Image by: greg westfall
By John Cace

I know that sounds like a lot of pressure to put on you right before the weekend guys, but you’ve gotta remember that your career and relationship take hard work and a weekend warrior mentality. There is nothing better than the feeling you get from experiencing the fruits of all your labor.

The good part about all of this planning and soul searching you are supposed to be doing anyways, is that there is help. Lots of help.

• First ask yourself these questions to make sure running your own business is even something you want to be doing in the first place
• OK, now find out if you are ready to be the boss and fly solo with your business by taking a look at things you definitely should not do in your new role
• Now that you’ve made up your mind, take a look at some fundamental keys to becoming a successful entrepreneur
• I would never leave you hanging man, so here’s 8 things your girlfriend wants for V-Day but won’t tell you

You’ve been dreaming about owning your own business for a long time. Maybe you have even taken the first few steps into starting one already. These early stages of entrepreneurship are an important time for you to reflect on some questions that will help you determine if you have what it takes.

The piece Is a Handmade Business Right For You? by writer Donna Maria Coles Johnson does a great job of doing just that.

Do you want to make or do the same thing over and over again? Do you have the patience needed to grow a business through the rough patches? Are you willing to learn the rules, regulations, and laws surrounding the business you want to start?

Do you have skin thicker than the new armor Batman is wearing in the latest trailer for Batman Vs Superman? I certainly hope so guys, because running your own business is like being both of those super heroes in one.

Your Old Habits? I Threw Those Out the Window

OK, so you know how you would have tricks at your job to convince the boss you were working or that something you hadn’t done yet was taken care of just to get them off your back? If you want to own a business, guess who the boss is going to be? That’s right fellas, you.

So in determining whether or not it’s time for you to start your own business those are the kinds of things you need to think about. Especially if you are flying solo. In other words, you can’t lie to yourself when you’re in charge. There is no quicker way to fail than to start out by cutting corners.

That’s why writer Kelsey Humphreys outlines some important points for you in her piece If You Do These 5 Things, You Probably Won’t Make It As An Entrepreneur.

One of those things is leaving the hard work for last. Being in charge of yourself means you’ll be tempted to do the fun, easy things you like doing first and ignore what is tedious and important. So remember to tackle the things you don’t want to do first and it might just make you get them done quicker.

That point relates a lot to another one about not waiting until the last minute to get everything finished. Rather do your work in bulk if at all possible. Make videos, podcasts, write articles, and any other material in batches to get the most out of your brain power at one time.

Of course, all this will only matter if you feel like you have what it takes to be the boss. In the article 4 Fundamental Keys To Success For New Entrepreneurs by writer Jeff Charles, you’ll learn about my all-time favorite word:

Perseverance

It means never giving up. It’s about being able to admit you’re wrong or accept failure and getting right back up into the fray. You learn from your missteps and shake it right off. You’ve gotta have that Frank Sinatra outlook on life baby!

Along with that it helps to know how to handle money and keep your finances in order. That is why if you are not good at that you need a good team of people to rely on who can help you. You are bound to have weaknesses, especially when first starting out. So don’t try and do it all alone and get people who can lift you up where you need it!

Now before I leave you to get cracking on starting your business, or tweaking your current ideas, you might want to take a look at 8 Things Your Girlfriend Actually Wants You To Do This Valentine’s Day But Won’t Ever Say by writer Nikita Mukherjee.

You’ll see how simple things like telling her she is beautiful, holding her hand, and giving her your complete and undivided attention goes way farther than flowers, chocolate, and a nice dinner. Although flowers are pretty nice. Get the flowers.

And then make her something, write her a love letter, cook her dinner, and surprise her with something like a nature walk or bubble bath to make this a Valentine’s Day she won’t forget.