Business Attitude or Business Idea: Which is more likely to lead to your success?

What did your friends and family say to you when you told them you were off to start your own business?

And how did it affect the way you went about creating your business?

When I first started telling colleagues and friends of my plans to start my own life coaching business back in 2004 [this is where I started 5 years ago], I remember all too well the sucking of the teeth and the “you’re very brave” comments.

Everyone around me told that going freelance and becoming self-employed was all very well but beware the feast and famine. Working for yourself may give you control and freedom to do what you want, but clients come and go like a roller-coaster ride.

The first few months, I would have to spend all my time marketing. I would then get some clients and then the work would dry up. And I have to do a few more months of hard marketing all over again.

But the reason I decided to start my own coaching business was because I wanted to work part-time. I wanted to create a new career around my children’s school terms so that I worked when they were at school and took my foot off the peddle when the holidays came around.

And if I was to be faced with a feast and famine roller-coaster ride, this just wouldn’t work. I wanted to be in control of when and where I worked in the business and didn’t want to fall in to this trap that was being described to me.

So, although I listened to their advice and kind thoughts, I secretly challenged these opinions and decided that it didn’t have to be that way.

Five months later and I was contemplating going back to corporate life. They were right! It was tough out there and my marketing was getting me nowhere. I hadn’t even experienced the feast – it was just famine all the way!

I had hit rock bottom and fortunately the only way was up. Which is exactly what I decided to do!

I am sharing this story because I firmly believe that it doesn’t matter how great your business idea is, how brilliant your business plan is or how unique your product is – if you haven’t got the right business attitude, there is every chance you’ll fail.

Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it?

But let’s flip this over the other way.

It doesn’t matter how competitive the marketplace is, how average your business idea is or how inadequate your business plan is – if you have got the right business attitude, there is every chance you’ll succeed.

And probably succeed beyond your expectations, too.

Give me a great business idea or a person with a great business attitude and I’ll put my money on the attitude any day.

So my tips for you today is to surround yourself with people who support you and believe in you, be clear on your “big picture” and go for gold.

Because with the right business attitude, you’ll win every time!

Got a comment to make?

How would you describe the “right” business attitude to have to make your business a success? Leave a comment here with your ideas.

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Tags: inspiration

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 at 4:00 am and is filed under Business Attitude, Featured Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Business Attitude or Business Idea: Which is more likely to lead to your success?”

Ching Lee says:

May 13, 2009 at 8:59 am

I agree, Karen. Having a positive attitude means you relish all the challenges that running your own business may bring, like the quiet times. It makes you think more creatively about how else you can bring in more business. It makes you want to get out there and meet more people who can help you grow. It gives you the belief that you will succeed.

It’s important to take positive support from positive people every day, which is why it’s great to receive your newsletter with a blogpost like this. Thank you!

My tip? Always keep that vision as to why you’re doing what you’re doing.

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lara cawthra says:

May 13, 2009 at 11:36 am

Thanks for sharing your story.

Attitude is a lot; after moving by business so that I could downsize and be with my girls more something wasn’t working for the business. However I had an attitude check, looked closely at the business and made changes. What had worked previously would not work in the new location and economic climate, now things are moving along much better.

Positive outlook is most important., then look objectively and start again in a different way if you need to.

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