As a consultant I am often approached by people who have a dream of starting their own business. They have a vision of creating this incredible healing center, wellness retreat or day spa that will be beautiful inside and out, filled with only the most hard-working, ethical staff members, that will be affordable for the masses yet profitable for them. It will be amazing.

And though I consider myself an extreme optimist who can find the positive in any situation, I usually play devil's advocate with these emerging business owners and point out as many of the possible pitfalls of business as I can.

Why? Because I have been just like them- the one with the beautiful dreams and vision - and have lived the whole experience of what it means to be a business owner. I want to make sure they are prepared for the reality that comes along with the rose-colored fantasy of what being an entrepreneur is really like.

That's why I just have to share this list of twenty questions from the post Should You Be An Entrepreneur? by Dan Isenberg, a guest columnist to the Harvard Business Review. Here's a few things you should be able to answer "YES!" to if you are thinking about opening your own business:

1. I don't like being told what to do by people who are less capable than I am.
2. I like challenging myself.
3. I like to win.
4. I like being my own boss.
5. I always look for new and better ways to do things

Click here to read the rest of the list and article

The bottom line is that there are MANY issues to consider before striking out on your own or investing your time, energy and tears into the business of your day dreams. Take the time to ask yourself if you are the kind of person that wants to move beyond opening their own business into someone who actually manages, grows and sustains one. And if you decide that you are ready to move forward, you have my blessings!