Philip Ward overviews the first steps an aspiring entrepreneur will need to take on the road to success.

1. These are your first steps.
PHILIP WARD
SO, YOU WANT
TO BE AN
ENTREPRENEUR?

2. LAUNCHING A STARTUP IS RISKY
BUSINESS.
PHILIP WARD
THERE’S NO GETTING AROUND IT:

3. Committing to entrepreneurship means agreeing to
hard work, long hours, and absolutely no guarantees.
However, if you have a passion that keeps you up at
night - one that drives you, and makes you want to risk
everything in its pursuit - the life of an entrepreneur
might be for you.
Take your first steps towards success.

4. 1. Lay out your ideas.
PHILIP WARD
You can't quit your job and decide to start a
business just because you want to work your
own hours. You need a passion, and a rock-
solid business idea.
Take the time to sit down and write out your
thoughts on what the foundation for your
business will be. If all goes well, you'll be
spending years of your life on this venture -
you want your root idea to be strong!

5. 2. Do your research.
PHILIP WARD
Small businesses fill a need in your
community. Do your research - does your idea
suit gaps in the local market? Will there be a
consumer base for your service or product?
Find out quickly - the last thing you want to do
is watch the business you’ve poured time,
effort, and money into flop because the
community has no need for it.

6. 3. Build a support system.
PHILIP WARD
Let your friends and family in on your plans.
Even in the best scenario, you’ll be spending a
considerable amount of time and energy on
your entrepreneurial efforts, and need the
understanding support of those closest to you.
Give them an honest outline of what you
expect to be doing, and explain that you may
have less available time as you commit to
launching your business.
When you inevitably face business setbacks,
you will need a sympathetic support system to
help you bounce back and tackle the problem.

7. 4. Commit.
PHILIP WARD
Building a business takes time. You’ll work
long nights, face difficult tasks, and wonder
when you’ll see returns on the time you’ve
invested. On the hardest days, you might even
worry that you should have kept to the
security of your previous job.
But if you have the passion and grit to keep on,
you'll find satisfaction in the victories, and
hold on to your drive even through the worst
setbacks.

8. A TRUE ENTREPRENEUR KNOWS A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IS WORTH
THE RISK.
PHILIP WARD
Despite the risks, I wouldn’t trade being an
entrepreneur for all the job security in the world
- and if you have spirit enough to build your own
business, neither should you.