Entrepreneurship: From Dream to Reality
Did you know that nearly one in three people dream of starting their own business one day in our countries? Yet, very few actually take the plunge...
One of my greatest prides is that I launched my business despite my fears and doubts. And I can only encourage anyone with a great project in mind to do the same. However, the reality of entrepreneurship is challenging and requires a lot of energy and courage.
I thought it would be interesting to share my perspective on the various aspects of the job—the good and the not-so-good—while offering a few of my tips along the way. The purpose of this article, and those to come on the same topic, is to demystify the adventure that is entrepreneurship.
First, I'd like to share with you the first thing I learned when I created Assaya, something I may have underestimated before diving in: you need to be a real Swiss Army knife! Once you become an entrepreneur, the entire reality of the business rests on your shoulders. A whole range of tasks that we hadn’t paid attention to suddenly falls on us, even if they're not related to our area of expertise. So, goodbye comfort zone, hello new skills to acquire.
Entrepreneurship, especially when doing it ALONE, means you must learn everything on your own, at least initially. You have to constantly seek out information and train yourself. I’ve lost count of the hours spent gathering information online, in books, or through current events. Knowledge doesn’t just appear, and while you learn a lot by making mistakes, it’s not always easy!
Of course, it’s impossible not to fail at some point. And since failure is the foundation of success, you have to persevere: fail, learn, and try again.
Honestly, I’m not always optimistic. There are times when I’m scared and feel like quitting. It’s like standing at the foot of a mountain, looking up at the peak, thinking I’ll never make it. There’s so much to do, so much to climb before reaching the top! But just as quickly as that wave of doubt comes, it disappears—driven away by a phone call, an email, or an exchange with a customer that instantly reminds me why I started this journey and, most importantly, why I love what I do. And off I go again! The inspiration and ambition return.
To avoid those little moments of doubt, I’ve learned to stop focusing on the summit. Instead, I watch where I’m stepping. I take one step at a time, and that’s probably the best way for me to stay motivated. Every small success matters.
Feel free to share this article, visit the shop, and follow me on social media to join me on this journey!
See you soon,
Juliette
