It is hard to start a business, and very much so when we are expecting our family and friends to be our first believers and supporters. In my years in business, it is difficult to not take it personally when your family or friends doesn’t support your business.
You know why? Because I have created an expectation that they will support me, no matter what I do. But expectations should not be in the picture once you start your own business. However, sometimes it is just hard to expect from the people that matter to you. So here are the things you can do to not take it personally when your family or friends doesn’t support you.
Expect that you will be your number one supporter;
When you start your business, you’ll find that people will not believe in what you can do or what your product can do. So you have to validate your business first before starting it. Make sure you have a plan in place before putting anything in motion. And think of it this way, no one will advertise your product except you, so you need to establish what makes your product(s) unique.
If you can’t ask your family and friends to buy from you, ask them for their opinion instead.
Example:
Hey, I plan to start my own business, and I think you represent my target market. Can you give me your two cents about my product?
or
Hey, I need your opinion. Do you have a sec? I am offering this service (tell about your service). What do you think I should add?
You can ask any question to your friends or family, given that they are your target market. Asking them about their opinions may make them interested and curious about your product or services. And who knows? They might start to see your business potential and start supporting you.
KEEP GOING
Do you remember Dory from the Finding Nemo Movie? She said, “Just keep on swimming, keep on swimming, keep on swimming.” That line got stuck on my head since I was a little girl. That part of the movie tells me that in this life, you’ll be alone at some point. You can either stop because no one is helping you, you’re on your own, or you can choose to keep ongoing. You’ll be sad but take it like how Dory did it. She forgets the mistakes, failures, and she just kept swimming until she accomplished her goal.
Remember, people, in general, are afraid of new things. They have established their comfort zone that they want you to follow as well. They are afraid of losing control over something. They might not want you to succeed because of envy or jealousy. But as a businesswoman, you should know by now that you cannot please everybody.
Instead, you should associate yourself with a compassionate businesswoman. A compassionate businesswoman understands that your business will not survive without someone supporting you and vise versa. You should know how to give and take in order to build your business successfully. Find a support group on Facebook, Reddit, Pinterest, or in your local community. You’ll be amazed how a stranger can help you build your own business.
I hope you find this informative, and if you have other suggestions or topics that you want me to cover. Follow, like, and comment down below.
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As always, Hello Life!
XOXO
Jungko