{photo by DalyDose. Are you ready to get your hands dirty?}
So, you want to start your own creative business, but have you asked yourself why?
It sounds like a simple question, and I'm sure you have many reasons floating through your head right now, but taking to time to answer it really is the first step in helping you get your business going.
Whether you're in the beginning phases of getting things organized, or you've been at your own business for awhile, it's important to define and assess your goals to help keep yourself on target.
Your answer to why you want to go into business for yourself will help you realize what you expect to achieve from your business, what you should focus on and where your passion really lies. Knowing these things is where it all begins and can help you figure out whether or not you should even get started.
Get out your paper and pen and make a list. List all the reasons you can think of as to why starting your own creative business appeals to you.
Think about your dreams and your talents but also money, your family, your responsibilities, your goals for the future and how your business idea could benefit others. Really think about why you want to sacrifice your time and energy to starting your own business. And why would you be good at it?
Anything goes, from the most heartfelt angst of truly wanting to make a living from your creative passions to silly things like being able to wear your pajamas all day long. List freely. Get all the reasons out of your head and right in front of you where you can see them. Be honest. Be specific. Some of your answers may actually surprise you.
After you have your big list of whys, find the 3-5 reasons that stand out as the most important to you. What ideas are the strongest motivating factors for you to focus on as you get your business off the ground?
Write those few down somewhere where you can see them all the time- post them on your computer, on your inspiration board, on your mirror, make an art piece out of them! Staying focused on why you want to start your business will help you with the how that comes next and keep you motivated through the rough patches that may follow.
Speaking of rough patches, if you're already in a creative business and feeling a bit stagnant and uninspired, you may want to make a list too to remind you why you started your business in the first place. What were your original goals? How are you working towards them? Why do you want to continue with your business?
And please, feel free to write your 3-5 most motivating "why factors" in the comments below, if you feel comfortable sharing. I think it would be cool to see what common themes arise between all of us. I'll start it off by sharing my reasons why I chose to start this blog below!
