SOUTHBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ten years ago when Mary Beth Gibson, founder and executive director of Beyond Boobs!, imagined where her life path would lead her, she never thought she would be a cancer survivor, business owner, or co-founder of a non-profit organization. Like many would-be entrepreneurs, Gibson was happy in her corporate position, hesitant to chase her entrepreneurial dream — until her circumstances inspired her to.
Before pursuing her career goal, Gibson needed to gain confidence in herself as an entrepreneur. She became a franchisee of The Entrepreneur’s Source®, a national alternative career coaching franchise, and learned the ins-and-outs of business ownership. This experience gave her the security she needed to finally launch a non-profit. Gibson and a fellow breast cancer survivor founded Beyond Boobs! in 2006 to educate, inspire and encourage breast cancer survivors.
“A few years before my HR position was eliminated, a coworker asked me what I would currently be doing if success were guaranteed,” Gibson recalled. “I wanted to start a non-profit to help inspire confidence in women with low self-esteem, but I was comfortable in my job so taking the leap was a scary thought. After my battle with cancer attacked my self-confidence, I knew I was meant to help fellow survivors reclaim their womanhood.”
Proud of Gibson’s entrepreneurial journey, The Entrepreneur’s Source founder, Terry Powell, shares sage advice with would-be entrepreneurs who are hesitant to take their first step.
- Start with why — asking “why,” in regards to a new business endeavor, will set a proper foundation for effectively exploring the best possibilities and evaluating options to realize dreams of business ownership. Identifying the driving forces and passions behind your new plan will help you align your dreams with the various opportunities and options before you.
- Avoid F.E.A.R. — 75 percent of people are interested in becoming entrepreneurs, but only five percent act on their dream. Of all the obstacles facing potential entrepreneurs, fear is the most paralyzing. Many aspects of opening a business, weighing risks and rewards and the variables involved, are punctuated with fear. The Entrepreneur’s Source advises to take fear with a grain of salt. F.E.A.R. is – more often than not – simply False Evidence Appearing Real. Much like strange noises in the middle of the night, fear is usually nothing to worry about.
- Seek a safe haven — the first steps toward successful entrepreneurship are having a solid foundation against which potential opportunities and options can be evaluated and dispelling irrational, limiting fears. Enlisting a career transition coach or business coach will keep you grounded and provide you with objective advice and support. With this haven, anyone can realize his or her dreams – no matter how comfortable they are or how lofty the goal may seem.
For anyone who has entertained the idea of business ownership and is interested in exploring what options are available to them, The Entrepreneur’s Source is hosting a complimentary, virtual franchise expo September 18-20, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT. Called Start a Business Weekend®, attendees have the opportunity to discover the pros and cons of franchising and whether it is the best path towards self-sufficiency. Registration is free at www.StartABusinessWeekend.com.
To learn more about Mary Beth’s story and Beyond Boobs!, visit www.beyondboobs.org. For more information about The Entrepreneur’s Source and coaching services, visit www.entrepreneurssource.com.
About The Entrepreneur’s Source®
The Entrepreneur’s Source is North America’s leading alternative career coaching franchise dedicated to the entrepreneur, with more than 230 offices in the United States and Canada. Dominating the $1.5 billion dollar Business Coaching/Consulting franchise market in North America, the company offers a full range of services to individuals seeking alternate career options and to franchise businesses looking to increase performance. For more information about The Entrepreneur’s Source, please visit http://www.EntrepreneursSource.com/.
The Entrepreneur’s Source and Start a Business Weekend are trademarks of TES Franchising, LLC. All rights reserved.
