“Do Not Give Up. The Beginning is Always the Hardest.” – Fortune Cookie

It’s been a while since crafted a “Fortune Cookie Friday” post! For those of you not familiar, Fortune Cookie Friday involves me unwrapping – and interpreting within a small business context – the so often overlooked nuggets of knowledge inside one of those folded confections that accompany takeout Asian cuisine.

Today’s fortune: Do not give up. The beginning is always the hardest.

Could this have been any easier? This fortune is about as relevant to solopreneurs as you can get.

Starting out as a solopreneur or small business owner IS difficult. If anyone tells you otherwise, they’re blowing smoke. Among the challenges that small start-ups face…

• Getting others to see you as an entrepreneur instead of a [insert former position/career path].
• Not having a consistent flow of income.
• Funding of all the start-up essentials needed to get up and running.
• Gaining traction in your networking endeavors.
• Building a social media following beyond your BFFs.
• Gaining leads’ confidence in that you’re every bit as good – and better – than your competitors who have been in the game longer.
• Figuring out how to grow your billable hours and keep up with all of your other business responsibilities, too
• Weeding through all of the marketing opportunities available and zeroing in on those that will give you the best results for your time and money.

And depending on your specific situation and type of business, you could probably add all sorts of new and different bullet points to the list.

But if you’re thinking of starting out as a solopreneur, don’t be discouraged! Self-employment has its perks as well. Among them…

• Flexibility with your schedule.
• The professional and personal satisfaction of building your brand.
• New connections and meaningful friendships with others in the business community.
• No dealing with petty corporate cliques.
• The freedom to choose the professional learning and development opportunities you’re interested in and can gain the most from.
• The freedom to choose your customers.
• Increased self-confidence.
• The sky is the limit! With time, talent, use of the right resources, and a lot of hard work, you can accomplish your goals.

So, yes, the beginning is the hardest when you start a small business, but keep your eye on the prize. Growth and success don’t come easily, but they do come to those who are willing to put forth the effort, who aren’t afraid to expend energy to the cause, and who can adapt to change.

What can you add to the challenges and perks of starting a small business?