10 Signs You Need To Start Your Own Business
February 17, 2016

As entrepreneurship has always been
a strong interest of mine and one of the key motivators of all my actions, it
often comes up as a topic of discussion with friends and acquaintances.
Speaking with people about starting a business made me realise that a common
worry is that the whole process seems quite intimidating and terrifying to
people who have not done it before. That is absolutely normal as I doubt there
has ever been a single person who felt certain about starting their own
business.
My team and I strongly believe that anyone can start their own business. This belief is one of our core values and one of the reasons that made us start our company in the first place. Our experience of working with people from all sorts of different backgrounds who managed to become some of the most successful entrepreneurs has confirmed that so far. Entrepreneurship is not only for the brave – if you are here reading this article thinking what it would be like to start your own business, then you are already there.
Here are 10 signs that you probably need to start your own business: 1. You are not too happy at work If you are sick of that 9-5 job stuck in the office, or you’ve become fed up and are looking for a new challenge, or you simply cannot find a job that is fulfilling enough, then you have to try something new. Most people would just apply for another job in a similar field (and likely end up feeling the same). My suggestion is to truly explore all your options and always keep in mind that there is an extra one, often overlooked – that of becoming your own boss. 2. You want to be more flexible Do you dislike your office environment? Would you prefer working from the comfort of your own home? Are you in full-time employment or a parent and are looking for an additional income? Being an entrepreneur is all about being in control, making your own decisions and being flexible to work on your terms. 3. You enjoy learning Starting your own business requires quite a diverse skill set. Not everything will be about the product you are trying to sell anymore – you also need to be a good leader, a strong communicator, a networker, a decision maker and so on. No need to panic if you are not a natural talent in all these areas, most people aren’t – I definitely wasn’t. What you do need to have, however, is the willingness to learn new things. Becoming a business owner can be one of the few professions that require you to constantly acquire new skills and knowledge - which is quite the exciting journey! 4. You are passionate One thing that is common among all business owners is that they are visionary people with a passion for making their dreams come true and sharing them with other people. If you find there is a particular product or idea that you find inspiring or a vision you would love to pursue, then it is worth considering taking it to the next level. 5. You like helping people Once again, I can speak from experience here and say that when I first decided to start my own business I had a strong desire to help other business owners – and still do. If you are genuinely interested in helping other people and believe you can find a creative way to do so, perhaps it is time to launch that business. 6. You are creative Creative people often feel restricted working for someone else. Setting up your own business is one of the best ways to share your original ideas and express your thoughts. Don’t let your creativity be filtered – be yourself! 7. You want to set your own schedule Not everyone is made to work from 9 to 5 (not everyone is made to work in general, but that’s another story!). Different people can have different ‘productive hours’. If you are one of these people who wish they had a different schedule, perhaps it is worth considering starting your own company. Being an entrepreneur means you get to decide which days and times you work, and when you get to have a break or a holiday. 8. You are looking for an additional income Are you perfectly happy with your current job, but feel like you’ve still got a lot of free time in your hands? Have you always wanted to start your own thing on the side? Starting a business can be a lot of work, but not always. The good thing about being your own boss is that you decide how much time you are going to invest and when you are going to invest it. If you like the idea of having your own business, but want to take it slow then by all means do – there are numerous examples of successful businesses which did not grow overnight. 9. You are motivated People who are naturally self-motivated to get things done tend to be successful entrepreneurs. If you are one of those people, I would definitely recommend you consider entrepreneurship. If not, don’t be discouraged – it just means that you could use a mentor. Find someone that can push you to do the right thing and keep you motivated throughout the journey. That could be a friend, a family member or a business partner. 10. You want something more from life Do you ever wonder if what you do for a living is actually meaningful or if your actions have a positive impact to those around you? If you are interested in creating something meaningful and making a change in this world, then chances are you are ready to become a business owner. Building something of your own is a significant achievement – plus you will always have an interesting story to tell people!
Be aware that entrepreneurship can be a tough but rewarding road. Ultimately, the most important piece of advice is to simply follow your heart and start trusting yourself. At some point, undoubtedly, you will get discouraged. Remember not to give up. Enjoy the journey, and good luck!
My team and I strongly believe that anyone can start their own business. This belief is one of our core values and one of the reasons that made us start our company in the first place. Our experience of working with people from all sorts of different backgrounds who managed to become some of the most successful entrepreneurs has confirmed that so far. Entrepreneurship is not only for the brave – if you are here reading this article thinking what it would be like to start your own business, then you are already there.
Here are 10 signs that you probably need to start your own business: 1. You are not too happy at work If you are sick of that 9-5 job stuck in the office, or you’ve become fed up and are looking for a new challenge, or you simply cannot find a job that is fulfilling enough, then you have to try something new. Most people would just apply for another job in a similar field (and likely end up feeling the same). My suggestion is to truly explore all your options and always keep in mind that there is an extra one, often overlooked – that of becoming your own boss. 2. You want to be more flexible Do you dislike your office environment? Would you prefer working from the comfort of your own home? Are you in full-time employment or a parent and are looking for an additional income? Being an entrepreneur is all about being in control, making your own decisions and being flexible to work on your terms. 3. You enjoy learning Starting your own business requires quite a diverse skill set. Not everything will be about the product you are trying to sell anymore – you also need to be a good leader, a strong communicator, a networker, a decision maker and so on. No need to panic if you are not a natural talent in all these areas, most people aren’t – I definitely wasn’t. What you do need to have, however, is the willingness to learn new things. Becoming a business owner can be one of the few professions that require you to constantly acquire new skills and knowledge - which is quite the exciting journey! 4. You are passionate One thing that is common among all business owners is that they are visionary people with a passion for making their dreams come true and sharing them with other people. If you find there is a particular product or idea that you find inspiring or a vision you would love to pursue, then it is worth considering taking it to the next level. 5. You like helping people Once again, I can speak from experience here and say that when I first decided to start my own business I had a strong desire to help other business owners – and still do. If you are genuinely interested in helping other people and believe you can find a creative way to do so, perhaps it is time to launch that business. 6. You are creative Creative people often feel restricted working for someone else. Setting up your own business is one of the best ways to share your original ideas and express your thoughts. Don’t let your creativity be filtered – be yourself! 7. You want to set your own schedule Not everyone is made to work from 9 to 5 (not everyone is made to work in general, but that’s another story!). Different people can have different ‘productive hours’. If you are one of these people who wish they had a different schedule, perhaps it is worth considering starting your own company. Being an entrepreneur means you get to decide which days and times you work, and when you get to have a break or a holiday. 8. You are looking for an additional income Are you perfectly happy with your current job, but feel like you’ve still got a lot of free time in your hands? Have you always wanted to start your own thing on the side? Starting a business can be a lot of work, but not always. The good thing about being your own boss is that you decide how much time you are going to invest and when you are going to invest it. If you like the idea of having your own business, but want to take it slow then by all means do – there are numerous examples of successful businesses which did not grow overnight. 9. You are motivated People who are naturally self-motivated to get things done tend to be successful entrepreneurs. If you are one of those people, I would definitely recommend you consider entrepreneurship. If not, don’t be discouraged – it just means that you could use a mentor. Find someone that can push you to do the right thing and keep you motivated throughout the journey. That could be a friend, a family member or a business partner. 10. You want something more from life Do you ever wonder if what you do for a living is actually meaningful or if your actions have a positive impact to those around you? If you are interested in creating something meaningful and making a change in this world, then chances are you are ready to become a business owner. Building something of your own is a significant achievement – plus you will always have an interesting story to tell people!
Be aware that entrepreneurship can be a tough but rewarding road. Ultimately, the most important piece of advice is to simply follow your heart and start trusting yourself. At some point, undoubtedly, you will get discouraged. Remember not to give up. Enjoy the journey, and good luck!
Recent Posts

