I used to be embarrassed to tell people what I did for a living. Flipping burgers part-time doesn’t exactly impress! But what I didn’t realize, at the time, was that I was on my way to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
Now, I have a successful business of my own. You might be wondering how I made the jump. Here is an outline of the journey I took to get to where I am today!
Jumping on the Opportunity
If you’d told me 6 years ago that I would become an entrepreneur and start my own business, I would’ve laughed. I had nothing going for me but pills to pay and debt to worry about. I was working a part-time job that I hated, but it was the only thing I could do to support myself.
One day, though, I realized exactly what I and my peers wanted. That’s how I figured out the best way to motivate my own employees if I ever started a business. I was by no means a tech whiz or a marketing genius but knew that happy employees keep a business running.
Eventually, I decided that I’d get nowhere just thinking, and after some consideration and finding a good idea and niche, I took the plunge. At first, I worked only on my days off, but once I got a steady stream of orders, I found myself a little in over my head, working long hours after I came back from my shifts. To stay afloat, I had to hire some extra hands to handle the workload. From there, it was only up!
Finding a New Place to Call Home
At the time, I didn’t have the best living accommodations. I’d been renting a studio apartment for several hundred dollars a month, and my neighbors would keep me up throughout the night. I had to make the best of what I had, and eventually found myself in a position in which I could afford a mortgage on a small house.
I didn’t hesitate, and immediately moved in and started my new life. At the time, I thought I had it all figured out. I had no idea what I was doing but knew my way around running a business. I could put things into practice based on what I’d learned; sometimes, I winged it and got lucky.
If I wanted to up my game, though, I’d have to put more effort into looking and acting more professionally. So, I did just that!
Acting More Professionally
As I became more accustomed to my new surroundings, I realized that I needed to step up my game. Part of that included looking and acting more put-together. To be taken more seriously in the business world, it’s almost integral to look great. I decided to wear a suit and tie and take business and speaking classes to put my best foot forward.
So, I took a public speaking class, and with the basics out of the way, I moved on to business and marketing courses at a nearby college.
Looking More Professional
I also joined a networking group, where I met other professionals on a regular basis. There, I learned a lot about marketing and networking, as well as ways to build a professional demeanor. To construct a better image, I needed to start wearing more suits, collared shirts, and dress shoes. I was more used to jeans and t-shirts, but realized change was necessary.
To tie my look together, I started applying facial rejuvenation techniques to keep away wrinkles and saggy skin. While my routine was somewhat basic, I knew there’d be potential. In the future, I might even opt for more advanced age-reducing options, like a male facelift!
Looking Back on It
The jump from part-time worker to business CEO didn’t happen immediately, and it was a struggle to get where I am today. It took 6 long years, but I couldn’t be happier with how much I’ve progressed
