Getting started - why is actually doing something so hard?

[Rob75]

Hi all,

I have a number of ideas for a business (I recently posted regarding a part-time consultancy) but I find myself not being able to take the first step. I currently have a full-time job that I cannot afford to leave but get around this by coming up with ideas that can be started on a part-time basis.

For example I created the following website 'exclusivetourguides[dot]com' but now that it is up and running I have stopped working on it.

I seem to come up with all sorts of reasons preventing myself from taking it beyond the planning and preparation stage (I am very good at this) i.e I need it to be a Ltd company but in doing this I may be in breach of current contract and if I declare an interest in another business etc....

Has anyone come up against this type of mental block and if so how did you get through it?

Rob

 

[beasty]

You are basically scared to take an actual risk

I would bet that 90% of blokes in the UK have had a business idea

How many try?
How many commit? Being a big difference to just trying

You cannot succeed if you simply plan stuff then do not action it,my theory here is that you plan something you think will be good but you are scared to see your plan fail so you quit before this happens having never really taken a chance and having falsely assured yourself you plan well
(If you plan well, you will make it happen and not quit)

To me it is fear, nothing else, very common and it is why most people stick in a job whilst dreaming of something they never do, you TRIED but you did not COMMIT and to make a business work trying is not enough!

 

[IANL]

Clearly, as beasty said, you fear something. Find reasons to do something rather than reasons not to do it. What's the worst thing that can happen?

Is your new

It is better to have tried and failed than to have never tried.

 

[Stanton22]

Hi Rob, I'm pretty much the same. Planning is quite easy if you're good at it, but anyone can be a 'spreadsheet millionaire'. Start with small steps, maybe even register as an LTD and just not declare it to your current employer? Would it be a clash of interest if you did have a company?

 

[Rob75]

All,

Thank you for your posts - I completely agree it is fear holding me back, of what though I am not quite sure. I am not particularly bothered by failure, had far share like most of us. I also agree it is taking that initial step is the big difference between the dreamers and the doers.

The point about setting up a Ltd company is really going to be my catalyst, if I can take this step then I think I might continue but as always it then comes down to do I get a virtual registered address or use home address what about accountants (approx 1k a year from what I gather to submit accounts) what if I do not make any money to at least cover those fees etc... excuses excuses I know.

The restrictive covenants in my contract I can live with but I insisted that we amended our contracts of employment to include a 'materiality interest' test due to issues with people working on their own businesses whilst at work etc... one of the controls I implemented was to periodically check against Companies House records (all DPA implications are taken care of in contract as well). As such I need to get written permission of CEO - I could set one up without doing this but then there is the integrity issue.

Thank you once again for your thoughts, this is very helpful and cathartic.

Rob

 

[beasty]

All,

Thank you for your posts - I completely agree it is fear holding me back, of what though I am not quite sure. I am not particularly bothered by failure

You are though as you will not commit to the point where you can fail!
I looked at your site and it is just a little website thrown up, no risk and nowadays anyone can put up a website about anything quickly, there is no substance to it.


, had far share like most of us. I also agree it is taking that initial step is the big difference between the dreamers and the doers.

Chucking up a website whilst in a job is not committing, you are not risking anything



The point about setting up a Ltd company is really going to be my catalyst, if I can take this step then I think I might continue

That mental attitude does not really work as despite how well your plans may be laid out in your opinion, i will guarantee you will have ups and downs you have not considered, so you must COMMIT!

I take people often up a mountain, they talk about lets try and climb this.. BS. we are climbing this, lets worry about how long it takes and make sure we get it done, there is a big difference.


but as always it then comes down to do I get a virtual registered address or use home address

You are putting up barriers that do not exist
THAT IS A CHOICE which works better, once you have taken the step it is simply a case of picking the one that works best.

what about accountants (approx 1k a year from what I gather to submit accounts) what if I do not make any money to at least cover those fees etc... excuses excuses I know, you will not need to submit accounts until at least sometime in 2015... there is no point NOT starting because something in 18months might not be covered! If you do not think you can cover accountants fees, then you are not backing yourself to succeed?

IS YOUR IDEA ANY GOOD? You have little confidence in it, if it is good, just start.. sooner you start the sooner you start to learn

The restrictive covenants in my contract I can live with but I insisted that we amended our contracts of employment to include a 'materiality interest' test due to issues with people working on their own businesses whilst at work etc... one of the controls I implemented was to periodically check against Companies House records (all DPA implications are taken care of in contract as well). As such I need to get written permission of CEO - I could set one up without doing this but then there is the integrity issue.

Set it up Monday, if it needs to be done, stick it on a list of things you need to do to begin and tick them all off, give yourself a definite deadline and just do it!

Thank you once again for your thoughts, this is very helpful and cathartic.

Disclaimer.. you might just not be made of the right stuff.... MOST are not IMO..




Rob

FEAR OF FAILURE..... you have not put yourself in a position to fail as you have not followed through to completion, saying you lost interest or decided to quit is a total cop out.. the idea either was not good enough or you are paralysed by GENUINE risk.

The good thing is, IF you do ever commit, this same fear that holds you back now, will drive you to succeed.

I am repeating, but to me its obvious you are a shot of confidence away from actually doing what you want to do, without finding more of a spine you will die always having dreamed and never really having tried...

WOW i am deep!

 

[REVIDIUM]

"A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step". So congratulations for coming up with an idea and even going as far as developing the website.

The key with any idea is the follow through and a good strategy is to break it down to its smallest elements to determine what to do next - with milestones that you can celebrate and keep you going to the next.

So for exclusivetourguides(dot)com you need to decide the next milestone. It could be something as simple as generating your first lead. Don't even think about making your first sale yet, just generate your first lead. You could commit to write an article or blog post every week, just continue to do something and don't stop.

Something else you may want to consider is finding a partner. Getting a partner creates a de facto responsibility that you don't want to let the other person down.

Good luck on your continued journey.

 

[Rob75]

Beasty/Revidium - many thanks for your posts, agree with your points and hoping this is the shot in the arm that will make me do something.

I do toy with the idea of finding a partner but like me the people I speak to want to do something but are comfortable in their current positions.

Rob