What keeps you from starting a start up?

Start-up. What does this term mean? According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a start-up is "a new small company or business, especially one whose work involves computers or the Internet". Examples? Well… Youtube, Joost, Kazaa, Facebook , they all we’re start-ups a couple of time ago, until they got sold for tons of money or became traffic magnets. For more recent start-ups you can check Killerstartups.com .

Anyway, i was wondering the other night how hard can it be to create a successful start-up? And then something stroke me: Why don’t you plan your own start-up? Why don’t people start more start-ups? Is it too difficult or nobody loves adventure anymore? So let’s think about that and make a list of possible problems you might meet if you plan your own start-up.

The idea

Like in most online businesses, everything starts with an idea. It does not have to be brilliant and unique, but is has to be better and bring something new to the market. Of course, most of the guys (and girls) planning a start-up get stuck here: they fail to get an idea good enough to worth the effort.

The age

Actually, nobody says there is a perfect age margin for brilliant stat-up owners. No, you can be 18 years old but also 50, and succeed. What really matters here is maturity, the ability to face challenges and the mentality of a winner. Some people posses this skills and don’t run away with their tails between the legs when struck by problems, while others stand still and try to solve and out-pass the impasse. Now, which ones do you think are the winners?

Lack of commitment

This can be translated as laziness. Most people really enjoy freedom so they are kind of reluctant to commit to something for a long time. But every project requires hundreds of hard worked hours and unslept nights, but hey, nobody said it would be simple. So if you’re not the kind willing to work his ass off in order to succeed, than perhaps you daily 9 to 5 job is exactly what you need.

Already wealthy enough

This is a mentality perfectly suited for my country. If i already have lots of money from home, why should i work? Why can’t i just spend daddy’s moneys and be happy already? Start-ups might be stressful. Spending money coming from somebody else sure isn’t…

No dime in the pocket

On the other hand, there is this other problem. Some persons are committed, have the great idea, are willing to work but… they don’t have a time. And since every business needs an investment, this problem would cut lots of wings… But if you really believe in your idea, there are solutions: find partners, find financing, borrow money, etc

Fear of failure

I myself face this problem. Fear of failure stops many from even beginning working on their start-up ideas. What if i will fail, what if i will loose all the money I’ll invest, what if all the time spent will be in vain? Well, that might happen, but you won’t live to find out if you don’t even have the guts to start, would you? So stop complaining, start acting! And if you’ll fail this time, it’s important no to give up: next time you’ll do better and you’ll use all the experience earned now.

You love your 9 to 5 job

Well, you’re a coward. You settle with you 9 to 5 job, working in you cubical, doing the same boring things all day long, every day, every year. If that’s the case, i’m sorry to say that, but you’re a lost cause my friend…

Of course, we could be rumbling on this subject for hours. We’re just finding excuses. Cause in the end, if you really want to start a new Internet project and are willing to work for its success, you just have to do it and don’t look back

Tags: confidence, idea, Internet marketing