It’s often taught that an entrepreneur should give it all up to pursue their dream. Sure, some have taken the huge plunge into the chance of betting big for a great reward but it turns out that this is not the ideal decision for the majority of people who have an entrepreneurial dream. Studies have shown that those who stay at their job and start their own business on the side actually have a higher chance of success. Betting big can lead to a huge success, but it can also lead to a major, life-altering failure.
Betting Small
I once heard Michael Hyatt reference a man by the name of John Grisham, who took small steps to accomplish his dream of writing a book. Grisham turned out to be one of the world’s best selling authors, but he didn’t jump into that overnight. Instead, John decided to carve out some time to write a page every single day. He did not quit his job to provide himself with extra time, he took baby steps. It took him three years to do it, but he eventually completed his first book, which turned out to be a best seller. It actually wasn’t until he was several books into his writing career that he decided to quit his job to pursue writing full time.
Successfully Pursuing Your Dream
Based on what we can learn from John Grisham’s story, here are 3 tips for pursing your dream successfully:
- Believe in Yourself – In order to really move into your dream, you simply must believe that you’re the right man or woman for the job. You must believe that you have what it takes. If you don’t, you likely won’t get there.
- Own the Dream – Let go of the idea that you aren’t there yet. If your goal is to be a writer like Grisham, take ownership of this part of your identity right now. You’re not a writer when you have a best selling book, you are a writer when you start writing. You’re a writer when you say you are. For instance, just because a songwriter isn’t packing out stadiums, doesn’t mean that they aren’t a songwriter. Own it, be it and believe it.
- Accept Small Steps – Yes, a giant leap of faith can produce big results. But, most people don’t have this experience. Don’t despise small beginnings and embrace the process. Everyone has to start somewhere. Stay committed, don’t give up and take manageable steps toward your goal. Over time it will pay off.