Should I quit my job to pursue my startup idea?

This is an issue that a lot of future entrepreneurs grapple with. It’s a tough one, and a deeply personal one. Without knowing details about your business, your job, your personal life and your finances, we can’t really give you an answer. But in every in-depth conversation we’ve had with people considering quitting their job, the wisest decision is “no” as often as it’s “yes.” And if you’re just now beginning to consider the prospect, it may be too early. It comes down to thinking very carefully about why you’re thinking of quitting your job, and considering the other options. Quitting your job is a hugely drastic move. So, why do you think it’ll help? If it’s because you think you need more time… well, are you spending every waking minute outside of your job working on your business? And if not, try that first and see what that does to your growth. Think hard about your motivation, and see if there’s another way to accomplish your “next step” goal while staying in your job. Despite the glorification of going all in, keeping your business as a side project until it’s validated and has some traction can be a smart move in many cases. Are you prepared, financially and mentally, to work for six months (or more) without any income? Are you okay with the possibility of being back to square one in six or 12 months, except without the security of a job? We like to mitigate risk as much as possible, and there’s a lot of risk involved in jumping ship this early on in your startup journey.

What’s one thing most entrepreneurs should be doing, but aren’t?

So many of us, especially without marketing backgrounds, assume that marketing is about telling people your story. That it’s about selling. Convincing. And it is about those things, but that assumption often causes us to overlook the most important part of marketing that far too few companies practice: listening. Unless you listen to your customers very closely – long before you try to sell them anything – you’ll never understand the right way to sell your product. Ask your customers a lot of open-ended questions. Learn about their needs and challenges, their fears and hopes. Do a ton of customer development. Listen. Listen. Listen. And then – but not before – carefully consider and act on what you learn.