Is it a good time to start a business?

With Melbourne in lockdown (again!) and most businesses struggling to maintain revenues, many people are out of work or having to reduce their hours and incomes. Some are doing it tough. We are all stuck at home and craving the basic freedom of going to see our friends, our favourite sporting teams or having a holiday. Give me some sun!!

But when speaking to my clients and friends, I find not all are struggling. Some are doing really well. They are loving the simplicity of life. Enjoying time with their family and the concentrated focus on their work. It doesn't seem to be related to their level of introvertedness or the amount of money they are earning. It seems to be more about their level of satisfaction with their work and whom they are spending time with.

When you boil it all down, the difference is how much you like and are proud of your work. Without the distractions of doing lots of 'stuff' like sports, travel, socialising, restaurants, bars etc We are faced with the satisfaction or lack thereof, of our base life. Work, home and relationships.

If we are fulfilled with these foundations of life, it seems to be the difference between fulfilment or not. Of course, there is always wine and TV, to keep us happy, but we know it's a momentary diversion. If we are honest with ourselves, we know if we are really satisfied with where we are or not.

Which camp are you in: are you fulfiled with work or not?

It's a big question I know! (grab that wine now perhaps...) and one that isn't answered in a simple blog and I don't profess to have all the answers. There are those far wiser and more articulate than me who have some words of advice that helped me navigate my own journey and I wanted to share them with you. It may just help you figure things out during this difficult period.

Over to Steve Jobs and his top tips to a fulfilling life and career...

1. LIVE LIFE BY YOUR OWN RULES.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

2. ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR HEART, NO MATTER WHERE IT TAKES YOU.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

3. GIVE YOUR BEST EFFORT IN EVERYTHING YOU DO IN LIFE.

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected. Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles.”

4. DON’T LET MONEY DEFINE YOUR EXISTENCE.

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me. My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”

5. DON’T EVER STOP DREAMING BIG.

“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

6. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, KEEP IT ALL INTO PERSPECTIVE.

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”

It's a good reminder to think like we are going to die one day - because the truth is we are. Sorry to break it to you! So why not take this opportunity of more time and focus to take stock, think deeply and make some changes in your life and career.

It's easy to fall into the easy trap of thinking it's a terrible time to make a change, let alone start a new business.

But is there really a perfect time to start something new?

Well, that depends on the type of business you want to start and more importantly why you want to start it. Let me explain...

When I started my business over eight years ago, it was a terrible time to make a change. I was recently separated and navigating through a very emotional and financially difficult process. But for some reason, it seemed like the best time to change my career too. To stop the large monthly paycheques and go out on my own was extremely challenging. However, I felt it was right for me, rather than being a logical choice.

If you have ever been drawn to something that doesn't quite make sense looking forward you will understand what I mean. Often these choices, if followed, make complete sense looking back.

I made the jump into my own business many years ago and it was tough but oh so rewarding. I don't regret a thing and am now enjoying the time at home to reinvent many aspects of my career - because I can. I have control and choice. It's the freedom I am lacking in my lifestyle represented in my own work.

Only you will know if it's the right time for you to start your own business. But don't let the market or environment dictate that. Listen to your intuition and trust yourself. Work hard and take a chance before it's too late.

Best of luck!!

Andrew

Andrew Ford

Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.

 
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