If you’re reading this post you’re probably thinking about starting a business, or you’ve already started it and you just want to make sure you’re on track and not doing anything that’ll slow down your progress. I totally get it! When I first started my business as an online coach, I would read/watch anything and everything that would help lessen my anxieties about taking this massive step that at the time, I felt kinda clueless about. I had mastered my expertise, which is coaching, but when it came to running a business that was another thing. I believed so many things about starting a business that I eventually found out are quite common and can easily keep you stuck. Here are five common myths that many aspiring entrepreneurs believe about starting a business and how you can escape from believing them, today.

1. You have to be experienced in business

Girl, absolutely not! Most entrepreneurs start their businesses with little knowledge if any at all. Business is a growth journey. Meaning that you learn as you go. What you know in your first year as a business owner is completely different to what you know in your 5^th, 10^th, and even 20^th year in the biz. Your business evolves and you learn new skills and strategies that will allow your business to grow and be of greater influence. Each milestone is a blessing and specific to where you need to be at that time. Typically, your first year in business is all about trial and error, seeing what works and what doesn’t. You start off with an idea and you see what it takes for it to work. You’re learning business language and getting your systems in place. You’re getting your feet wet in marketing, and learning to get a deeper understanding of who you’re meant to serve. You’re getting help from other business owners in your industry who have been where you are and are doing what you want to do. And most importantly, you’re figuring out your voice and message. Setting the tone for your God given purpose in business. That’s the beauty of the first year (or 2nd), so embrace it, knowing that it’s only part of the process and it’s beautiful in its own way. Your current lack of knowledge will make learning the basics more meaningful.

2. You have to have a lot of money

In whose world lol? No, but really, it can definitely help to have loads of money. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it if you don’t. You can. I did. And so did many others, in every industry. These days we’re blessed with so many options of putting ourselves out there and starting a biz with no capital. The online world has been a huge contributor in having systems and programs that allow us to sell and market our expertise. Being able to start small with a potential to grow and create influence. You can literally wake up tomorrow and decide to open a store…and its done! Platforms such as Etsy , Big Cartel, and Shopify allow you have an online store where you can sell products. The opportunities are endless.

Whether you want to start an online business or a brick and mortar (business at a physical location), the trick is to start small with what you have and grow as your business becomes more profitable. It’s easier and a lot less anxious to reinvest in your business with the money made through the business. You may think you have to have everything top notch like the pioneers in your industry, but you don’t. You’ll get there, but you don’t have to have everything now (especially if you’re not rolling in dough and throwing cash like confetti).

Just to be clear, starting a profitable business isn’t free! You’ll have to invest in your business in some way from the very beginning. Even if its investing in a $25 system like Leadpages to create a high conversion landing page, taking a course like Biz Clarity 101 to get familiar with starting a biz, or even purchasing Bluehost for website hosting. You’ll need to put down some kind of money in order to set your business up for growth. That’s why I encourage clients to have money coming in so they can fund their business. At some point, your biz will be able to support itself, you, and others.

3. You can’t do it by yourself, you need a team

 This is a quarter yes, but mostly no, here’s why. Since most people start small, it also means their doing this alone (or with a biz partner etc). Its very common for someone to do nearly everything in their biz when they’re just starting out. It’s a part of the first phase of business. This is the time that you’ll probably work the most and be hands on in almost everything. But as your business evolves, you’ll start hiring team members to take care of certain aspects of your business that you probably don’t want to mess with. You may start by hiring an assistant or a virtual assistant if you’re doing the online thing. Then after awhile you may hire a social media manager or copywriter. This hiring process happens gradually as the businesses’ finances and potential customers grows.

Now the reason why I say it’s a quarter yes, is because even though you’re doing everything in your business, you’ll also need to learn exactly what to do. If you start off without any business knowledge, you’ll have to get it from somewhere, right? The common ways that new entrepreneurs get biz knowledge is by reading books, the school of google and youtube, attending business related workshops, online courses like my Biz Clarity 101 (Shameless plug), and even one on one coaching with a coach in a biz related niche (specific specialty).  So yes, even though it’s a myth that you can’t do it alone, you’ll still want to reach out and get help from others who have mastered the business process.

4. You have to wait for the perfect time

 Girl Bye! Perfect is never coming! So unless you want to keep waiting for her, you’ll want to try this instead. Doing it when God say’s so, even if it doesn’t feel like the right time. God knows our circumstances way better than we do. We only know what we’ve experienced in the past, and what’s going on at this very moment. God knows beyond that, which is why we can trust what He tells us because He has our best interest at heart.

The months before I started my business, I had my whole life planned out…kinda. I recently got married 3 months before, moved to a new city, and was planning to work for a new company as a therapist for a few years until it was the perfect time for me to start my business. That was my plan, but for whatever reason God kept putting it in me to start a business. And the more that thought came, the more I tried to make sure it wasn’t what I was supposed to do, at least not then. I questioned whether it was the right time. I was anxious because I didn’t feel ready. But after much prayer I knew without a doubt I had to do this now. And I’m so glad I did, thanks God!

One thing you’ll never get back is time. It’s moving forward whether you are or not. Pray about everything, worry about nothing, and trust Jesus Christ on what He’s doing through the expertise He’s given you.

5. A successful entrepreneur has no fear when they start

Not unless you’re the exception to the rule. Cause everyone else has fears girl! More than anything it’s about moving forward with boldness and authority even in the presence of fear. Boldness and authority simply means confidence. And for us virtuous women, our confidence lies in Christ. And because we’re confident in Him, we can walk boldly and with authority because He’s paving the ways for us.

Business isn’t a cooking cutter thing that has absolute guarantees. Its success is based on so many factors, which you as a new entrepreneur are trying to figure out.  It’s normal to have thoughts about where the money will come from, how will I manage my own company, what if I make a mistake, why am I feeling nervous and slightly sick about putting myself out there, will I ever get paying customers, what if I’m bad at this, what will people think if I don’t succeed. Did you notice something there? All of these fears point to “I”. The more we focus on ourselves, the more we realize how many fears we have. But the more we focus on Jesus Christ and the people He wants us to serve, the more we get excited about changing lives and making a difference. So the next time you feel afraid about starting your business, start thinking about all the people you’ll influence instead.

You’ve made it to the end of this post so I’m pretty sure you’re wanting to start that business. Do it girl! If you’d like a guide that will help you lay the foundation for your new business, check out BIZ CLARITY 101. Also, let me know in the comments below, did you ever believe any of these myths? What do you think about them now?

Talk to you soon!

~Nozipho