Don't Be Fooled: You Don't Need a Degree to Be an Entrepreneur

Find a Successful Mentor

One of the best things you can do as an aspiring entrepreneur is to find yourself a mentor — someone who has already achieved success in the business world. A mentor can help you navigate the often-unforgiving waters of entrepreneurship and provide advice and guidance when you need it most. Not sure where to find a mentor? The US Chamber of Commerce recommends that you try reaching out to your professional and personal networks to see if anyone knows someone who would be willing to serve as your mentor. You can also try joining relevant online communities or attending business events in your area, like those hosted by the Levelland Chamber of Commerce.

Be Strategic When Selecting Your Business Type

When choosing the right business type for you, it’s important to consider your strengths, weaknesses, and interests. For example, if you’re passionate about decorating, starting an interior design business might be the right move for you. Consider this option if you have experience with customer service and a keen eye for colors and spaces. You’ll want to ensure your website also reflects your design abilities. 

On the other hand, if you’re more interested in the tech world, launching a software company might be a better fit. There are endless possibilities when it comes to choosing the right business type — it just takes some soul searching to figure out which one is right for you.

Find a Reliable Source of Funding

One of the biggest hurdles facing aspiring entrepreneurs is access to funding. If you don’t have deep pockets or wealthy investors backing you up, it can be tough to get your business off the ground. However, there are plenty of options for funding your business if you know where to look. Government grants, crowdfunding platforms, and small business loans are all viable options for funding your business venture. 

Write a Detailed Business Plan

Another important step in becoming a great entrepreneur is writing a comprehensive business plan. Your business plan should outline your business goals, strategies, and marketing plans. It should also include financial projections and an analysis of your competition. Don’t worry if you’ve never written a business plan before — there are plenty of resources available online that can help you get started (including templates).

Ensure Your Filing System Is Solid

As an entrepreneur, it’s important to keep your files carefully organized — both digital and physical files. This includes everything from customer invoices and purchase orders to product data sheets and employee records. Not only will this make it easier for you to find important information when you need it, but it will also make your business appear more professional and put together. There are plenty of organization tools available online (and offline) that can help you get started. For example, if you’re digitizing your documents and find that you have PDFs that would benefit from being broken up to make them easier to file, this tool will help you split a PDF into smaller groups of pages. On the other hand, there are tools you can use to merge PDF files so you can keep everything as condense as possible.

Look for Chances to Gain Practical Experience

Last but not least, gaining practical experience is essential for becoming a great entrepreneur. If possible, try working in the industry you’re interested in starting a business in prior to striking out on your own. This will give you valuable insights into the inner workings of the industry as well as what does (and doesn’t) work when it comes to running a successful business within that industry. And even if working in the industry prior to starting your own business isn’t possible (or realistic), there are still plenty of ways to gain practical experience, from taking relevant courses online or reading books about entrepreneurship written by experienced entrepreneurs.

Make Your Business Idea a Reality

Anyone can become a great entrepreneur with hard work and determination — regardless of whether or not they have a college degree. However, it takes more than just ambition and drive. It takes careful planning, strategic thinking, and most importantly, practical experience. With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to becoming a successful entrepreneur without needing a degree!

Take advantage of all of the business-boosting resources available with a Levelland Chamber of Commerce membership. Join us today!