Being an entrepreneur in Brazil is never easy, but no one ever said it would be so difficult. Every passing day, new difficulties arise, and we have to deal with various issues, often beyond our control. The prime example of this is the current economic crisis situation the country is facing, leading to increased inflation and high interest rates, which can severely impact different sectors and business models.
However, despite the adversities that may arise along the way, people do not give up trying. According to data from a survey conducted by Sebrae (Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service) based on RFB (Brazilian Federal Revenue) data, Brazil registered 874 thousand new microenterprises in 2024, representing a 21% growth compared to 2023.
The truth is that this scenario shows an attempt to recover the Brazilian economy, focusing on outsourcing activities and the range of services offered today, whether by new companies or entrepreneurs working essentially alone, like myself. Because even with the inevitable risk, entrepreneurship remains an income-generating alternative that can cause fear and apprehension.
When I think about my career, before deciding to become an entrepreneur, I weighed elements that would no longer be certainties and the uncertainties that would emerge, which I would not know how to handle at the beginning of my professional journey as a specialist in management through OKRs – Objectives and Key Results. That’s why I listed my two biggest fears as an entrepreneur:
1st nightmare: not having a salary dripping into the account
I worked for years in a company, and like every employee providing their service, I was certain that the salary would drop into my account every month. However, when I decided to start my own business, I no longer had control over this matter. After all, it can happen that one month or another there are no clients, or more revenue in one month and less in another, and thus, the money doesn’t come in. At first, I didn’t know how I would react to this. Some people may get anxious, but it is necessary to trust the process and work hard to make it happen. It wasn’t easy for me, but just by bringing this to consciousness, it already helped me a lot to deal with the issue.
2nd nightmare: not being chosen
Naturally, we know that we will not always be chosen in the bidding process. I know it can happen, but it bothers me. Wow, how come? I am different, I am better. We have to find this within ourselves, don’t we? So when a prospect doesn’t choose me – which is a rare occurrence – I am always reflecting on what criteria were used and trying to see the situation from the person’s perspective, maybe trying a different approach next time, evolving and improving more and more.
These are points I had to deal with from the beginning, with greater or lesser awareness. Many other points may arise depending on the person and/or the context they are in. However, the most important thing is to actively exercise bringing to consciousness what may hinder your process later on, or simply cause mood changes that can impact your family. The last thing an entrepreneur needs is to struggle against the inherent difficulties of working outside the home and have to deal with others that arise inside the home because of pursuing this dream.