By Jamieson Lee Hill
•
March 5, 2026
Intelligent Call Handling That Converts Missed calls quietly drain revenue from small businesses every day. When Jamieson Lee Hill, founder of Blam Digital, interviewed CRM Developer and AI Automation Specialist Livingstone Kariuki at Blam HQ in Birmingham, the conversation focused on a simple but critical question: how do small businesses stop losing opportunities simply because they cannot answer the phone? Blam’s AI answering service for small businesses has been built to solve that exact problem. Designed in Birmingham, UK, and delivered through a network of 300 partner agencies across 10 countries , the system is engineered to move inbound calls toward meaningful outcomes rather than trapping callers in frustrating loops or dead ends. For businesses searching for a reliable AI phone answering service UK solution with international scalability, the model combines structured automation with human oversight. This is not a replacement for human service. It is a structured, intelligent call progression that protects revenue and improves operational efficiency.

February 24, 2026
Systems-Led Leadership at Blam Digital Grant Stain is the Founder and CEO of Blam Digital, established in 2015. His leadership approach is defined by long-term thinking, structured systems, and a deliberate focus on building agencies that remain stable through market shifts, technology change, and economic cycles. Rather than chasing fast growth or short-term tactics, Grant built Blam Digital as an infrastructure-first business. The intention was clear from the beginning: give agency owners a repeatable framework they can rely on, instead of forcing them to constantly reinvent services, pricing, and delivery. That approach now supports more than 300 partner agencies operating across 10 countries.

