What advice would you give to someone feeling discouraged or doubtful about their entrepreneurial journey?

Just keep going! We all have special gifts we can share with our clients. 

I have been in the flooring business for over 25 years.  Started as a helper on the delivery truck and worked myself through all the steps of the flooring business.  Driver, installer, finisher, general manager of the store, sales manager, VP.  Then became one of the owners of HQ Flooring and Renovations (High Quality Flooring).  I have to tell you that it has been a hard road and to stay motivated is easy when the work is flowing in.  But when hard times come, such as this past winter, it is easy also to give up and see yourself out of the business.  It is very important to know what to do and be prepared for when hard times come.  I always expect winter months to be very slow, however my partner and son-in-law hadn't experienced these slow months, since he has been in the business since 2020.  I always saved enough money to stay a float on the winter months, however due to the lack of work and the slow down of the economy, this past winter we were not prepared.  It was a long and hard winter and we are still feeling the effects of not being prepared for it.  So my suggestion is to get a grip on your accounting and save as much as you can so you don't run into issues like these when the jobs stop flowing.  We invested in a couple of marketing companies, which let to nothing substantial.  But working with Jobber and using the tools available to us, we were able to generate and still generating a good solid work load.  I am glad I didn't give up, and I am hoping to be here doing what I do best for another 20 years.

Trust that every setback is part of the process. Stay focused on your “why,” take one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Progress often comes just after the point you feel like giving up. Keep going. You are closer than you think.

First of all I have some points that maybe helpful… 

if u gonna star to build a company..

make sure that is something that u are passionate about. (Customers smell it)

make sure that u have the knowledge to do so, and ask for help if u aren’t , you have to be confident about what u offer.

always take pictures of your work before and after, those are very helpful for references and also to grow your confidence

Roma didn’t build in one day, it will take u time but with a good CUSTOMER SERVICE (be kind and listen to your customers NEEDS, and u will blow up. No everything is about what u offer but make your customers happy around u, and then they WILL for sure make some referrals and u no need to look for jobs anymore, they come to u easily.

I hope this helps and keep going , the gold is one step away, if u quit now… u won’t find it 

GOID LUCK!!🍀 

It's easy to feel overwhelmed or discouraged in the thick of business. That's why it's so important to have a clear and compelling "why" behind what you're doing. When the tough moments come, and they will, remember that every failure and challenge is an opportunity to learn, grown and get better.

The hard times aren't just obstacles, they're shaping your business into something stronger. As Dave Ramsey says, "The mountain of success people see is really just pile of failures." Keep climbing.

hang in there and whatever you do, don't ever try to turn a no into a Yes because life is full of YESSESS...you just have to go out there and find yours!

Being an entrepreneur is challenging but here is some advice I wish I had known before I started my journey.

• Communication - you must be able to convey your mission/vision with clarity. As an entrepreneur, we understand our message but sometimes that does not translate to our audience.
  • Use social media (my advice focus mainly on two social media platforms unless you have someone dedicated to managing your social media consistently.)

• Understand your industry the pros and cons of your industry before you start.  So you can have a contingency plan in place.  Some industries are seasonal, some industries the protocols/guidelines are always changing, some industries have low start-up costs and some have high employee turn-over.
• Support - look for free business resources like the SBA/Score (provides free mentorship), and programs like the Verizon Digital Ready program.
• Education/Experience: getting hands-on experience is essential for you to get better. Education and certifications can be important for your industry, they can help you become an expert in your field, differentiate your business from your competitors, and make your business stand out.
• Finances - Do not spend unnecessary money, especially in the first 3 years, statistically start-ups have a high failure rate.
  • Business credit - establish it as soon as you can, and if you are trying to get credit from a few creditors, try to apply for credit within the same week so it does not affect your personal credit more than once. (note: some creditors do ask for your SS and business EIN to apply for credit)
• Find ways to increase income: such as 1. affiliate marketing, 2. a new product or service (make sure you take a poll, and test it out for a few months before committing to the new product or service; as it may not make sense financially or operationally. 
  • Invest in assets or find ways to have your money grow for example business high-yield savings, or business CDs.

Running a business is not easy, make sure you have a business plan (that you update every 6 - 12 months, know your KPI's, always provide exceptional service, request customer feedback, and start the business for a trial period especially if you don't know if it is a profession you are truly invested in.  Hope that helps! 

Having your own business will definitely challenge your entrepreneurial spirit. Especially when things don’t go as planned. Having a mentor or coach that you can talk to on a weekly basis’ really helps keep you motivated and keep your mindset thinking the right way. 
Setting some goals and get an accountability partner!

Remember why you started your journey. Each NO you get is one NO closer to a Yes. Most people don't make it because of their mindset and the risk we take as business owners. Stay locked in and never give up. good things happen to those who wait. Success doesn't just happen overnight. It is a long hard process. Believe in the process!

Rome wasn't built in day.  It takes time to discover your strength and weaknesses.  Once you do, that will be the source of your collective energy.  Always find like minded people who have your best interest at heart.  You can learn from them and also ask for advice. 

Stay away from people who always criticize and never have anything good to say about what you are trying to do.  It will only cause you more pain and suffering.  This is way Nonprofit businesses have Board of Directors.  They specialize in working together to find out what works best for a business.  Find your own group of business oriented people, and start building idea's and plans for business, and ways to move your business forward.