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How to Start a Business with $0

Get to work!

By Michelle LeBlancPublished 5 years ago 5 min read
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At first, I was going to leave it at that (Answer: Get to Work!), laugh and run away. Then I decided some people really might want to learn how to get started. Often getting started is the hardest part of any perceived challenge: running that 5K, drafting that 1000 words per day, finding that new job, losing that extra weight, eating healthy, quitting a bad habit… you get the idea.

The easiest answer to the question is coffee and lots of it. The real answer to the question is action oriented. This means that you have to abandon all the things you do to procrastinate and make excuses.

No matter what your business idea is, you can start it now. That’s right. Now. No money necessary. There are hundreds of thousands of people who have done it and so can you.

Step #1: Believe in Yourself and Your Idea

If you don’t believe in your idea, certainly nobody else will. It’s acceptable to have doubts and questions. There are ways to get over inner hurtles. For example, you can journal about it, record yourself talking about it and play it back, call a bestie who can play devil’s advocate or research what other people have done. Self doubt is just fear trying to get a spot in the driver’s seat and, dear readers, fear can ride shotgun, but we should not let fear drive. Ever.

Step #2: Get to Work

You thought maybe I was kidding about that? Nope. The only way you’re going to get better at what you’re doing is to do it and do it a lot. If you have a day job that is getting in your way of doing what you love full time, you might have to skip happy hour with your co-workers to work on your side hustle.

Happy hour, movies, friends, going to the gym and vacations all have one thing in common, and that thing is time. If you need to carve out time for your idea you can; the time is there, you just have to find it.

I could give you thousands of examples of people who have worked three jobs or had twelve kids or came to the US and still made their side hustle work by carving out time, but that is not what this article is about. If I were to post a link to an inspirational clip here, it would be one more thing to keep you from your work, and that’s not what I’m here to do.

Step #3: Share

This is where we get into marketing concepts like ‘know your audience,’ and ‘target market.’ Define what is your work and who it is for. Then share your work with your target audience.

Step #4: Prepare yourself for rejection

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Isn’t that the famous Wayne Gretzky quote? It’s true. Also, Edison found 10,000 ways not to make a lightbulb.

One way to be able to prepare yourself for the rejection you’re going to receive is to detach from the idea. Let the idea be its own identity and help it search prospect to prospect, but make sure your inner child will be okay with “no.”

One audience that will reject you are doppelgängers. Be prepared to know what makes your value proposition different. Meeting people with the same idea is going to be common. You could potentially build partnerships with your lookalike or view the experience as a litmus test as to the validity and sturdiness of your idea. Be sure to have boundaries, but you always want to come from a place of joy and abundance, never from a place of jealousy and intimidation.

Step #5: Be prepared for Yes

As you are prospecting, it can be easy to settle into the world of rejection, but don’t. Keep in mind always you are looking for acceptance, so you should be ready to deliver your product or service when doors open. Know what phase of business you are in: trial, start up, growth, expansion or maturity.

Be clear and honest about what stage you are in when you are discussing the parameters of your business with your new client. Also, draft for yourself the stages of your business model to keep as a guide.

Step #6: Your idea costs money

Ever heard of crowdfunding? Yes: Get to work. No: Do some research. Work. Get to it.

Step #7: Help people

Helping people does two things for you. First, it allows you to exercise your idea into reality. Second, you get feedback and (hopefully) make some friends. Who doesn’t like free stuff, right? You can start with your inner circle of friends and family. You can find some nonprofits who might be willing to work with you. You can solicit for candidates who will be willing to try what you have to offer and run a trial.

Step #8: CYA

That’s right. I said it. Cover Your Assimilation. You know, your understanding of product testing. Duh.

Seriously, though. If you conduct trials using random subjects, it is important to have waivers, contracts or nondisclosure agreements. Many of these can be found online for free. Another option if you have friends who are contract specialists, you can offer to swap, or if you need more that simple contracts, you can offer partnership in the business or part ownership.

Step #9: Love what you do

It is very easy for entrepreneurs to suffer from burn out. This is the last thing you want as a start up because you have a long way to go. Although it is possible to become an overnight success, it is unlikely so pace yourself. Make sure you remind yourself every day why you wanted to create this new business idea and how you’re going to do it. You have to keep the romance alive!

There you have it. Short, sweet and to the point. There are no excuses now. I hope this helps you on your journey. Now, it’s the weekend—it’s time to get to work. Cheers!

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About the Creator

Michelle LeBlanc

I've been a writer, artist and cook for as far back as I can remember. My dad owned a restaurant at some point and was a race car driver. Grandad owned a restaurant, but in Japan. Mom was a seamstress. We can choose how we define ourselves.

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