ecks are beside the first answer, you probably have what it takes to run a business. If not, you are likely to have more trouble than you can handle by yourself. Consider a partner who is strong on the points you are weak on. If most checks are beside the third answer, you might be well advised not to try to launch your own business.

Your business is a reflection of who you are.

Many people believe that there is a distinction between themselves and their business. They believe that who they are and how they deal with life personally, will in some way be different than how they deal with the things that happen in their businesses. Observation and experience have shown this is not true. If you are not right with yourself, with other people, and with how you deal with circumstances you're in for a rough time when it comes to your business. Look into yourself. Consider getting some counseling if you have trouble dealing with life's irritations. Examine carefully your motivations and your commitment to starting and running your own business. It can be a tremendous, life-fulfilling adventure or it can be a living hell. It definitely is not a prescription for getting your life

The reason you are reading this is because you are considering, or are in action to become a business owner. It is one of the most momentous undertakings you can be involved in and at the same time a very natural event. There are two important considerations you should examine in detail before embarking on this venture. We call them the two ‘C’s in suCCess

1. Owning a business is a major life Commitment.

It's a greater commitment than getting married. When you get married you make a commitment to one person, but when you start-up a business you are making a commitment to deliver your products and services to every customer and potential customer. You're committed to running your business properly with your employees, suppliers, vendors, the local, state and federal governments, and your family -- literally hundreds of people. And, when the going gets tough, and it will, you are committed to seeing things through.

2. To be successful you’ll need to be able to deal effectively with Circumstances.

If you’re a person that believes that things happen in your life because of, or as a result of, outside forces, then being self-employed is probably not something you should pursue. If you have an open and creative style for dealing with circumstances, a style that enables you to see alternatives and new possibilities in any situation, then you have a key to getting things done. You need to be clear that you are "at cause" for the way your life and business works. Taking on the responsibility and being accountable for what works, and what doesn't, will provide you with an understanding and appreciation for being financially self-sufficient.

A quick self-assessment checklist

Starting a business is risky at best, but your chances of making it increase as your understanding of the problems you will encounter grows. Here are some questions to help you think through what you need to know and do. Next to each question, check the answer that best expresses what you feel, or comes closest to it. Be honest with yourself. There is no right or wrong answer. What you're looking for is honesty.

Are you a self starter?

___ I do things on my own. Nobody has to tell me to get going.

___ If someone gets me started, I keep going all right.

___ Easy does it. I do not put myself out until I have to.

How do you feel about other people?

___ I like people. I can get along with just about everybody.

___ I have plenty of friends. I do not need any more.

___ Most people irritate me.

Can you lead others?

___ I can get most people to go along when I start something.

___ I can give orders if someone tells me what we should do.

___ I let someone else get things moving, then I go along if I feel like it.

Can you take responsibility?

___ I like to take charge of things and see them through.

___ I will take over if I have to, but I would rather let someone else be responsible.

___ There is always someone eager to show how smart he or she is. I say let them.

How good a worker are you?

___ I can keep going as long as I need to. I don't mind working hard for something I want.

___ I will work hard for awhile, but when I've had enough, that's it.

___ I don't see how hard work gets you anywhere.

Can you make decisions comfortably?

___ Not only can I make up my mind in a hurry, but things usually turn out OK.

___ If I make a decisions quickly, later, I think I should have been decided another way.

___ I do not like to be the one who has to make decisions.

Can people trust what you say?

___ You bet they can. I do not say things I do not mean.

___ I try to be on the level most of the time, but sometimes I just say what is easiest.

___ Why bother if the other fellow does not know the difference?

Can you stick with it?

___ If I make up my mind to do something, I don't let anything stop me.

___ I usually finish what I start, if it goes well.

___ If things don't go right from the start, I quit. Why beat your brains out?

How good is your health?

___ I never get run down.

___ I have enough energy for most of the things I want to do.

___ I run out of energy sooner, it seems, than most of my friends.

Count the checks you have made. How many checks are there beside the first answer to each question, the second answer, or the third answer to each question? If most of your checks are beside the first answer, you probably have what it takes to run a business. If not, you are likely to have more trouble than you can handle by yourself. Consider a partner who is strong on the points you are weak on. If most checks are beside the third answer, you might be well advised not to try to launch your own business.

Your business is a reflection of who you are.

