Starting a new business or venture is very challenging and can affect us emotionally. There are some things you can do to make it easier and to ensure a more successful start. I find that people tend to make similar mistakes across the board. I have listed three of them here to help you avoid those mistakes yourself. I have also explained how I have learned through trial and error over the years how I've dealt with these issues.



1. Not defining a narrow enough niche.

Many solo professionals find it difficult to define a specific core message. They feel they will be limiting the number of clients they can attract, so they are determined to define a broader niche or create several niches. Defining one narrow core message doesn't mean that you can't accept work outside of your niche. What it does mean is that you are limiting who you need to market to and network with. The larger your audience, the more time it takes to market.

I was previously an application developer. If I market my services as being just a developer, I wouldn't get many clients. My clients need to know that I'm specialized to a certain type of programming.

I market myself to clients who are in need of a very specific type of development. By narrowing myself, I am telling clients that I am an expert in this one area, and this causes me to be in high demand. As it turns out, there are thousands of developers, but there aren't many developers in my specific niche.

2. Making it harder than it should be.

The tendency with many people starting out with a new business is they think they need to do everything in the beginning, go out with a bang and invest a ton of money in the process. Make it easier for yourself; start small. You don't need to look like you've been in business forever when you are just starting. Learn as you go and add things as you have time and as you are learning.

Every venture I ever build, I start with just a few hundred dollars. Yes, some businesses could cost much more to start, but I tend to stay away from those. I like to tap into free networking events and free online marketing tactics to get the word out. I create a one-page website and submit articles to newsletters and directories. I just learn where my potential clients hang out, and I go there.

3. Holding back from moving ahead due to fear or lack of confidence.

You'll never know how successful your idea is until you start. Start small. Find the one thing you are best at and start with that. Build your confidence as you go. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't or it could be you need to learn more about it. Go with what feels right. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what feels best for you, but when you stumble upon it you will know.

When I started this business, I had a great idea. Everywhere I went people told me the idea was going to help many people, but it wasn't resonating well with me. I didn't feel confident about where the idea was heading; I was having trouble figuring out where and how to begin. It took me months of researching my idea before I figured out what it was that wasn't right.

One day it hit me. I realized my idea wasn't the right match for what I was looking for. Once I narrowed the niche down to match my personality and skills exactly, I felt extremely confident in moving forward and found my momentum. In thinking about it, I've found this to be true in every career decision I've ever made.

A business rarely becomes successful unless you are passionate about what you are doing. Find your passion and your true niche, and go with it.