Why is it that you want to start a small business? Money? Fame? Personal freedom? Ego gratification? Retirement income? Inability to get rehired or retrained? Discomfort with larger organizations? If someone were to ask you why you're going into business for yourself, what would you say?

Your next step is to focus on what you want from your business and to begin setting some goals. Here are a few of the more common reasons why people start small businesses:

• To make more money — some people feel that a corporate setting limits the money they can make, and they want the chance to make what they feel they deserve.
• To make money, period — some people have been downsized or rightsized or whatever it's called these days, and they want to replace their lost income.
• To achieve recognition — some people feel lost in a corporate setting, and they want the chance to play a bigger role in their chosen field.
• To pursue an idea — some people believe that their ideas are being ignored in a corporate setting or that their ideas are not being used in the right way, and they want the chance to do it the "right" way.
• To be your own boss — some people just don't like working for others, and they want the freedom to make their own decisions.
• To do something you like doing — some people feel trapped in a field they don't enjoy, and they want to chance to work in a field that they believe they'll enjoy.

If you're still a little uncertain about goals and what they might mean to you, you should take a look at:

• why goals are important
• how to quantify your goals

Short-term goals. You should also remember that while it's good to have long-term goals, such as getting the business off the ground and helping it grow, you also need to set short-term goals. Your short-term goals should be realistic and achievable. Some short-terms goals might be (1) to select a name for the business that you're happy with, (2) to obtain a business license, (3) to find a good small-business lawyer, or (4) to establish a business credit card account.

It'll be important psychologically in those chaotic first months to be able to feel that you're making some progress. Short-term goals can help you achieve those small but crucial victories.

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