Many people believe that there is a distinction between themselves and their business. They believe that who they are and how they deal with life personally, will in some way be different than how they deal with the things that happen in their businesses. Observation and experience have shown this is not true. If you are not right with yourself, with other people, and with how you deal with circumstances you're in for a rough time when it comes to your business. Look into yourself. Consider getting some counseling if you have trouble dealing with life's irritations. Examine carefully your motivations and your commitment to starting and running your own business. It can be a tremendous, life-fulfilling adventure or it can be a living hell. It definitely is not a prescription for getting your life s

ly not something you should pursue. If you have an open and creative style for dealing with circumstances, a style that enables you to see alternatives and new possibilities in any situation, then you have a key to getting things done. You need to be clear that you are "at cause" for the way your life and business works. Taking on the responsibility and being accountable for what works, and what doesn't, will provide you with an understanding and appreciation for being financially self-sufficient.

A quick self-assessment checklist

Starting a business is risky at best, but your chances of making it increase as your understanding of the problems you will encounter grows. Here are some questions to help you think through what you need to know and do. Next to each question, check the answer that best expresses what you feel, or comes closest to it. Be honest with yourself. There is no right or wrong answer. What you're looking for is honesty.

Are you a self starter?

___ I do things on my own. Nobody has to tell me to get going.

___ If someone gets me started, I keep going all right.

___ Easy does it. I do not put myself out until I have to.

How do you feel about other people?

___ I like people. I can get along with just about everybody.

___ I have plenty of friends. I do not need any more.

___ Most people irritate me.

Can you lead others?

___ I can get most people to go along when I start something.

___ I can give orders if someone tells me what we should do.

___ I let someone else get things moving, then I go along if I feel like it.

Can you take responsibility?

___ I like to take charge of things and see them through.

___ I will take over if I have to, but I would rather let someone else be responsible.

___ There is always someone eager to show how smart he or she is. I say let them.

How good a worker are you?

___ I can keep going as long as I need to. I don't mind working hard for something I want.

___ I will work hard for awhile, but when I've had enough, that's it.

___ I don't see how hard work gets you anywhere.

Can you make decisions comfortably?

___ Not only can I make up my mind in a hurry, but things usually turn out OK.

___ If I make a decisions quickly, later, I think I should have been decided another way.

___ I do not like to be the one who has to make decisions.

Can people trust what you say?

___ You bet they can. I do not say things I do not mean.

___ I try to be on the level most of the time, but sometimes I just say what is easiest.

___ Why bother if the other fellow does not know the difference?

Can you stick with it?

___ If I make up my mind to do something, I don't let anything stop me.

___ I usually finish what I start, if it goes well.

___ If things don't go right from the start, I quit. Why beat your brains out?

How good is your health?

___ I never get run down.

___ I have enough energy for most of the things I want to do.

___ I run out of energy sooner, it seems, than most of my friends.

Count the checks you have made. How many checks are there beside the first answer to each question, the second answer, or the third answer to each question? If most of your checks are beside the first answer, you probably have what it takes to run a business. If not, you are likely to have more trouble than you can handle by yourself. Consider a partner who is strong on the points you are weak on. If most checks are beside the third answer, you might be well advised not to try to launch your own business.

Your business is a reflection of who you are.

Many people believe that there is a distinction between themselves and their business. They believe that who they are and how they deal with life personally, will in some way be different than how they deal with the things that happen in their businesses. Observation and experience have shown this is not true. If you are not right with yourself, with other people, and with how you deal with circumstances you're in for a rough time when it comes to your business. Look into yourself. Consider getting some counseling if you have trouble dealing with life's irritations. Examine carefully your motivations and your commitment to starting and running your own business. It can be a tremendous, life-fulfilling adventure or it can be a living hell. It definitely is not a prescription for getting your life

How do you feel about other people?

___ I like people. I can get along with just about everybody.

___ I have plenty of friends. I do not need any more.

___ Most people irritate me.

Can you lead others?

___ I can get most people to go along when I start something.

___ I can give orders if someone tells me what we should do.

___ I let someone else get things moving, then I go along if I feel like it.

Can you take responsibility?

___ I like to take charge of things and see them through.

___ I will take over if I have to, but I would rather let someone else be responsible.

___ There is always someone eager to show how smart he or she is. I say let them.

How good a worker are you?

