bwagy

#5 What should you charge?
Whatever you were earning per hour in your fixed job, charge three times that (at least) to maintain the same lifestyle in the long run.  If you are charging less you are doing yourself a disservice.

#6 Avoiding Financial Burdens
Get rid of all high level debts, do not go out on your own with huge credit card debt or car loans, try to clear these.  These will just give you un-needed stresses and pressures.

#7 Confronting your fears aka being courageous
Starting a business is super hard, going out on your own is even harder.  Be ready to get comfortable with confronting your fears.

#2: Read lots!
Read lots and lots.  Read Autobiographies by other entrepreneurs who gave it a go. This helps your in untold ways (depending on your situation) – lessons, frames of reference, new perspectives.

#3: Tighten your belt
Whatever you were earning before, prepare to live on 1/3 of it.  And prepare to do for 6-9 months.  I know you think it sounds drastic, but ask anyone who has done this it sounds realistic. (You will be surprised at how much income you wasted before!)

#4: When do you quit? (your current job)
If possible get a fixed contract to go off (before you quit), this will help ease you into the process.  If you are the kind of person to procrastinate forever quit your job to put yourself in the deep end, in order to get you started faster.

A few months back I sat down and wrote down 83 or so errings on what I would tell someone else at the start of going out on their own.

I am going to break these up and post every now and again, once they are all said and done I’ll put it together in an ebook.

#1: Going out on your own: Pursuing the Passion

Purchase the E-Myth by Michael Gerber, The Dip by Seth Godin, Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson.  Read these… over and over.  You will find inspiration, learnings, and systems to get your business going.  Get The 4 hour work week by Tim Ferriss for thoughts on automation and getting out of the way of the business.

These will teach you about systems, adding value, when to quit, creativity and provide inspiration.

(Note: If you have anything to add feel free to do so in the comments, your feedback may end up in the final ebook.)