In order to answer this query I want you to think about what it is like to be a parent. No one is really ever fully equipped to parent a child. Sure, they can draw on their experience being a child and observing how they were raised, but I bet there are issues they never agreed with and would like to change in their role as a parent.

These parents may read books and attend seminars in order to gain a better feel for their role and the challenges they will face. In the end it is entirely likely these individuals will pick and chose what strategies they use in parenting their kids. They may add their own ideas and adapt some of the techniques they thought would work. Sometimes children’s temperaments demand an alteration in parenting style.

Owning an online business is not so very different from parenting. Lots of voices offering advice and services coupled with your own previous experience with business can lend to confusion and frustration.

I guess the core lesson in all of this is that owning a business is not always an exact science. You may find yourself abandoning ideas, adapting others and trying new things. This is natural. If business was a matter of a few simple steps, don’t you think more people would be doing it?

Don’t be afraid to move forward with a business idea simply because you don’t have every single answer. You should be committed to finding solutions to issues that come up, but that fact alone should never disqualify you from following your big idea.

All children were once babies – they required a lot of attention, yet struggled for independence, even when they weren’t ready for it. Expect your online business to be the same. There will be many things in the initial stages you will need to address. Changes will need to be made as your business struggles to find its independent identity. Your commitment will be crucial.

And just like your kids there will be multiple stages your business will go through that are uncharted waters for you personally. Be flexible enough to acknowledge the changes and intuitive enough to know when change is required or when staying the course remains the best alternative.

I think one of the most difficult things for business owners to understand is a formulaic approach to development of an entrepreneurial effort is not always possible. It may not even be advisable.

Yes, there are marketing experts that will place this development process on the same terms as assembling a bicycle (carefully follow steps A-F), but this cookie cutter approach does not address all the issues and can even bring up more questions.

Never be afraid to develop your business in on-the-job training mode. Raising a business is hard work, but it is also a privilege. What you learn can provide insight for other business developments and can make you a valuable asset as a mentor to someone else who is struggling with the birth of a business.