Many successful entrepreneurs have started from humble beginnings and with what they have. You may think you can’t start a business with what you have, but it takes fewer resources than you may think. Combine your passion with tenacity and you’ll be on your way to becoming the next great entrepreneur. Here are some aspects to consider:

Your personality and skills

It’s important to consider what you’re passionate about because when the going gets tough your passion will be what drives you to success. Ask yourself: What do you love doing? If you do something that you’re passionate about, then it won’t always feel like work. Think about your passion and how you can channel it into a business.

You must then think about your skills, which are divided into learnt and natural skills. Learnt skills are those acquired by attending a course, reading a book, or watching how someone else does something. Natural skills are the abilities you were born with. Are you a great speaker? Do you make friends easily? Are you good with numbers? Make a list of your skills and see which industry suits you best.

In order to start your own business you need to be a person who takes action by facing their problems and solving them. You also need to be resilient, even when you face obstacles or setbacks. Another trait to consider is patience as building a business takes time. Finally, be able to embrace change as you may start with a business but another opportunity might present itself and you need to embrace these changes.

Your resources

Look at your financial situation and make sure that when you start out you only use the money which you can afford and are willing to lose. Ask yourself: What do you own that you can use to make money? For example, if you have a laptop and an internet connection, then you could create a Business.co.za page to provide access to others on your services and contact details. Use word of mouth and social media to promote your business. Tell your friends and family about what you’re doing and they may be able to bring business your way from their connections.

So look at what you have available and be creative. You’ll be amazed by what you can do with the resources that are available to you. By using what you have, you’ll also start a business with a strong foundation. Enduring hard times at the beginning of your business will set you up for hardships in the future. Decide on your dream career and pursue it with everything you’ve got and you’re sure to become a success!