you can’t see the big picture!
#3 – Get the Ball Rolling
The first step to people buying your product or paying for your service is visibility. People have to know your business exists. Social Media is an awesome tool you can use to create awareness and excitement to grow a following. A website is an essential place for people to learn more about what you offer. The most successful form of advertising is word of mouth, so make sure your family, friends, and your friend’s friends know about what you’re doing!
It’s also important to surround yourself with people who support, encourage, and believe in you and your business. This stage can be scary, I know it was for me! Sometimes it’s hard to feel like your business is valid when you don’t have any paying customers yet, but keep pressing on. The success God has for you may look different than you imagined!
Bio: Isabel Young is 21 years old and lives in Westerville with her husband Michael. She owns Food by Bel, a healthy, prepared meal delivery and personal chef service company that services the greater Columbus area. She enjoys traveling, hiking, making spreadsheets, and is a mom to over twenty house plants!
