The Miracle of Child Birth, also known as Starting a Business

Sorry for the comparison ladies, but I am trying to make a strong point to all the entrepreneurs out there who have the wrong perception about what it means and takes to start a business. So guys let's be real, none of us really get this, but for those of you who have been through it with your significant other it is an intense roller coaster ride. So what does this have to do with business?... the steps in starting a business can be compared to the steps of conceiving a child.

1. You conceive the initial idea... That is always the fun part, your drunken moment so to speak... You think of this great opportunity, love the idea of creating your own business and enjoy the initial pursuit.
2. You find out your pregnant... this would be the oh my god moment when you see that this is real. You are excited and a little nervous. You actually start to ramp up preparing to open the business.
3. You start to feel the effects of pregnancy... morning sickness, bloating, eating for two, mood swings... You are excited one minute and mad the next because some things work out right and some don't. It is a lot of work to nurture a business from idea to reality. Incorporation, funding, marketing collateral, business strategy... it's not as fun as it was when you first found out you were pregnant.
4. Complications set in... we all pray that this never happens in giving birth especially, but in a business, however this happens all the time. Things happen, things out of your control start to drive the final delivery of your child.
5. Your baby is born... now comes the really hard part because having a kid is 3 full time jobs. You have no life, get no rest, spend every waking hour and penny on your baby and have no idea how all of this work will turn out. Will they be an astronaut, will your business succeed... will your child be a petty criminal, will the business fail... will your child live at home until they are 50, will the business linger on but never get out of the break even phase.

The real lesson is this, starting a business is not easy... so don't get discouraged, but don't be delusional. It requires a lot of work, patience, commitment and care. If you want to prepare for starting a business, talk to one of your female family members or friends with kids and ask them what it was like to carry, give birth to and raise a baby. It will have its glorious moments, but like anything in life, it will have its trials and tribulations.