“Sometimes it’s about going there, not getting there. Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.”

Drake

Some people think students are the business leaders of the future. IGNITE thinks they’re wrong.

We believe students are the business leaders of right now.

Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber have no shortage of game-changing student-run companies. From restaurants, to jewellers, to curated clothing shops, your peers are realizing the future of business every single day. And, if you’ve ever thought about joining them, there’s no better time than the present.

A foot on the gas pedal.

It’s normal to feel intimidated before taking the plunge into entrepreneurship. Putting your work out there is daunting, challenging and tiring – but it’s also so worth it.

So, to help you overcome the startup scaries, here are 20 thoughts almost everyone has when starting their own business:

1. “I can totally do this.”

Fortune 40 under 40 list, here I come.

2. “My business is gonna change the world.”

I mean, nobody’s ever done it like me before. This is exactly the innovation the world needs! I should turn my phone off silent so I won’t miss any calls from investors.

Waiting by the phone.

OMG, what should I wear when BlogTO features me?

3. “Should I prepare a pitch for Dragons’ Den?”

I hope Wes Hall makes an offer. But I’m open to anyone, TBH.

4. “Wow, OK, this is more work than I thought.”

Don’t get me wrong, I knew what I was signing up for. But, sheesh, I’d like one day off.

Spongebob Squarepants is tired.

5. “But I’m sure it will pay off in the end.”

Grind now, chill later. New life motto.

6. “AHH! My first order!”

Brace yourself; this is not a drill!!!

7. “Time to make this the coolest package ever.”

You only get one chance to make a first impression.

A package from a small business.

8. “Maybe I need a mentor.”

To my surprise, Google can’t answer everything.

9. “They really should teach networking in high school.”

It’s way more important than the Pythagorean Theorem.

10. “Is brand-building supposed to take this long?”

What’s a normal time frame? Three days? Six months? Nineteen years? Oh, no, shouldn’t I have been on the 40 under 40 by now?

Darius leonard checks his watch.

11. “Whoa – this is a lot of orders.”

But, make no mistake, I’m incredibly grateful for them. I can handle it…I think.

12. “Is it just me, or am I absolutely crushing it?”

That was a rhetorical question. I’m totally crushing it.

13. “I need some new ideas.“

If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind, right?

Winnie the Pooh thinking.

14. “Maybe I’m just not creative enough anymore.”

What happened to all my great ideas?

15. “I can’t keep up with this.”

How can you be your own CEO, sales team, marketing executive, social media manager, producer and delivery crew without burning out?

16. “Where did all those initial clients go?”

Did they hate shopping with me? Oh, no, did they hate me? Why don’t I have a loyal customer base by now?

Grandpa Steely from "Hey Arnold" says "Hello? Is anyone out there?"

17. “I’ll never make a name for my business.“

It feels like nobody cares.

18. “I should just give up.”

Maybe I’m not cut out for entrepreneurship.

19. “Hey, look, another order.”

It was only a matter of time, I guess.

20. “I can totally do this.”

Let's go

Starting your own business is full of ups and downs. Whatever stage you find yours at, IGNITE wants to help you grow. So, this summer, we’re showcasing student entrepreneurs in a new series called Hustle Mondays!

Hustle Mondays will take over 10,000 potential customers through a day in the life of your business with short, vlog-style videos posted to IGNITE’s IGTV. We’ll also purchase products from your company and conduct a giveaway among video commenters to expand your reach and reel in traffic.

In short, IGNITE provides the platform – all you have to do is shine.

If you’re interested in having your business spotlighted on Hustle Mondays, submit an application that tells us about you and the story behind your business. Please note, to be eligible for a feature, you must be a current student at Humber or UofGH or be a Humber or UofGH alumn of less than two years. Submissions are open from Tuesday, May 25 to Friday, June 4 and IGTV videos will be posted throughout July and August.

Remember, you thought right: you can totally do this.

Patrick Star says, "I'm rooting for you."

Take advantage of IGNITE’s Skills Bundle for expertise that’ll help your business succeed.

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