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    What advice would you give someone who thinks they don’t have what it takes to be an entrepreneur

    For context, I live in Nigeria and work as a social media specialist/content writer remotely for global brands.

    I've always fancied the idea of building something from the ground up. But I've never had a background in business. I've always been the bookish kind and anytime I encounter entrepreneurship relatedd content on social media, it's always those dude screaming at you through the screen and putting their noses up at anyone sleeping beyond 3hrs a day.

    You know, those hustle culture kind.

    But I want to build something. I feel it will give me a better sense of purpose and even help with my depression and anxiety.

    But how do I learn about:

    1. How money works
    2. How to take risks
    3. How to recognize opportunities
    4. Key things you need to start.
    5. Deal with the fear of failure (as a teenager, I tried a couple of businesses which failed because I always only have one foot in. Because I always allow the fear of failing get to me)
      Etc

    ??

    What advice would you give someone who thinks they don’t have what it takes to be an entrepreneur
    byu/Ojaadili inEntrepreneur



    Posted by Ojaadili

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    20 Comments

    1. Motor_Indication_245 on

      You may be well suited for an apprenticeship type role. Shadow a founder for a year. Everything they ask you to do, research how, and get it done to the best of your ability. You’ll learn everything you need to know about running a small business, at least enough to try on your own.

    3. oddball09 on

      How do you learn? In 2024, it’s so easy… Google and Youtube.

      Then, after you learn something, go try it out and experience it yourself. Almost nothing you learn will directly translate to you and your life 1:1. What works for someone might not work for you. But you learn, try, adapt. Repeat this until you get your desired results.

      Don’t worry if you screw up or fail, it’s just part of the process. Keep learning and trying and you’ll figure it out eventually.

    4. Virtual-Estimate-525 on

      start with side project and see how it goes

      getting than one first sale to your business feels much more rewarding than selling an old jacket on ebay

    5. Sea_Telephone_9243 on

      Follow these guys on LinkedIn and Twitter: Justin Welsh, Nicholas Cole, Dickie Bush. You’ll probably find great advice, without the screaming 🙂

    6. Baloo99 on

      Nobody has what it takes the moment they start. BUT you will learn what you need while doing it!

      As some others said, start a side project in what ever field interests you and get doing.

      Also about finding opportunities, you wont know them till they pass. Someone from my network is in telecommunication and I have a hardware/engineering startup. We have nothing to add to each others startup but hia friend was my first customer.

    7. FewWillingness1081 on

      Try.

      Then tell yourself that.

      Make mistakes.

      It will burn itself into your brain.

    8. Fun-Village-4518 on

      If you feel like you don’t have what it takes.. you likely don’t have what it takes.

      Find a mentor, learn from someone who has already paved the path and developed the skills and attitudes.

      Look for courses and education resources.

      Being an entrepreneur means you must be able to provide a solid product or service AND operate a business. Those are two different skill sets.

      A great electrician or plumber or framer etc. can be extremely skilled at their trade and still be a terrible business owner and run their company into the ground.

      Learn the business skill set to the point you are confident.

    9. murenzi_company on

      You shouldn’t be in business if you don’t think you have what it takes to be in business. lol. You’ve kind of already failed yourself with that mindset

    10. RedUzer36 on

      It depends on what kind of business but for the most part, it’s a path that takes a lot of mental strength and inner self belief.

      IMO, it’s important to try and connect with others who are doing well, who are going to encourage you to push forward when things aren’t going well or feel like they’re at a standstill.

      At times things will feel lonely and depressive but this is where you need to have the courage to persist. You’ll also need to accept that you will lose money and fail, A LOT.

      Building the business itself will not be the most difficult task, it’s acquiring leads and paying customers/clients where the difficulty will come in.

      Sometimes, the idea or business you’re working at building will feel like it’s going nowhere and you’ll begin to think that the business is not a good one when in fact, there are some tweaks that need to be made which could turn things around. You can’t just claim “Ah this business sucks” and move on to hop on another “opportunity”.

      It may take many months/years before things begin to blossom.

    11. password_is_ent on

      The entire world was built by people no smarter than you.
      – Steve Jobs

    12. Fordatel on

      It’s easier than you think. Start with something simple – I.e a supplements company or a branded workwear company – create a few simple products and if it doesn’t work then you’ve learnt alot of things but it’s all in persistence and execution.

      Remember if you start now – in 2027 you could have a 100k a month in turnover business.

      Time is your friend when it comes to business – get the ball rolling

    13. aCoolGuy12 on

      I’d say to them that they’re right. Entrepreneurship is super difficult and requires you to have the enough mental endurance to be told “you won’t be able” many times before you do it anyway.

    14. NoPiezoelectricity27 on

      Hi you learn by doing. Just start. You are more likely to learn much faster by doing.

      I will recommend doing something you already know. You can become an entrepreneur in content writing/SM. Maybe having your own agency, teaching others, finding talent and outsourcing, building your brand etc. I am not sure what you mean by building something new but you can start there.

      Find a mentor – trust me this will help

      entrepreneurship isn’t about sleeping less than 3 hours a day lol. i will argue it is the opposite.

      lastly you can be a normal corporate person and still be happy & successful. If you feel it is not for you, you can always not do it.

    15. bentrodw on

      Read Millionaire Mind. If that person is you, put in the hard work to develop skills

    16. Fillenintheblanks on

      “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t– you’re right.”- Henry Ford

      You have to embrace stupidity and fully commit to the idea that if some other shmuck who live and experience the same reality you do every day can create something, then you can too. I mean, truly believe there is nothing they can do that you can’t do or at the very least the things you can’t do can be outsourced and you can handle the managing of it and all things you don’t currently know can be learned as you go. (Which it absolutely can and all entrepreneurs do).

    18. Scotchy1122 on

      Don’t try to build a billion dollar company. Find something that someone is already doing and do it better.

    19. CodaDev on

      You would give that person advice on entrepreneurship, you’d give them advice on how to move up the corporate ladder.

    20. Cawlaw92 on

      If you don’t think you have what it takes, you have already lost the battle. You need confidence to make it. I don’t suggest taking the jump until you believe you can do it. If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else?

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