How having your own business is just like having a baby.... 

Not that i really know what having a baby is like, but from the numerous accounts i have heard from my friends, i always found it appropriate to relate the experience of opening a business in this way.

1. The actual conception of the idea is a beautiful thing.

You really… really want it, you start thinking about it constantly and have a picture of it that is nothing like how it really is (some good and some bad). In one way you are scared out of your mind by things that shouldn't be real fears and in another you are thrilled with concepts that you will find aren't true when you really have a business of your own.
2. The Preparation

Just like the 9 months of preparation to have a baby, once you realize that the idea of your business is starting to become reality you have a time when you are ‘pregnant’ with your project. Its in the works, and you start to prepare. Lots of things happen to you that you didn't realize were even possible, new problems that you didn't know existed before and as it gets closer and closer to the opening day, you start to feel more and more tired, stressed, anxious and the preparations get intense.Day by day, you wonder if you are ready for this… will you be able to to your job correctly, or will you fail… there are some hard moments of discouragement and you may wonder if this was not the best life choice.
3. Now for the delivery

the moment where all those months of preparation are about to come to fulfillment and you are ready to open your doors. You think you are ready, you have made to-do lists that could span the length of the wall of china, your checklist is checked. There are always complications, and the moment passes totally unlike anything you have ever expected, it’s a hard moment and you cant enjoy much of the day as you are working so hard to make sure everything is just right… but at the end of the day, you are filled with a great sense of joy and fulfillment as you realize.. its out, you have had the baby, and its beautiful.
4. Now day two… 

Now you have to look after that little bugger for the rest of your life, or its life.. and yes just like that, the opening moment of glory cannot compare to the astounding amount of work and day to day tasks that you will have to deal with. Especially in the beginning, don’t count on sleeping much, you will be up early.. and staying up late, worrying many times into the night and unable to sit down even for a 5 minute break without worrying and thinking constantly about the new baby, that is so fragile and precious, and yes it means everything to you. Everyone and everything else around you will be a blur, your focus remains on the one thing that you have fought so hard for, keeping it alive and providing for its survival.

5. Everyone knows just how you should do your job.. or so they say

Well be prepared for plenty of ‘good advice’ from the people who surround you, as they watch you learning how to care for your newest pride and joy, they will be quick to criticize and cannot walk a mile in your shoes, those shoes are yours, and you alone can fit your feet inside of them. Don’t expect people to understand just how hard it is, how tired you are, or how much you are trying, they cant stay awake with you, clean until 2 am, or tirelessly work on all the little details, its your cross to bear and you must realize its all part of the package. Don’t take criticism of your new child so hard… at first it will feel like a stinging slap in the face, when someone… albeit gently… points out areas that you are slacking in.. remember.. you are new at this, you are a crazy, young parent… but you are doing the job, they are not.
6.It grows

As your kid starts to grow, you will ease into your role, you relax a little more, laugh at the funny things that go wrong.. and maybe… just maybe… you might let someone hold it… but just for a little while. You see it growing and getting stronger, and you get into your parenting stride, you trust yourself a little more and sometimes… just sometimes…. you sleep in a little bit and let someone else watch it for a few hours. Its getting bigger and stronger now, all sorts of things start to happen faster and faster, you never believed you would see this day, but here it is, it might not be perfect, but its here and its working. The stress of it all… all those days and nights of hard work are fading as you are relaxing in the joy and fulfillment it is bringing you, watching the new baby say or do this or that… walk around… be charming and generally be successful
7.Tough stuff

Sometimes, something happens to your kid that shocks and hurts you… just like what happened to us with Culture Exchange. Its tempting to take it personally, retract, react and get upset when you are attacked in a personal or slanderous way. It seems like the world is against you and you wonder if it will survive, it feels like every stone in the world is being thrown at you. Remember this… if you do nothing with your life.. no one will say anything. Be different, make an impact.. and people will talk, but just like how when a kid gets sick or falls down, the skin or body repairs and the immune system grows, so will yours… hold on, fight for your rights, it will be worth it if you do.
8.Do you want more?

Your kid (business) is about 2 years old.. the birthday is coming up, the big party is planned, you are thinking of every detail to make is special… after all the hard work, tears, stress, problems, situations, criticism, slander, penniless existence, late nights and early mornings… you can’t believe what you are thinking… YES.. you want another one
9.Yes you do

Planning for your 2nd child has begun, welcome to the world of an entrepreneur, may your family grow and may you have many, many children.