Women Corporate Dropouts

The decision to leave a secure job, with the financial "security" that brings having a salary paid every couple of weeks, is not an easy one. It is not one to be taken lightly. And it is not one to be made without the right amount of thinking and self reflection. 

When I spoke to friends about my decision to start my own business, I found so many of them telling me "I wish I could do that" or "I have always dreamt about owning my own business".  When I asked: "What is stopping you?", I heard several answers… "I don’t have the money", or "I would not know where to start", or "I don’t have the guts".  So, through this blog I probably can’t provide you with money or guts, but I can certainly provide you with information on how and where to start, as well as  – I hope – with the inspiration to start dreaming, as before a life plan, a business plan and a marketing plan you should spend a good amount of time working on your "dream plan".

What is a dream plan?

The "Dream Plan" is that time you will spend dreaming and designing in your mind what you would love to do!. See?  if you are going to start your own business, this is the ONE opportunity in your life to do EXACTLY what you love.  You won’t have to settle for less. And you should not let yourself be constrained or limited by "what you know how to do", "what you have been doing for the past 20 years", or "what is expected from you". This is the time to look for the one thing that will make you happy even if you have to work overtime and if you compensation is much less than what you have today. 

A lot of us made a decision about our careers when we were still teenagers and did not know enough about ourselves or what would make us happy. We probably had a counselor or a teacher, or a parent who said we would be great at <fill the blank>, and so we made a decision based on that advice.  Or after many years we find ourselves in a career that we love, but we still have that little voice inside us telling us "there has to be more in life than this". We yearn for more fulfillment, or independence, or for the ability to have more impact on society, or for "fill the blank"!!  what really drives us may be completely different, but the desire to start something new, and make it our own is what unifies us.

So, if you are hearing that little voice, start working on your dream plan.  How do you do that?  Let me tell you what worked for me:

1. Magazines for entrepreneurs.

Subscribe to magazines that work with entrepreneurs and you will find yourself reading about people with and without the money, with or without the time, and with or without the skills to start a business. Yet, they are all running succesful businesses.  You will be exposed to so many stories that will not only inspire you to follow your dreams, but that will also give you ideas and information on industries, or market segments you may want to explore. My two favorite ones are:

• Inc. (1-year)
• Entrepreneur

2. Business Magazines for women.

The best business magazine for women without a doubt is PINK. This magazine is a great source of inspiration and resources for women entrepreneurs, women in the corporate world, and women considering to transition from one to the other.  As a secondary source I also recommend Working Mother.

3- Products or Services you can’t find.

Is there any product or service that you need and you keep thinking "why isn’t this available?"  "How is it that in the 21st century I still have to settle for this when I should be able to find what I really need?". If you are looking for that product or service, you can bet that other people are, and you may be the one that needs to bring it to the market.

4- Products or Services that need improvement.

Is there a product or service that you use but you keep thinking to yourself "why don’t they make this simple improvement? it would make such a difference".  You may be able to create this new product and fill that need.

5- Your skills.

Is what you do today in your work something you would love to continue doing? Do you see a business opportunity? Could you build a business offering your own product and services completely leveraging your existing skills? If that is the case, this is a great opportunity for you as you not only have the skills, but also probably the connections that will provide you with initial networking opportunities to get those first important clients.

6. Your networks.

Are you involved in professional organizations that will serve as your initial network or potential clients? If not, think about organizations you might join (your children school, rotary club, etc) as that will also give you an opportunity to learn more about potential market segments, while maiking important connections.

7. Your hobbies and passions.

What are the things you do when you are not working? that may give you a clue in terms of what you "really" love.  Don’t forget! 

This is the ONE opportunity to select what you want to do rather than what you should do.