Planning Your Business Search
After completing your research, many people quickly find in the field they've researched. Some others, however, have difficulty making the move from researching to actully starting the business. Approaching people who can put you in business can be daunting: It requires a different set of skills than those needed to successfully complete researches.
Whether they're feeling confident or not, business seekers must do their best to present a positive, professional image to people who can put them in business. It's no wonder that some business falter in their efforts to pursue their business goals. Occasionally, you will get a call from someone that has been business searching for some years and is only now starting to really get serious. Sometimes, the cause of the delay is procrastination--the tendency to put off doing necessary tasks. One of the most damaging aspects of procrastination is the emotional toll it takes. It can spur negative self-talk: "I'm too lazy and unorganized." "I can't do it." "If I can't even get myself together to decide on what it is I want to do, I probably wouldn't be good at being in business, either."
Why do people procrastinate?
There are many reasons why people sometimes stall. Here are three of the most common, and how to conteract them.
Perfectionism. If you feel that every effort you make toward a goal (such as deciding on a business) must be flawless, you can paralyze your progress. In working toward any goal, remember the old saying that no one is perfect. As long as you're trying your hardes to present yourself as professionally as you can, be confident that you'll be considered a serious contender.
Lack of a clear path to follow. If you're not sure what your next step should be in looking for work, you may choose to do nothing.
Fear of the unknown. If you're venturing into a career that's new to you, it's understandable that you'll have some concerns about how you'll perform in that career. Again, it can be helpful to remember that people aren't expecting flawless performance. They're looking for people with these qualities: basic job skills, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Be that type of person, and you'll be hard for them to forget.
Regarding procrastination, another helpful truth to keep in mind is that everyone procrastinates. In his essay Good and Bad Procrastination, writer Paul Graham states: "No matter what you work on you're not working on everything else [therefore, you're always procrastinating on many thing]. So the question is not how to avoid procrastination, but how to procrastinate well."
Procrastinating well, say Graham, means that you're not working on some things because you're hard at work on something else tha you know is more important. For many, that "something more importnat" is finding the right business. If that's your priority, facr your fears and the unknowns you'll encounter in your new business. If you're anxious, realize that that's normal. If you're avoiding your business search, move past procrastination.
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