By Harrish Sairaman
A simple yes or no definitely will not suffice here, and neither would be the appropriate answer. Before we get into the nitty gritties, I have a few questions myself:
Do you think people with experience have always succeeded?
Do you think a fresher without an experience can never succeed?
Have all freshers always succeeded in other professions?
Whose experience counts? Does it have to be in your experience only or can another’s experience be valid?
In my opinion, there are certain pre-requisities before anybody takes a plunge into entrepreneurship. It does not matter whether this is a fresher or a seasoned professional. Here’s what one must keep in mind:
Clarity in purpose
Absolute clarity in the business, its offering, and the value that it can add to people’s lives. Many people, even after several months of exploring the business, do not have this clarity, and hence, the sinking of their entrepreneurial boat! This clarity can come with deep study, introspection, detailed planning, and even insightful discussions with mentors and experienced entrepreneurs.
An appetite for risk is crucial
A healthy appetite for taking risks is important in the long haul as an entrepreneur. The risk must be evaluated, the damage must be calculated, and the potential returns must excite you! Fantasizing quick returns with a very low margin of patience is a sure shot to damage the intent! While some strategies might give you a quick buck, patience and long-term plan is key.
Can you independently execute the idea?
The line of business chosen, the path chosen, and the resources must be within your reach, or at least within your sphere of influence. The more you are dependent on others for your actions, decisions, and resources, the higher the chances of failure!
Prime your inner belief system to the way of the entrepreneur
Build a strong foundation, beginning with your belief system. Our beliefs are the building blocks which lay the foundation for our empire above, and we all know that if the foundation is strong we can rise high! Beliefs about the business, the future, and the self, need to be empowering!
Network like a pro
Entrepreneurship requires constant learning and unlearning. One has to be willing to continually learn from one’s mistakes, others’ mistakes, from success stories, and failure case studies! For this, building the right connections and expanding one’s network is crucial. There are several others who have walked the path before you, and their advice can guide you along. It is important that one is willing to explore and take action in this direction.
Genuine passion can take you miles
This attribute is not just important to take plunge, but to grow post the plunge! Genuine love for the work and the people involved, be it team or partners can take you a long way on this journey. Only then does business become fun, and growth becomes a reward for having fun! This attitude replaces anxiety and fear with excitement and gratitude!
Now for a final question: can you have all these going for without prior experience? Whatever is your answer, you are right! Cheers!
Harrish Sairaman is a motivational speaker and has successfully driven over 1200+ workshops touching lives of over 2,00,000 + participants.