I just read the article “The 11 Harsh Realities of Being an Entrepreneur.” Some points in the downright depressing blog I agree with. Some I don’t. And, at other times, the “harsh realities” of being a small business owner has more to do with perspective.

Here are my Facts About Being an Entrepreneur…

1   It never turns out like you think it will.  

2   Everything takes a least twice as long to complete.

3   You can’t do it all yourself. You need a team, even if you are a home-based business owner.

I have the honor of having Ericka Young in one of my advanced Nothing is Impossible for Business group coaching series, which is on their 26th session. I really admired how Ericka pushed through her fear to start her business. Below is her story of how she became an entrepreneur.

I coach many solopreneurs. You know, those entrepreneurs or solo business owners that prefer to go it alone. The path can be both difficult and rewarding and I’ve noticed that successful solopreneurs often share the same tendencies.
 

Here are some of the Traits of a Successful Solopreneur…

They …

1  Have no problem working an 8-hour day 5 days a week.

2  Are not afraid to make mistakes.

3  Don’t let personal matters distract them during work hours.

4  Set work priorities and follow them.

You won’t find this in “How to Start a Business” books or any classes. And yet, I have found this one thing can cause more harm to a home-based entrepreneur’s success than anything else. The majority of my solopreneur coaching clients suffer from it and some battle it on a daily bases. I have run a home-based business for 16 years now and still encounter episodes. What is it? Isolation Disease.
 

Here are the Symptoms of Isolation Disease…

• Can’t get motivated.
• Start adopting the “What’s the use” attitude.
• Believe you are the only one suffering from this disease.

In the 14 years that I have been a small business coach, I have noticed some disadvantages that women business owners face far more often than men. It must be the way we were raised and a belief system we bought into. I think these are among the primary reasons we aren’t as successful as a whole in business as men.

Here’s Some of the Disadvantages Being a Woman Entrepreneur-

We have a tendency to…

• Think multi-tasking is normal and pride ourselves at being good at it.
• Have an “I’ll do-it-myself attitude".

Before you charge ahead and start your business, consider the stumbling blocks first. Your business success depends on how well you adjust and resolve these disadvantages.

Here are Some of the Many Disadvantages of Being Small Business Owner...

• You can’t blame the boss.
• Things constantly change, especially with this economy.
• You’ll have to learn to like marketing and sales, whether you supervise or do it yourself.
• To be successful, you must make and follow a budget.
• You have to make lots of decisions quickly all of the time.

I just heard recently that the Arizona Small Business Association (located in Phoenix and Tucson) added 700 members in a little over six months. Wow!  Either ASBA has a really effective marketing plan, or there are lots of people sick of job insecurity. Maybe people are lost and just don’t know what else to do but start their own business. Or what I like to believe, lots of people are finally going for their dream jobs.

Here are Some of the Many Advantages of Being an Entrepreneur:

• No one can fire or lay you off.