___ I can keep going as long as I need to. I don't mind working hard for something I want.

___ I will work hard for awhile, but when I've had enough, that's it.

___ I don't see how hard work gets you anywhere.

Can you make decisions comfortably?

___ Not only can I make up my mind in a hurry, but things usually turn out OK.

___ If I make a decisions quickly, later, I think I should have been decided another way.

___ I do not like to be the one who has to make decisions.

Can people trust what you say?

___ You bet they can. I do not say things I do not mean.

___ I try to be on the level most of the time, but sometimes I just say what is easiest.

___ Why bother if the other fellow does not know the difference?

Can you stick with it?

___ If I make up my mind to do something, I don't let anything stop me.

___ I usually finish what I start, if it goes well.

___ If things don't go right from the start, I quit. Why beat your brains out?

How good is your health?

___ I never get run down.

___ I have enough energy for most of the things I want to do.

___ I run out of energy sooner, it seems, than most of my friends.

Count the checks you have made. How many checks are there beside the first answer to each question, the second answer, or the third answer to each question? If most of your checks are beside the first answer, you probably have what it takes to run a business. If not, you are likely to have more trouble than you can handle by yourself. Consider a partner who is strong on the points you are weak on. If most checks are beside the third answer, you might be well advised not to try to launch your own business.

Your business is a reflection of who you are.

Many people believe that there is a distinction between themselves and their business. They believe that who they are and how they deal with life personally, will in some way be different than how they deal with the things that happen in their businesses. Observation and experience have shown this is not true. If you are not right with yourself, with other people, and with how you deal with circumstances you're in for a rough time when it comes to your business. Look into yourself. Consider getting some counseling if you have trouble dealing with life's irritations. Examine carefully your motivations and your commitment to starting and running your own business. It can be a tremendous, life-fulfilling adventure or it can be a living hell. It definitely is not a prescription for getting your life

y mind in a hurry, but things usually turn out OK.

___ If I make a decisions quickly, later, I think I should have been decided another way.

___ I do not like to be the one who has to make decisions.

Can people trust what you say?

___ You bet they can. I do not say things I do not mean.

___ I try to be on the level most of the time, but sometimes I just say what is easiest.

___ Why bother if the other fellow does not know the difference?

Can you stick with it?

___ If I make up my mind to do something, I don't let anything stop me.

___ I usually finish what I start, if it goes well.

___ If things don't go right from the start, I quit. Why beat your brains out?

How good is your health?

___ I never get run down.

___ I have enough energy for most of the things I want to do.

___ I run out of energy sooner, it seems, than most of my friends.

Count the checks you have made. How many checks are there beside the first answer to each question, the second answer, or the third answer to each question? If most of your checks are beside the first answer, you probably have what it takes to run a business. If not, you are likely to have more trouble than you can handle by yourself. Consider a partner who is strong on the points you are weak on. If most checks are beside the third answer, you might be well advised not to try to launch your own business.

Your business is a reflection of who you are.

Many people believe that there is a distinction between themselves and their business. They believe that who they are and how they deal with life personally, will in some way be different than how they deal with the things that happen in their businesses. Observation and experience have shown this is not true. If you are not right with yourself, with other people, and with how you deal with circumstances you're in for a rough time when it comes to your business. Look into yourself. Consider getting some counseling if you have trouble dealing with life's irritations. Examine carefully your motivations and your commitment to starting and running your own business. It can be a tremendous, life-fulfilling adventure or it can be a living hell. It definitely is not a prescription for getting your life

ecks are beside the first answer, you probably have what it takes to run a business. If not, you are likely to have more trouble than you can handle by yourself. Consider a partner who is strong on the points you are weak on. If most checks are beside the third answer, you might be well advised not to try to launch your own business.

Your business is a reflection of who you are.

Many people believe that there is a distinction between themselves and their business. They believe that who they are and how they deal with life personally, will in some way be different than how they deal with the things that happen in their businesses. Observation and experience have shown this is not true. If you are not right with yourself, with other people, and with how you deal with circumstances you're in for a rough time when it comes to your business. Look into yourself. Consider getting some counseling if you have trouble dealing with life's irritations. Examine carefully your motivations and your commitment to starting and running your own business. It can be a tremendous, life-fulfilling adventure or it can be a living hell. It definitely is not a prescription for getting your life straightened out.