Regular readers will know that I started a business selling antique and vintage rings online, about a year ago. I used the ethos of Curb Your Consumerism in order to save the money to leave my day job, and support myself whilst I grew my business. It wasn't easy, although it has been the single best thing I've ever done. I have no plans to go back to a corporate job any time soon and I'd recommend making short, medium, or even long-term sacrifices to anyone who wants to change their life.
You can only be lucky off the back of an action.
I recently heard about a competition that Orange are running to help launch a Different Business. The winner gets £200,000 worth of business mentoring, marketing consultancy, legal advice, mobile devices + plans from Orange, and Investment Capital to make their business idea happen. Of course, this sort of exposure and backing is an amazing opportunity for the winner, although the experience can also be a great help to everyone who enters. Yes, I did say everyone, here's why.
Orange have set up a panel of Judges who include some of the UK's most successful business leaders. They are looking for the following:
Entering this competition, is a really good opportunity to get your business plan together, and scrutinise it based on the above criteria. Is it strong enough? Will it stand up against thousands of other applications? What's missing? Have you made assumptions that could be clarified? Preparing your business plan for this sort of competitive criticism will only make it stronger, and more likely to succeed, wether or not you get backing.
It's likely that whoever wins this Orange competition, will have an idea and drive so strong that the idea will launch even if they don't win the competition. This isn't charity, it's business, and the judges will be looking for a winning idea after all. If you really want to change your life, you have to be prepared to succeed without help, even if you feel like you're bluffing. The irony is that you are more likely to receive assistance if people believe you will succeed without it.
Do something that gets you a step closer to your end goal today, enter the Orange Win Your Business Competition.
Good luck, and remember, it's got nothing to do with luck.
This is a Sponsored Post, although thoughts are all mine.
