| When I started my business, the guidance was so | | | | consulting jobs whenever he gave a talk to a group or |
| awful I call one advisor "the coach from hell." Here are | | | | even a college class. He had a unique combination of |
| ten myths frequently presented as core wisdom. | | | | expertise, confidence and charm. |
| I recommend using intuition as a filter to evaluate all | | | | Unless you strongly resemble those "other people," |
| advice. A longer version of these tips can be found at | | | | they're irrelevant. |
| 1. "Career freedom means starting a business. " | | | | 6. "You will probably fail." Your advisor may be using |
| Clients often assume they can reach career freedom | | | | fear to motivate you to work harder or sign up for his |
| only by starting a business. I know dozens of people | | | | success course. |
| who feel very free in a corporate setting. They swim | | | | Here's a legend: "Maestro," says the surgeon to the |
| easily in the corporate stream and learn to balance | | | | famous musician, "I played for you at a master class. |
| their lives. Some even return after successful | | | | You advised me to stop playing professionally. You |
| entrepreneurial ventures. | | | | said I would never be great. I want to thank you. I |
| 2. "Don't worry, be happy." Some advisors tell you, | | | | listened to your advice and became a doctor." The |
| "You'll be great," even if they secretly believe you're | | | | maetro peers at the surgeon: "I do not remember you. I |
| following a harebrained path that is doomed to fail. Do | | | | tell all my students that. The great ones ignore my |
| your own research and get second and third opinions. | | | | advice and continue anyway." |
| 3. "Visualize success." | | | | 7." If you feel energized about your goal, you will be |
| While I support visualizing and attracting, I do not | | | | successful." Feeling energized just means you enjoy |
| believe you can attract business from a non-existent | | | | some aspect of what you are doing. Figure out what |
| target market. Better to attract prosperity and | | | | you enjoy and design a life to include more of it. |
| fulfillment. You might also try to attract knowledge and | | | | My old friend Richard was energized about his failing |
| discernment so you can evaluate your various | | | | business for ten years of negative income. Last I |
| advisors. | | | | heard he was with a temporary agency, paid hourly, |
| 4. "If you can dream it, you can do it." In her wonderful | | | | holding on to the title of "independent contractor."å |
| book, Finding your own north star, Martha Beck | | | | 8. "You can always go back to what you were doing |
| debunks this myth with a simple example: She once | | | | before." |
| dreamed she found herself in a bathtub with | | | | After months or years of trying to start a business, |
| ex-President Clinton and an owl. Other people dream | | | | you and your former career will be different and your |
| of meeting the Queen of England or connecting with | | | | former colleagues will view you differently. Better to |
| people who lived ten centuries ago. | | | | begin with a job that you can leave if you become |
| The reverse is often true: "You must be able to | | | | successful. Stay in a position of power. |
| imagine yourself successful in order to reach your | | | | 9." You have had a successful career so far and you'll |
| goals." Still, I know people who were catapulted to | | | | figure out how to be successful now." |
| success far beyond their dreams; they missed the ride | | | | Basketball players do not always thrive on football |
| but managed to enjoy their arrival. | | | | teams and baseball is a different game altogether. |
| 5. "If other people can have a successful business, you | | | | Enough said. |
| can too." You may be smarter, more creative and | | | | 10. "You will be fine; you just need more confidence." |
| more energetic than your friend James, but James | | | | If you lack self-confidence in several areas of your life, |
| may have that special entrepreneurial spark, a trust | | | | see a clinician. Otherwise your lack of confidence in |
| fund, or a network of millionaires I once had a | | | | your entrepreneurial skills is probably reality-based and |
| colleague who would get unsolicited offers of | | | | should be viewed as a signal to find another advisor. |