Stepping into entrepreneurship isn’t just about a business plan or strategy, it’s about who you have in your corner.
If you’ve been in your career for a while and feel the pull to build something of your own, chances are you’ve spent a lot of time in your own head. You’ve analysed, overanalysed, and perhaps even talked yourself out of taking action more times than you can count.
But here’s the truth, the right conversations can change everything.
The right people will challenge you, encourage you, and push you to see possibilities you hadn’t considered. The wrong ones will reinforce your fears and keep you tethered to what’s safe.
When you’re making a major transition, your environment, especially the voices around you matters more than you realise. Here’s who you need in your corner:
- People who see beyond where you are
These are the people who don’t just see you as an employee or a high performer at work, they see the entrepreneur in you, even before you fully do. They remind you of your capabilities and hold space for the vision you’re building. Without them, it’s easy to shrink back into the familiar.
2. Those who have walked this path before
If you’ve never built a business, there’s so much you don’t yet know. But someone else has done it, and their insights can save you years of trial and error. Find mentors, advisers, or coaches who can give you both wisdom and real-world strategies for making the transition smoothly.
3. Expanders who challenge your thinking
These are the people who stretch your mindset. They don’t let you settle for small thinking. They ask better questions, push you to take bolder steps, and remind you that playing it safe won’t get you where you want to go.
4. A community that reinforces your new direction
There’s power in being around others who are in motion. When you’re surrounded by fellow entrepreneurs, transitioners, and ambitious doers, something shifts. You start seeing what’s possible instead of what’s risky. You absorb their momentum.
And most importantly, you stop feeling alone in your journey.
Not everyone will get it, and that’s okay. Some people in your current world, colleagues, family, even well-meaning friends might unintentionally hold you back.
- The ones who only focus on the risks and "why it won’t work."
- The ones who can’t imagine stepping outside of traditional career paths.
- The ones who, out of love, tell you to “just be grateful” for what you already have.
These voices are not your enemies, but they aren’t your fuel either. Protect your mindset.
If you’ve been circling the idea of stepping into entrepreneurship but haven’t gained the clarity and confidence to move, ask yourself:
- Who am I regularly talking to about this shift?
- Are they expanding my vision or reinforcing my fears?
- Where can I intentionally connect with people who get it?
- What is that conversation you keep having with yourself?
