So You Want to be an Entrepreneur?

Posted by Dawn Baird, Partner on Mar 27, 2009 in business, entrepreneurship, news and events | 1 comment

Business card available from www.gapingvoid.com

What comes to mind when you think of the word entrepreneurship?  My guess is that most people will fit into the third camp in the poll below.  (But, we’ll see how the poll pans out.)  See, when I talk to my non self-employed friend and colleagues, there is  a collective shudder when they realise I’ve no regular pay-packet, or reliable, regular income.

It doesn’t bother me, coming from a somewhat entrepreneurial background.  And, I was always encouraged to take risks and do my own thing.  That added to the fact that I hate working for someone else.  Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later, wasn’t it?

So, what does it take?  I’ve drawn up a list of things to think about.  And, if you’d like to learn more, or work through what’s involved in setting up in business, then come along to my workshop, and we’ll work it out together.

Have you got what it takes?  (So, what does it take?)

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you like working alone?
2. Can you plan and organise your time, so that things get done?
3. Would you be prepared to work over the weekend to complete a proposal for a client (sometimes)?
4. Does the prospect of being able to take  day off when you want appeal to you? 
5. Are you a finisher?
6. Does the question ‘Where do you see yourself in five years? bore/scare/panic you?
7. Would you consider yourself to be a creative person?
8. Can you see a gap in your market?
9. Have you got confidence to sell your product to those who don’t know they want it yet? 
10. Do you believe in your product?
11. Is your service gonna be better than anyone else’s?
12. Can you identify what’s different about you?
13. What resources will be available to you, once you begin?
14. Who will support you financially through the initial lean times?
15. Is there even a vague plan in place for what happens if it doesn’t work out?
16. What are your thoughts on continual professional development for you?
17. Who’s gonna design your website and marketing materials?
18. Are you ready to begin?
19. When are you going to begin?
20. Have you started on the path?  Why not?  To help you get kick-started, why not attend our So You Want to be an Entrepreneur? event.  Details below.

[polldaddy poll=1452384]

Event Details & Booking

Saturday 16 May 09, 09:30 – 16:30.

Location: Queens University Belfast.

To book a place, phone the School of Education (Open Learning) on 028 9097 3539/3323 or email openlearning.education@qub.ac.uk.  Cost £23 pp.