Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
If you have a business idea, the best time to start is now. If you’re worried about timing, don’t be: The economy doesn’t matter. And if you are worried about failing again and again, that’s okay too — because it’s impossible to time the market perfectly anyway!
Everyone has a business idea, but not everyone takes the time to pursue their dream. Your idea doesn’t have to be perfect and ready because you can always refine it later on in the process.
If you start now, even if you are not fully prepared, at least you will have taken steps toward making your dream come true! It’s better than never starting at all. There will always be reasons why it’s not the right time for someone else or themselves, but when asked why, it’s always the fear of uncertainty and failure.
Related: Why Right Now Is the Best Time Ever to Start a Business
Keeping an eye on the economy should be the last thing on your mind.
When it comes to getting into business, don’t wait for the economy to improve. Don’t wait for the economy to worsen. Don’t wait for the economy to recover. And definitely don’t wait for it to crash or burn down around your ears before you get started on a new venture.
The truth is that no one really knows what will happen with our nation’s economic future, and there’s no way anyone can predict its direction with any real accuracy. It stands to reason then that if we’re going to be successful in business, we need not worry about what might happen tomorrow or next year — we just need to focus on today and ensure that our businesses thrive now, regardless of what lies ahead in years to come!
Don’t listen to the naysayers
You may hear a lot of people telling you that you’re not ready for business or that it’s too risky. Don’t let them talk you out of your dreams, and don’t let them pull you into their own beliefs and ideologies. Many have fallen victim to these naysayers because they didn’t know how powerful they could be when they put their minds to it.
There is never a better time than now! The world has never been more connected and open than it is today, which means we must take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity before someone else does.
You will fail, again and again. And that’s okay.
Failure is part of the process and in many ways a learning experience. But it’s not just about learning from your mistakes either; failure is an opportunity for growth, for new ideas and perspectives that can help you succeed in the future. You won’t succeed if you don’t take risks, so keep at it!
Listen to your gut. Don’t wait for inspiration.
The most important thing to remember is that you can’t wait for inspiration. You need to start now, and trust that you will find your way.
It’s all too easy to wait until you have everything figured out. The truth is that there are no answers — not really — and nobody has it all figured out. Not even me.
There never will be a perfect time or circumstance where we can say with confidence: “This is the moment I start my business.” Every single entrepreneur goes through their own journey of exploration and discovery as they learn what works best for them personally when deciding when (or if) they should take the leap into entrepreneurship.
Yes, there is risk — so what?
There is no such thing as a risk-free business. There are only different levels of risk and how you manage your risks.
One way to think about it is like this: If you never take any risks, then nothing will ever change in your life. You won’t get ahead or even stay in the same place. You may be comfortable, but if things don’t change, then everything around you will eventually become boring and unfulfilling.
Additionally, taking no risks means everything becomes risky, as it can result in unpreparedness. It is impossible to develop a plan or structure to manage risks if you don’t take risks. In fact, most businesses fail because their owners didn’t properly mitigate their business’ biggest risks before getting started on day one!
It is impossible to time the market perfectly
You are better off starting when you want to, even if the timing is “bad.” You can’t time the market. It is impossible to predict what will happen with the economy or with your business. You have to work with the information you have at the time. If you’re lucky and fortunate enough to have an idea for a new business that you want to start, then don’t let anyone tell you not to do it because of “bad timing.”
There are many reasons why now is the best time, and I think it boils down to one simple truth: You only get one chance at life. Don’t waste your time by waiting for the perfect moment or trying to predict the future. Instead, focus on what you can do right now and how much better tomorrow will be because of it!
