I'm starting a videography business and am very excited to have just purchased my first camera, a Canon XL1. I'm also stunned, like a deer in the headlights. No excuses now, I either put myself out there and just do it, or I prove once and for all that I have no follow through and am never going get anywhere in life, ever. I'm terrified of both.

I've been working my way through Brian Armstrong's book "Breaking Free." His financial advise made me laugh because he had me nailed:

One of the biggest mistakes inexperienced entrepreneurs make is
that they are far too good at spending money! I have some helpful
advice for you regarding expenses in starting a new company:

1. Thou shalt not rent an office.
2. Thou shalt not hire fancy lawyers to draft contracts.
3. Thou shalt not hire assistants and employees.
4. Thou shalt not travel to meetings.
5. Thou shalt not purchase unnecessary electronic equipment
(computers, printers, faxes, etc).
6. Thou shalt not spend a single cent that isn’t absolutely required until
there is profit coming in the door!

How did he know the first thing I wanted to do with my limited funds was go spend it all? I'm very grateful for this sage advice. I realized my urge to spend money was more about fear than need. I'm afraid to put myself out there, so I convince myself that I can't really get started until I have everything I could possibly need.

But the list of things I "need" is endless. Tripod, light kit, sound kit, GPS, networked copier, bigger monitor, more hard drives, and more and more and more. All of those would definitely help, but do I need them in order to get started? Nope.

I don't need an iPhone, I need a customer.

Cheers!

Tags: entrepreneur, money

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Comment by zitiboat on October 7, 2009 at 3:00pm: If your business is convincing others that they need an iphone then you may need one, but get someone else to pay for it.
I succsessfully ran my construction installation business from my one bedroom apartment for 4 years. Of course you give up the entire living room to desk and equipment.
The key was to have a salesman working for my main customers to reccommend my services.

Comment by Gary Bing on October 6, 2009 at 9:44am: "You need to spend money to make money" "The check must have got lost in the mail" "And pork is the other white meat" The customer is ALWAYS right"."There is no such thing is bad sex or bad pizza." for the latter I'd say you experienced neither as of yet, but your day will come.

Comment by JS on October 5, 2009 at 12:46pm: Well. Sometimes to get the customer, you will have to have an iPhone... to easily control and keep an eye on your business when you're out of your office.

All in all, I agree. You never *need* anything, unless you need it to survive. You just want things. And sometimes letting go on your desires... can really pay you back in the future. And believe me, it's not money it's paying back with. It's the lack of it.

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