A fellow blogger discussed the notion of positive thinking not being the end-all-be-all cure to success. I completely agree. As an entrepreneur, things are not going to go as planned all the time. If you are new to entrepreneurship, you are likely to underestimate the start up process and overestimate your projected accomplishments. What I mean is your excitement and passion for your product may cloud your vision to the realities of the difficulties of starting a business from the ground up. If you would like more information about forming a nonprofit, visit this link.
Lacking experience in starting a business, you are likely to miss something. You can have the best business plan, top rate market research, and a phenomenal marketing strategy, but there still will be unanticipated obstacles. I strongly recommend not resigning from your day job. Starting a business and producing enough revenue to pay yourself a salary is quite the challenge, especially, if you’re working with minimal start up capital. Because I coach entrepreneurs who would like to start a non profit, and in most cases, they have no money, no business plan, and no idea how to run a not for profit, I make them aware from the start that quitting their day job in the distant future is likely not going to happen.
For the last few weeks, during my time of reflection, I have been disappointed by my lack of results. Yes, I have made some progress, but not the progress I had hoped for when starting my business 2.5 years ago. This frustration has caused me to be uncertain about theories about positive thinking. Motivational speakers would have us believe that positive thinking is the magic formula for success. What they neglect to say in many cases, is that it is not the only ingredient. I am learning that the door to success has numerous locks with thinking positive being only one. Other ingredients that lead to success are: resolve (because success doesn’t happen in a flash) and determination (the will to keep going when uncertainty knocks at your door, and more than likely this will happen).
The last four months have been an emotional roller coaster of uncertainty. Marketing is proving to be more of a challenge than I anticipated. And, because I don’t have a lot of money to work with, I have to resort to the less costly and free marketing tools. Because these products are free they demand a lot of time; time that could be spent accumulating billable hours. However time consuming if I want to stay in business, investing time in marketing is necessary.
I am grateful to still be in business despite recent economic events that have negatively affected so many. I am lucky to have achieved success for two consecutive years and if I am to survive a third, I must go well beyond thinking positive. I have to constantly be looking for ways to adapt my business model with ever-evolving market conditions. As a coach to nonprofits, my initial model emphasized grant writing fees as my only source of income. After the Wall-Street crash in 2008 it became crystal clear that this model would not withstand the volatility of the market. As a consequence of sharp declines in portfolio values, foundations and corporations have not been providing grants at the levels they had previously. To learn more about starting a non profit organization visit this link.
The mantra that I preach to my clients, “Diversify Your Fundraising Strategy” is relevant for for-profits and non profits alike. Whether it’s maintaining existing levels or striving for new levels of success for your business, you must change with the market. If your products are no longer functional, change the model. Our survival at the end of 2010 is going to require of us greater mental tenacity, perseverance, and ingenuity. Our ability to be resourceful and efficient during this economic evolution will determine our existence or nonexistence at the end of the next year. If you’re interested in learning more about non profit consulting visit this site.