Decisive Action

I was speaking with an acquaintance the other day about business. You see he is working a full-time job that no longer satisfies him; he commutes 2 hours round trip per day; and every other day he thinks about stepping out on his own. I can relate to the poor bastard because I was him at one point. What I can't relate to is the fact that we had this exact conversation 2 ½ years ago. The only things that have changed is the commute time has grown (it was 1 ½ hours per day) and he now 2 years older.

What is standing in this person's way? Analysis paralysis. Today he was asking me how often my clients inquire about a particular niche where he has some level of expertise. The fact is I do have a client who has asked about that, and others who haven't asked specifically but may have that need. But I could not refer my client to him when he's not in business yet and I told him as much when we spoke. I have a high level of credibility with my clients because I have performed a very valuable service for them. When I contact them with information, they know it's of good value and they know I don't refer un-vetted sources to meet their needs. Unfortunately, it is sort of a chicken and egg scenario. But like anything in life, the path cannot and will not show up until you make a commitment.

Yes, analyzing and researching your particular business niche are important steps; but like my daddy used to say, at some point you have to "Poop, or get off of the pot" (he did not say poop, but this is a family show). At some point you have to take decisive action. You have to begin writing the business plan, you have to form the business, and you have to make that first step. Believe me I KNOW how hard and scary that is. I'm an entrepreneur too, remember! But NOTHING can happen until you make the commitment.

The good thing is you don't have to commit by quitting your full-time job and diving in head first, but you have to commit with some steps that take you from the "just thinking about it" stage to the "open for business" stage. Just think how much different would that conversation today have been if that were the case. If my colleague had said, "Remember when we spoke 2 ½ years ago? Well, I have just started my new business doing XYZ and I was wondering if you have any clients who have a particular need in this area", he'd be walking away with a name and number to a potential client right now instead of me as a potential referral source if and when he ever gets up and running.

Myra Cisse, MBA, is the owner of Certification Consultants and author of her newest e-book The "Certified" Business Advantage: The Edge You Need When Selling B2B and B2G. Myra has assisted women, minority and veteran business owners across the country gain certifications that have resulted in millions of dollars' worth of corporate and government contracts for those businesses. To get your Free CD and White Paper and to receive informative weekly articles answering the most pressing questions about Women and Minority certifications, visit http://www.8atheeasyway.com

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