Entrepreneurship is often pitched as this far-off dream that requires lots of knowledge and years of study. I can’t blame business schools for emphasizing the value of their entrepreneurship programs – it is their business to teach as many students as possible. However, the reality is that we almost all had ancestors who were entrepreneurs and who ran their businesses without any real schooling, let alone a business degree. It just comes down to mindset.

Prior to the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, most people were farmers managing their own farms. Optimizing the resources at their disposal, these ancestors determined how to best maximize the yield of their land factoring in the available labour, equipment and livestock. Essentially, your ancestors were entrepreneurs. Later, as urbanization took hold and they moved to the cities, many opened up small shops or did subcontractor work for factories; continuing to be entrepreneurs.

All of these people became entrepreneurs with just the need to find a way to get by and support their families. This is the energy that you need to channel when you are considering starting your own business. Your ancestors were able to do it before you, so why shouldn’t you be able to do it too? For what it’s worth, you likely also have significantly more education than they did, and thanks to the Internet, you have access to a much larger market of potential customers.

In addition, you have access to remarkable treasuries of knowledge on the Internet and in your local library. In that regard, most libraries have a whole business section to help fill in any knowledge gaps that you might discover. This point is the real distinction between going to business school where you are learning many skills which you may not use and specifically seeking out the skills that you actually need to run your business. Check out the 8 Best Business Books of all Time for some recommendations on some of my favourite business books.

One of the greatest parts of entrepreneurship is that you learn while doing. In many ways, although it is important to have a business plan when you start out (see The Bankrolled (1-Page) Business Plan for inspiration), this plan will change and evolve as your business encounters new challenges and faces unforeseen events. This need to roll with the punches is exactly what your ancestors faced back in their time. Their biggest challenges were unpredictable weather and military conflict – two variables which you hopefully don’t have to worry about.

As entrepreneurship runs in your blood, don’t feel intimidated to start your own business. If your ancestors were able to do it, you can do it too!

People often set themselves lofty goals for their start-up which are an impediment to its success. Instead of shooting for the moon, set a more realistic target which is actually attainable. If you are devoting yourself full-time to your business, a solid starting goal is to have your business generate you an income for you equivalent to your current salary. If you are devoting yourself part-time to your business, start by aiming to make $5,000 to $10,000 in profit a year. Goals like these are surprisingly attainable.

In addition to the financial rewards, entrepreneurship is a key to taking greater control of your life. You no longer have someone lording over you who can put you out of a job at any moment. Rather, you are your own master.

So go walk towards the end of that diving board and take the plunge. Remember, you don’t have to quit your job to start a business. In many ways, it is easier to run your start-up as a side-hustle while keeping your day job as this takes the financial pressure off and it forces you to operate more efficiently due to your time constraints. The post No, you don’t have to Quit your Job to Start a Business discusses this at length.

There is no better time than the present to start your business journey. And like any other journey, it all begins with the first step. Best of luck!