Jeff Bezos asked his boss at the hedge fund where he was Senior Vice President, whether he should give up his job to start up a business selling books on the internet. His boss said "That sounds like a really good idea, but it would be an even better idea for someone who didn't already have a good job."
This is a dilemma faced by many entrepreneurs who have a great idea and have to make the decision about whether to take the leap. It took Jeff Bezos 48 hours after that feedback from his boss. His company Amazon, now employs 56,200 people and is valued at about $80billion.
A graduate from the Young Entrepreneur 12 Steps to Success programme recently said " Going to two job interviews after learning about risks, turning down the first job in the hope of being offered the second one which I thought would have a better future - and it has - and thanks to that - I have. It was the best decision that I made in my life last year!"
What stands in your way of taking the leap are probably concerns around having the conviction that your idea will work, doubting that you have the ability to find clients, feeling that you 'ought' to be doing a regular job (especially if there are other people dependent on you) or just the fear of making the wrong decision.
A word of advice from someone who leaped "The key is to just get on the bike, and the key to getting on the bike… is to stop thinking about ‘there are a bunch of reasons I might fall off’ and just hop on and peddle the damned thing. You can pick up a map, a tire pump, and better footwear along the way. - Dick Costolo, founder of Feedburner.com and CEO of Twitter.
For help with leaping big, take a small leap and talk about it.
About Me
- Isla Baliszewska
- The business bit: I have had 25 years experience in the IT sector encompassing equipment finance to computer recycling. The coaching bit: is about delivering business mentoring and personal performance coaching. My clients range from senior executives to the unemployed and I delight in working with them all to build excellence and promote growth. My specialisms are working with business leaders and entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses and enjoy themselves in the process, and helping individuals to realise their full potential. I also work with young people to build confidence and life skills so they can grasp life's opportunities and make the right life choices.
