As of January 4th, 2022, 4.5 million people have left their regular gigs. Some of them were voluntary, and some were not. Some of those who left voluntarily did so without a plan, and some jumped all in with the side hustle they had been nursing.

I am not a member of the Great Resignation, but I know the liberating feeling of leaving a job that no longer suits you.  Remember this guy?  While my exit was not as epic, I could relate to how he felt. I didn't have a backup plan, but I was tired of it all. 

I was tired of the politics, tired of the good ole boy system, and tired of the same crap over and over. It wasn't just my last office job. It was the last few I had taken after the economic downturn in 2008.

I am now in my fourth year of business; I made some mistakes along the way; I even changed the business name after my first year and had to pivot thanks to COVID.   Fortunately, it has been a successful pivot (that's a word I have come to despise and love at the same time. Does anyone else feel the same way?).

So, if you're planning on jumping on the entrepreneurship, here are some helpful tips:

• Be prepared to spend more than 40 hours per week working in and on your business. There will be a lot of midnight oil burning, but you won't realize it because you'll love it.

• Do a lot of networking, networking, and even more networking. It's something I struggle with still since I am an introvert. There is a networking organization called ACA, and it is different from most networking groups; it's a much more laid-back atmosphere—no 30-second elevator pitch. It is headquartered in Kansas City but is rapidly expanding and now has international clubs. As with anything worthwhile, you gotta pay to play. Watch out, BNI.

• Don't be left behind holding a Blackberry. Stay on top of technology, or you will not survive.

• Have a financial plan—one for yourself and one for the business. Read Mike Michalowicz's book, Profit First.

• Try to identify who your ideal clients are. You will hear this many times at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey. You may not know your ideal client right away, but it is good to begin working on that. There are many resources and webinars to help you.

• Focus on YOUR BUSINESS, not someone else's. Do not compare your business to the successes or failures of others. It could be the death of your business.

There are many obstacles to avoid, but the most significant obstacle will be yourself if you let it happen. Oh, be prepared not to get paid as much as you did when you were working for someone else. This is the case for many entrepreneurs who are starting their journey.

After walking off my job in 2017, I became a business owner in January 2018. I didn't know much about what I was doing. But I tell ya what; I'm not looking back.

Note: Carolina was a Personal Concierge before pivoting into the world of Virtual Assistants. She has clients around the country and thoroughly loves being a virtual assistant. The only drawback is that her husband now works from home and puts a cramp in her style. He now knows how often she makes midday trips to Dairy Queen. Contact: Carolina at Carolina@1440Concierge or via phone at 816-522-3281.