Making the leap from being an employee to being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart.

Quite often, it is fueled with passion, ambition, and drive – all good qualities to have when you embark upon the exciting adventure that is business ownership.

However, positive energy and good feelings – as important as they are – are not enough to sustain an entrepreneurial lifestyle.

If you are going to be an entrepreneur, you need to set yourself up for success.

Because, when the hard times hit – and trust me, they will inevitably hit – you need to be ready.

Often times, rookie entrepreneurs have a very narrow focus – they zoom in on the work they have to do for their clients.

This is noble, but it’s just not enough.

There are factors that will deeply influence your business success, even if they aren’t directly a part of your business model.

Here are just a few things that take many new business owners by surprise…

1.  Entrepreneurs need to pay special attention to their health

We all know it’s important to stay healthy.

But, when you’re an entrepreneur, your physical and mental well-being can often take a back seat to long hours, high responsibility, loneliness, and wearing many hats to run your business.

It can get very easy to lose sight of the fact that you are burning out, and neglecting your health.

Often, especially if you are pretty much the only person steering the ship, you might feel that because everything depends on you, you can never stop.

It’s a heavy load on your shoulders.

The thing is, you are not doing your business any favors by jeopardizing your health.

You are literally the engine that drives your business. If you break down – what will happen to the business?

Pay super close attention to what you eat and drink. Make sure you exercise daily. And, notice how much quality rest you are getting.

Pay attention to your mental state as well – stress and depression are real threats to an entrepreneur.

Take a look at many of the successful entrepreneurs you look up to and admire – you will likely notice that they factor in their physical and mental health into their daily routine.
That’s because these successful people figured out long ago that they can’t accomplish their goals if their body and mind are breaking down.

2.  Entrepreneurs need to keep their social circle tight

You’ve likely heard the saying, “You’re the five people you keep closest to you.”

This is exceptionally true for the entrepreneur.

Much of the work you will do as a business owner will be solitary.

Even otherwise, you’ll still have a hard time relating to most people around you.

It takes a special mindset to want to be a business owner. Most people are not going to understand why you want to sacrifice all the hours, blood, sweat, and tears for your dreams to come true.

Most people won’t get it.

And most people – whether intentionally or not – are going to get in your way.

They’ll judge, they’ll complain that they don’t fit in with your lifestyle and priorities, they’ll want you to spend time and focus on things and people that don’t matter to you, and sooner or later, if you allow it, they’ll try to sabotage you.

It’s not that they’re bad people – it’s just that they don’t get it.

Eventually, you’re going to have to let go of these people. You’ll do it because the burden of keeping them around becomes too great, and it won’t be worth sacrificing your vision.

The friends and family you keep around you need to understand why you are the way you are. You can’t always be explaining yourself or succumbing to guilt trips.

Make sure your social circle is loving, nurturing, supportive, and kind.

Otherwise, know when to make the tough decision to move on.

3.  Actively build and maintain a professional network

Even though you might see yourself as a solopreneur, no one can truly succeed at business on their own.

You need a professional network.

Growing and maintaining a professional network takes active effort.

It is literally part of your job description as an entrepreneur.

Don’t think you can sit in your office all day without connecting with other business owners and professionals.

You have to get out to networking events and meet people, face-to-face.

You have to connect and stay in touch with these professionals, via email, phone, or social media.

You have to take interest in their work and form reciprocal relationships so that you are helping them grow, and they are helping you and your business expand as well.

Your professional network will not just be limited to clients and potential clients. A superior professional network will also consist of business referral partners, suppliers, sub-contractors, and mentors as well.

Sounds like a lot of work? It is. Brace yourself. Because, your business will not survive if you are not willing to network.

4.  Understand you are now in the business of being in business

When you first start thinking of starting a business, it’s likely because you found a profession that you are truly passionate about.

Maybe you love creating French pastries, or designing interior spaces, or building websites, or taking photographs, or landscaping.

Whatever your passion is, it’s a great privilege to be able to figure out a way to do it while earning a living.

However, don’t forget that as a business owner, you will have a wide variety of responsibilities, until it makes sense for you to hire help.

You will likely have to take care of things that don’t interest you as much, such as: marketing, branding, financing, and accounting. There might be logistical issues such as transportation, deliveries, web design, SEO, and inventory that will fall on your shoulders.

Becoming a business owner means that you are no longer a craftsperson, or tradesperson, or worker in your business.

You have to set real business goals and make executive decisions to get you to those goals. And, you need to hold yourself accountable for all of it.

You will need a business plan, a carefully laid out schedule with deadlines, and a support system (maybe a business advisor or mentor) that will hold you accountable.

You are in the business of being in business now.

If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to work ON your business, not just IN your business.

5.  Nurture your professional growth.

When you work for someone else’s company, you may be provided with ongoing training.

You might be rewarded with incentives and bonuses to upgrade your skills and knowledge.

However, when you are a business owner, no one is going to tell you when it’s time to level up. It is all on you to stay ahead of the curve and educate yourself on the next big thing.

And, no one is going to reward you, either. Your reward is staying afloat with a competitive edge.

Entrepreneurs must be self-motivated and self-disciplined. The good ones never stop learning.

They get comfortable with being uncomfortable and are constantly trying new things and expanding their horizons.
When becoming an entrepreneur, you might be surprised to discover that you will be blind-sighted by some obstacles in your path. Don’t feel bad. Only experience could have told you about these surprises along the way, and overcoming them will just make you a better and stronger business owner. Be prepared to make your physical and mental health a priority if you embark on entrepreneurship. Keep your social circle exclusive and tight. Actively build and maintain a strong professional network. Understand that you need to work ON your business, not just IN your business. And finally, do not neglect your growth as a professional and a leader.

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