7 signs you probably shouldn’t start up

Who hasn’t told themselves at least once (or twice) — “I’ve got a great idea and it’ll be worth millions. It’s time to launch my startup.”

That’s good and all, but launching a startup takes far more than a solid idea and a lofty goal. The hard truth is that some people probably shouldn’t become founders.

With every dream comes a reality. It’s not for the faint of heart, and while a healthy dose of delusion will get you through the excruciating pain of your first years as an entrepreneur, you do owe it to yourself to really understand what you’re about to get into. We hear the great success stories and watch the whirlwind humor of Silicon Valley on TV, but rarely talk about the failures.

Launching a startup takes far more than a solid idea and a lofty goal.

The statistics alone are revealing. The most recent reveals that about 9 out of 10 startups fail, and that’s a generous calculation (“not fail” has a broad meaning and can be interpreted in many ways. It doesn’t mean that the 1 out of 10 startups had successful exits or IPOs).

Sure, there may be incredible moments of success and accomplishment, but for most, the reality of success is slim or none. Becoming an entrepreneur and launching your own startup takes courage.

I’d go so far as to say it also requires a certain character and attitude, something that goes as deep as your DNA. If you don’t have it, the dream will quickly be shattered.

Here are 7 things to be cautious of before you go all-in

1. You’re perpetually stressed out

Some people are calm by nature, and some are stressed out all the time.

Yes, being a successful entrepreneur means you have to be alert and sharp, but it doesn’t mean a constant sense of tension. Planning and launching your startup entails many stressful situations, but to be an accomplished entrepreneur, you need to know how to control it. Making decisions and functioning under constant pressure will cause you to make mistakes and eventually fail.

The stakes only get higher when you’re tasked with easing a team into it. Your first 10 employees will develop and carry your company culture to your next 100, and if that culture is riddled with anxiety and worry about the unknown, you simply won’t make it. That kind of mentality creates a toxic work environment, and the only time your team will feel relief is when you take a sick day.

2. You’re indecisive