February 9, 2026
Serving SMEs, Schools, Councils, Sports Clubs If you run a school, local authority, SME, sports club, or charity, you do not need a clever website. You need a website that produces action. Enquiries, applications, bookings, donations, registrations, or the correct contact route. That is what AI websites that convert are built to deliver.Blam Digital delivers AI websites that convert through a certified partner network. AI is used to improve speed and insight, while human specialists handle strategy, structure, SEO, accessibility, and quality control. This ensures performance improves without increasing risk.

February 2, 2026
How Broken Digital Systems Kill Enquiries If your website is not generating enquiries, you are not imagining it. Many owners and decision-makers sense something is wrong long before they can explain why. The site looks fine. Traffic exists. Marketing activity is happening. But enquiries, orders, or meaningful actions remain weak or inconsistent. This article explains why websites fail to convert visitors into enquiries, what is usually broken underneath, and how organisations fix it without rebuilding everything. Blam Digital works with SMEs and organisations, including schools, sports clubs, charities, and local authorities, and sees the same structural problems repeatedly.

October 27, 2024
One topic that often comes up in my coaching sessions with budding entrepreneurs is imposter syndrome. It’s that feeling of not being “credible” enough or worrying that we might not truly deserve the roles we’ve claimed in our businesses. Often, this isn’t something people willingly share; rather, it’s a subject that usually needs to be coaxed out of them. Imposter syndrome is essentially the fear that we don’t know enough, aren’t authoritative, or simply aren’t “good enough” to do what we say we’re doing. I see this challenge all the time within the Blam Partnership Programme. For many people, joining Blam means diving into a whole new world of digital marketing. They become certified marketers within a few weeks, learning new knowledge and skills at a rapid pace. But because they’re just starting out, they lack the hands-on experience behind that knowledge, and that’s often when the imposter syndrome kicks in. Facing Imposter Syndrome Head-On When new Blam partners step out to meet potential clients, they might feel like they’re on shaky ground. Speaking to established business owners and advising them on their digital marketing is no small feat, especially if you’re just starting your own entrepreneurial journey. But here’s the key insight I always share: the process, the training, and the systems we use at Blam give them knowledge that, while fresh to them, is immensely valuable to the businesses they’re serving. The beauty of the Blam model is that once a Partner makes a sale, they can rely on a whole team of experts to deliver what’s been promised. This support system is there to back them up, and it allows Blam Partners to lean on their new knowledge with confidence, knowing there’s a skilled team to fulfill their commitments. Imposter Syndrome Never Truly Disappears The truth is, imposter syndrome doesn’t just vanish after the initial stages of business. It can resurface at any time, often when you’re about to tackle something new. I know this from experience because I still face it, even after years of building and coaching businesses. In fact, right now, I’m about to launch a YouTube channel to reach even more budding entrepreneurs, providing case studies, interviews, and entrepreneurial advice. And, yes, despite everything, there’s still that nagging question: Why would people want to listen to me? If I’m honest, it took me years to feel comfortable in front of the camera, and even longer to recognise that being the face of a brand can help you connect with the audience you’re aiming to support. Putting yourself out there can be challenging, especially when you’re committed to providing real value. Reframing Imposter Syndrome Imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you lack knowledge or expertise. For my part, when I look back at my journey, I’ve coached hundreds of entrepreneurs, built seven-figure businesses, and, yes, had some failures. But those experiences form the foundation of my expertise, even if I sometimes feel like “little old me” isn’t the obvious choice to give advice. The takeaway is this: If you experience imposter syndrome, you’re in good company. I’d even argue that if we didn’t experience it, we might become arrogant, and that’s certainly not an endearing or effective way to connect with others. Embrace that inner doubt, but don’t let it hold you back. Instead, lean on the facts. Recognise the tools, training, and knowledge at your fingertips. In most instances, if you’re genuine and straightforward with your clients, you’ve got everything you need to deliver. Moving Forward with Confidence If you’re an entrepreneur dealing with imposter syndrome, remember that feeling unsure is part of the journey. Everyone feels it, it’s not a sign that you’re incapable, but rather that you’re pushing yourself to grow. Embrace that vulnerability, lean on the support systems you have in place, and trust in the value you bring to your clients. If you’d like to know more about the Blam Partnership Programme, check out the links below. And keep an eye out for my upcoming podcast, where I’ll dive deeper into topics like this and share more insights for those of you taking your first steps into the entrepreneurial world.



