The biggest decision that one needs to make in starting a business is to make the commitment to go. We all have ideas, we can find the funding, we can connect with the right people, but it is hardest to just hit the ‘GO’ button. When I started Altra with Golden I saw the value in an idea and concept that he had. He sold me on the idea and how sound it was. At the time I had very little to lose and a lot of courage so it seemed easy to say GO.

As I look back now, though, it was pretty gutsy to say go. I was working as a manager in an independent financial services company, I had a client list that I was working with, I had a great report with my boss and team and then this came up. I took a risk by saying ‘GO’ to Golden on that day five and a half years ago. Once I had committed Golden to come along with me I had to back it up by figuring out how to make it a reality, but honestly, it wasn’t too hard after saying ‘GO’.

I won’t say that starting a business was easy, we had our share of challenges. To mention a few; we had to find development, bootstrap everything, find initial funding, protect our concept, deal with a name change, deal with an early partner suing us and more. There are always challenges, but once you have committed then those tend to be easier to deal with and figure out.

Just commit and then things will start falling into place. Have you ever started anything? What was your biggest challenge? How did you overcome?