The idea of quitting your job to become an entrepreneur is so romantic. If you’ve previously indulged this fantasy, you’ve probably imagined that your new nine-to-five looks something like this: you’ll set up your MacBook (finally you get to use it!) at your favourite coffee shop (cue hippy indie music) and the clients just pour in. Best of all, you get to do all of this while wearing your best pair of jeans and Nike Air sneakers.

Sadly, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Entrepreneurship is harder than you could ever imagine. Just how hard, you ask? Picture the most stressful, trying challenge you can possibly imagine – and multiply that by ten.

I’ve heard so many friends and acquaintances say that they believe they’ll find their passion in entrepreneurship; or at least a sense of purpose and meaning. While that’s entirely possible, the truth is that you’ll have to search through dustbins to find it. And you’ll face a lot of rejection in the meantime.

That’s why I think it’s important to prepare yourself mentally before you make the leap from corporate to start-up – it is, after all, a monumental leap of faith.