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What Should I Do Before I Start My Own Business?
by Entjik Jeffrie

As an Internet and e-commerce consultant, I have received a lot of questions on how to start an online business. The answer is actually very simple. From my 9 years experience as an internet developer and e-commerce business consultant, one thing that I want you to do first before you even invest and spend all your time and money on this business idea that you have in your mind right now. I want you to think on these things:

1. Why are you doing this?

Before we even want to talk about anything else. I want you to ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?" or "Why are you doing this?" When I started Pebden.com, I knew that I wouldn't get paid right away, but I was doing it because I love to help other people to become successful.

I have seen the frustration that millions of people are going through every day financially, socially and spiritually, so I made helping other people as my main life mission. So when people are asking me "Jeffrie, why are you doing this and you have no guarantee of income?" I know that I am doing this because I love to help people. It makes me feel very good when I know that my life has helped and inspired other people to achieve their dreams and goals.

Once you figure it out why you are planning to do what ever it is you are planning, the "Why" question will become your energy source. As for me, I do believe in Lord Jesus Christ and higher power beyond myself, He has created you and for a purpose. If you don't believe in God,it is fine with me, but you still have to find out "Why you are doing this."

2. What is the purpose of my business?

Without a clear, definite, and specific purpose, you will find yourself lost and unmotivated in the middle of your business venture. The clear, definite, and specific purpose will keep you going and motivated when things get tough, hard and difficult, which I guarantee that you will face difficult situation in your business venture.

Going into a business requires a lot of commitment and it is like trying to fly an airplane off the ground to the cruising altitude. Most of your energy, time and money are going to be used to bring the business to a crusting altitude. It requires a lot of patience, dedication and commitment and if you don't have the patience, dedication and commitment to start what you have started, I don't recommend you to go into your own business. There will be no guarantee steady pay check when you first start your own business.

So get that in your mind the clear, definite, and specific and purpose of your business which leads us into the third question.

3. Where will your business be 6 months from now, 1 year from now and 5 years from now?

Once you figure it out what the purpose of your business, the next question that you want to ask yourself is "Where do I and my business go from here?" Now you need a destination and goal.

I don't like it when I go somewhere and I don't have a clear goal or destination. I feel lost and confused, but I have a clear goal and destination where I want to go, I feel very confident and peaceful knowing that I have a destination to go to and a goal to work on. Without a clear, specific, and definite goal or destination, how are you supposed to get clear directions on where you are going.

The problem with people today is not that they can't achieve their goal, the main problem in our society today is that people don't set a goal! You gotta set a goal and figure it out where you and your business be within 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years from now. Chart a course, get directions, and create a plan to get there from you are now today which will lead us to the question number four.

4. When do you want to be there?

I learned it the hard way that there is no short-cuts to success, but I will share you my success secret to save you years of pain and sorrow. You can choose to either gain experience from a mentor or a mistake. The experience that you gain from mistake is often very painful and it is not very pleasant, but if you can find a mentor who has been there before you, you must listen to him/her wisdom and instruction, it will save you a lot of pain and unpleasant experience. You will learn from the mentor's pain and unpleasant experience, so you know what to do and what not to do.

Anyway, once you figure it out the goal and the destination of your business, now you want to figure it out when you want to get there. Remember, there is no instant-gratification to success, but you can get there faster by constantly learning the kind of set of skills that will help you build your business faster. Develop the obsession toward wisdom, learning and acquiring new knowledge.

Ask yourself from time to time, "When do I want to get there from where I am today?"

5. Then you gotta figure it out how to get there?

I don't know if you notice already. I put the "How" as the last question that you want to ask. A lot of people mistakenly ask the "How" question first before they figure it out "Why" they do something.

Have you ever been to a job interview? The interviewer will ask you "Why do you want to leave your previous job?" He/she wants to know the reason why you want to work for them and why you want to leave your old job.

Once you figure it out "Why you want to own your own business," "What the purpose of your business," "Where will you and your business be," and "When you and your business to achieve the goal," now you have to ask yourself the question "How am I going to do this?"

Before I go to a destination or a goal on a trip, I'd go to Google Earth Map or Mapquest web site. The web sites will tell me how to get there by giving me turn by turn directions on how to get there.

Do you have the right of skills set to get there? What kind skills can you improve in order to get there? Do you have what it takes to get there, if not , what do you have to do?"

Conclusion

In life and business, I learned that we will be faced with a lot of challenges, problems and difficulties, and most problems have answers to them. Since I am a Christian my prayer is "Lord Heavenly Father, in the name of your son Jesus Christ, please give me the strength and courage to change things that I can change, the serenity to accept things I can't change and help me Lord and give me the wisdom to know the difference. For I can do all things through Christ Jesus, in Jesus name I pray, Amen." If you are a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or come from other religious backgrounds, you can pray according to your style of prayers. If you don't believe in God at all, you still are a special and unique person with a special gift, skill and talent. I love you brothers and sisters, I wish you the best and good luck in your new business venture. Please write me, I'd love to hear from you.