Why I decided to build my own business

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You know, I’ve had a lot of different dreams for my career in my lifetime. A lot of different dreams, I tell you.

There was the time I was 7 and wanted to be a veterinarian. Then I found out I can’t see blood, so that plan never panned out.

At 12 years old I wanted to be a stock broker on Wall Street. I then found out a majority of them retire with severe stress and mental disorders by 30, so I shelved that idea too.

When I turned 15, I thought I would become a computer games programmer. You know those awesome people who work to code and manipulate your amazing graphics to look like real life people and magical explosions?

Yes that was also meant to be me. Unfortunately, due to a number of different circumstances, that dream also never came to fruition though.

Honestly, I could go on and on about the other countless career aspirations I’ve had throughout my life. If I did, we’d be here all day (or longer) though. So, I think I’ll stop myself for now.

One thing I will tell you though, is that I almost never saw myself as a business owner.

Which is why, it’s come as a bit of a surprise to me, that right now in 2020 I’m actually actively working on getting my very first product completed. Which consequently will lead to me launching my very first business!

How exactly did I get here?!?!

A spark of inspiration

Taking a moment to consider how I got to where I am today, I realised that I likely started on this track a little over a year ago.

After quitting my job in Prague, I decided to take some time for myself. I wanted to accomplish some items for myself that I said I’d always wanted to do. One of those items was an old bucket list dream of mine.

I wanted to write a book.

I started brainstorming what kind of book. Perhaps I could write a novel, a self-help book, a fact-based guide or perhaps even poetry? So many options – it was quite hard to choose!

Eventually, I decided to write something I thought would be useful for others. I decided I wanted to write a book to help people with one thing: making relocation simple.

Going with the flow

Once I decided to write my book, I agreed with myself to conduct some preliminary research beforehand. After all, what good would a book be if I just based it on guess-work?

I wanted to know what people actually needed assistance with. I wanted to know how I could actually help them.

After 15+ hour-long interviews and a lot of thought, I realised. A book was not the solution.

So, I stopped my project and my book remained unwritten. I decided to put the project on indefinite hold until I came up with a better solution.

Fast forward 6 months and I randomly stumbled across a new solution. I’d create an online platform instead!

Creating a solution

My inspiration was at full-force again. This is what I had been waiting for! Of course, it wasn’t the perfect solution. It wasn’t 100% what I had envisioned. However, it was a start.

If it’s one thing my old company taught me it’s to always make a start with the “minimal viable product”. You could always develop it from there.

So, here I am, a couple of months later and excited about what’s to come.

At the moment, I still consider this a “side hustle” as I’m still actively job-seeking and planning to work while I build my empire.

However, I’ll tell you what. I definitely see potential. And as long as I’m not being hired in a hurry – I’ve got plenty of time to go chase this dream through to completion.

Which brings me to my last consideration for this post…

Motivation

I believe we only ever really do things in life, because we feel motivated to do them for some reason. My dream to start a business, didn’t start as a dream to start a business. It started as a dream to write a book.

However, as time has passed, my circumstances have changed too. That ultimately has led to a change in motivation too.

You see, as my idea has evolved and matured, so have the possibilities. This time last year, I thought I would be employed by now.

I thought I would be moving back into my old corporate life and re-starting the life I had voluntarily left. These days, however, my vision has changed.

I want more for myself in the future.

Call me ambitious, but I want it all. The career, the family, the social life, the travel, the quality of life, the happiness in life. I want it all.

When I was an employee, my job was my world. When I was in a relationship, my relationship was my world. Then both came crashing down within a very short time frame.

Two-years later I see the only reason that was possible, was because I didn’t look out for what was most important.

Balance.

Opportunity

Starting your own business is no easy feat, I recognise that. Especially, as a first timer, I’m sure it will be an interesting rodeo.

However, starting a business also brings a lot of potential opportunities with it. Especially, if you get it right.

Opportunities like:

A creative licence to use your chosen expertise
The gift of allowing yourself to serve others – whilst helping yourself too
A great excuse to challenge yourself and open up your learning horizons
The flexibility to organise your work around your day – not only the other way around
The ability to generate your own income – making you less reliant on others to do it for you

I know that my views may be a little idealistic right now. After all, there’s a lot to consider along with these opportunities too.

However, I also know they are realistic, because I’ve seen these opportunities grow others’ lives before me.

There may be some bumps and it may take some time too. In truth, right now I really can’t know for sure how this journey will pan out in.

However, I do believe that I definitely have a unique chance to create an enhanced life experience for myself. And anyone who knows me well, knows those are the kind of chances I live for.

So, let’s not start with worry and instead simply see how this adventure rolls forward, shall we? 😉