Starting up a new business is a dream shared by many people in this industry. Employees think about how great it would be to say goodbye to their employer and venture out on their own, how wonderful it would be to have that kind of freedom and to be able to set their own course.

But then they start thinking about the possibility of failure, and reality sets in. This is where most people's dreams unravel. It's usually a fantasy that never quite gets off the ground. You play the "what if" game over and over but never take the first step.

Unfortunately, most people who dream of being their own boss have a skewed view. They focus on the term "being my own boss" as if it means that they won't have to answer to anyone. They look at it as being able to do whatever they want, whenever they want. It's like wanting to take everything that's wrong with their present job and thinking "if only I had my own business, I wouldn't have to deal with ... [fill in the blank]." Nothing could be further from the truth.

Misconceptions

My first years in business taught me tough lessons. It was me in the field inspecting pipe all day because I couldn't afford to hire someone else. It was me in the late afternoon returning phone calls and scheduling tomorrow's work. And it was me late into the evening paying bills and printing out invoices.

Financially, it's important to consider the real cost of running a business, including insurance, fuel, maintenance, permits and the multitude of other real costs. These realities were sobering in my early years. I would invest weeks on a project and then not get paid for six months or more. It was very difficult to see my operating capital disappear. I had creditors knocking at the door trying to take what little I had. But, through it all, I would manage to put a little bit of money aside, and at the end of the day, the IRS took the rest.

What it takes

The fact is that many of us who are making it as business owners have succeeded in spite of our ignorance. Most of us really had no idea what we were getting into beforehand. People often call us fortunate or even lucky. But the truth is that there isn't one successful entrepreneur who hasn't done it by the sweat of his brow.

The motivation to start your own business must come from a different place. Individuals who take the plunge and succeed are special and rare. They tend to be serious and goal-oriented. You will find that most of them are not motivated by money per se, but are motivated by the challenge. Their goal is to achieve success by building a prosperous business empire. They are willing to sacrifice now for the possibility of financial returns in the future.

Those who succeed tend to see things in context. They look at their goals; they study them thoroughly and then weigh the possibility for success. These people often plan and plot for years before actually making their move. They understand exactly where they need to be before they can take that first step. They wait patiently, watching and learning, planning and plotting their future.

Of course, as an employer, I hate to lose good employees. It's hard to accept the fact that I am sometimes the training ground for my future competition. There isn't much anyone can do about that, and the worst part is that it's usually the star employees who leave. Unfortunately, many of these individuals grow impatient and leave prematurely. It's critical that you know this business from top to bottom before striking out on your own, and that takes time.

There is no shortcut to becoming the best cleaning operator or CCTV inspection operator, and the years spent in apprenticeship will allow you to fully develop a strong skill set. Being known as an expert in your field will go a long way toward building your future business. Your customers will want to know that they are dealing with someone who is knowledgeable and able to fulfill their needs. Having that reputation will open many doors in your future.

The years of apprenticeship are not only valuable for learning how to inspect and clean pipe, they are valuable in building relationships. Relationships are critical to the success of any business, especially in the cleaning industry. Good relationships were the key to my success in the beginning, and continue to be so to this day. It was the existing customers with whom I had established relationships who were willing to give me an opportunity when I went on my own. There is no doubt that without them I wouldn't have made it this far.

Taking the time to learn about how business works before breaking away will increase the odds of success exponentially. Taking basic accounting courses and preparing for my contractor's license exam proved to be a few of the best decisions I ever made. Had I waited until I was on my own, it would have been difficult to find the time to do it effectively.

The reality

Starting your own business can be very rewarding. Each new customer or contract will be exhilarating. Those first few checks in the mail will be exciting, but starting your own business can be very stressful. When there isn't enough money in your account to meet payroll or pay your bills you will be stressed out. When your primary equipment breaks down and you can't meet the obligations of your best customer, you'll be stressed out. When your best employee quits in order to start his own business, you'll be stressed out.

As a business owner, I found my health deteriorating because of the continual stress and lack of sleep. I found that regular exercise and healthy eating habits made me feel better, gave me more energy and helped me cope with the stress.

Remember that as a business owner there is no such thing as leaving your work at the office. You are literally on 24/7. Any problems that arise will fall squarely on your shoulders. You may be cleaning toilets one minute and sitting in front of a customer the next. You may be spending time with your family in the evening and then dropping everything in order to respond to an emergency. There is no delineation of responsibilities. You are it. The buck stops with you.

Rewards

The rewards of owning your own business can be great. The satisfaction I have experienced in seeing my company flourish has been very gratifying. Experiencing those moments of growth when new contracts come in and new employees come on board is very rewarding. It is not an easy road, but in the end, the whole experience has been more than worthwhile.