Being an entrepreneur in Brazil is never easy, but nobody ever said it would be this difficult. Every day brings new challenges, and we have to deal with various issues that are often beyond our control. The biggest example of this is the current economic crisis facing the country, which generates increased inflation and high interest rates, severely impacting different sectors and business models.
However, despite the adversities that may appear along the way, people do not give up trying. According to data from a survey conducted by Sebrae (Brazilian Service for Support to Micro and Small Businesses) based on data from the RFB (Brazilian Federal Revenue Service), Brazil registered 874,000 new micro-enterprises in 2024, representing a growth of 21% compared to 2023.
The truth is that this scenario shows an attempt to revive the Brazilian economy, focusing on the outsourcing of activities and the range of services offered today, whether by new companies or by entrepreneurs who work primarily alone, as is my case. Because even in the face of inevitable risk, entrepreneurship remains an alternative for generating income, but one that can cause fear and apprehension.
When I thought about my career, before deciding to become an entrepreneur, I considered elements that would cease to be certainties and also the uncertainties that would arise, and which I wouldn't know how to handle at the beginning of my professional journey as a specialist in OKR (Objectives and Key Results) management. Therefore, I listed my two biggest nightmares as an entrepreneur:
First nightmare: not having a salary deposited into my account.
I worked for years at a company, and like any employee providing their service, I was certain that my salary would be deposited into my account every month. However, when I decided to start my own business, I lost control over this. After all, it can happen that one month or another there are no clients, or more revenue one month and little the next, and so the money doesn't come in. In the beginning, I didn't know how I would react to this. Some people may get anxious, but it's necessary to trust the process and work hard to make it happen. It wasn't easy for me, but just bringing this to my attention has already helped me a lot in dealing with the issue.
Second nightmare: not being chosen.
Naturally, we know that we won't always be chosen in the quotation process. I know it can happen, but it's unsettling. "Wow, how could that be? I'm different, I'm better." We have to believe that about ourselves, right? So when a prospect doesn't choose me – which is rare – I always reflect on the criteria used and try to see the situation from the person's perspective, to perhaps try a different approach next time, evolving and improving more and more.
These are points I've had to deal with from the beginning, with varying degrees of awareness. Many other points may arise depending on the person and/or the context in which they find themselves. However, the most important thing is to actively engage in this exercise of becoming aware of what might hinder your process later on, or simply cause mood swings that could impact your family. The last thing an entrepreneur needs is to struggle with the inherent difficulties of working outside the home and then have to contend with others that arise at home in pursuit of this dream.
