Anunt

The road you live in, the bakery you stop at to get your morning coffee and pastry, the pub you frequent; none of it would be there if someone hadn’t dreamed about it first. We aim to help you shape your dreams of running your own business into rock-solid reality, acting as a guide for each step of the way.

So, what are your circumstances right now?

Because it is that – circumstance – which creates entrepreneurs.

Some extroverted entrepreneurs concocted money-making schemes in the playground and were ‘born to do business’, others come from a long line of entrepreneurs, but the majority of self-made types are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. You don’t have to be an exceptional high-achieving superhuman to be an entrepreneur (although the superhuman bit can help in times of deadline mania and crisis-management). As long as you’ve a great idea, product, team, belief, passion and the crucial ability to listen, learn and work very hard, you can become a successful entrepreneur.

Barclays Bank reports a 28 per cent rise in the number of women deciding to become their own boss since 2000 too. One million UK businesses are now owned and operated by women. ‘We’ve become an important part of the community contributing over £115 billion to the UK economy,’ says Karen Gill, co-founder of everywoman, an online network and resource provider for women business owners.

For business advice and news for SME’s from experienced business owners, read 3business.com

Furthermore, there are now more sole proprietorships than medium-sized businesses, with 2.9 million sole traders in the UK .

These figures aren’t surprising, with the technological advances of recent years resulting in an increase in working from home and much wider access to the information you need to go it alone. If you speak to a handful of friends, you’ll no doubt find that some of them would like to pack in their jobs and start up on their own. Nearly a quarter of us think about it, according to a Jacks of London survey, but a small percentage of us actually go on and do it.

Grit your teeth and hang on tight – welcome to the entrepreneurial rollercoaster ride. A journey paved with pain, perspiration and pressure, littered with potential luxuries and luck, and ending in delight or disaster. Either way it’s an experience you’ll hold with you forever. Take Saligo Design for examlpe who have just started a wonderful Antique Mirrors business in the UK.

Remember, luck is where preparedness meets opportunity , so go out there and get lucky with your own business.