Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. –Martin Luther King, Jr.
I was at a business building conference a few years back. The conference was going seemingly well for me. I was meeting people who I thought could help me grow my business and learning lots of great tips and tricks about my trade.
On the last day of the conference a man was on the stage talking about his internet business. He had a health related internet business and was recounting how he started his business from his home office. At the end of the speech he was taking questions when a woman stood up and asked the speaker, “What about the taxes?”
“Excuse me?” the speaker said.
The woman replied, “What do you do about the taxes?”
The speaker replied, “I pay them.”
The crowd laughed. I smiled too but shook my head disappointingly at the woman. Here was a woman who had spent thousands of dollars to attend a conference to help her start an online business. She had spent three days listening to panels of experts and others who had started the kinds of businesses she could only dream about starting. And all she could think to ask was “What about the taxes?” Gimme a break.
This woman was failing to look at what’s truly important. We all know businesses need to pay taxes. But when you’re starting up a business this is not what you should be focusing on. Instead this woman could have been asking important questions like, “What’s the best way to research my market?” or “How can I create my first product?”
I can safely say this woman wasted her time and money at this conference. After three days of useful information she was letting fear of how to pay her taxes hold her back from starting an online business. It sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? The worry about how to collect or pay taxes was standing in the way of this woman taking action. Don’t let fear or worry stop you from taking that first step.
Perhaps it isn’t a question of taxes that’s holding you back. Maybe there are other hang-ups that have prevented you from getting started. Though the most important thing is that you start taking action immediately. Don’t worry about waiting for the perfect time or till you think you’ve gained all the necessary skills. Experience is the best teacher.
If you’re in this boat and have always dreamed of starting an online business here is your chance. Today I want you to research a market or business idea on Google. It doesn’t matter what it is; it can be a hobby, an interest, or something you think you can sell. Look for competition doing what you would like to do. Don’t be scared to see competition. This is a good thing. It means people are already selling to that market.
At the end of the day just pick a business, any business and take that crucial first step. The first step is always the most important.
Then each day that follows I want you to take one more step. That can be anything from writing an article, working on a product to sell, getting email subscribers, or joining an affiliate program. If you just take a step each day you will quickly find the path to success.
