Sometimes I sit in my office and think, “when are people going to figure out that my company is just a big phony”.

The company doesn’t seem all that complicated. There are a handful of computers, some office furniture, phones and tables with some merchandise sitting on them. I made a Web site, but there’s nothing ground-breaking on it. It was put together with an old software program that hasn’t even been made for over eight years.

In my mind, a real business should be complex, with mid-level managers, phone book-sized policy manuals, and people with impressive sounding titles like, “senior vice president of executive risk assessment policy analysis”. Well, we don’t have any titles here, but everyone’s free to make one up if they want one. We don’t do policy manuals either.

So that’s what I mean by feeling like a phony. I once hired a guy who was finishing up his MBA, and was working on a business plan to start a batting cage company nearby. He was stunned when I told him that I really just started with a computer, a credit card and no business plan other than “buy low, sell high”.

I’m not bringing this up to brag. I’m bringing this up because it cuts through idea that a company can only run by extremely smart people who have lots of money and can’t be beaten in their industry. The truth is that most businesses are only an image. People maintain the image by staying organized, knowing just enough about an industry and having a little bit of marketing skill, but it’s still just an image.

What got me thinking about this was the news that an extension of unemployment benefits would be held up in Congress, along with news that jobs in America will return very slowly; maybe by late 2012. There are 5.6 million fewer jobs available now than there were 10 years ago.

Back in 1994, we had very strong employment growth, with 3.4 million non-farm jobs added. Well, even if 2010 was exactly like 1994, we’d still be short 2 million jobs, and there are a lot more people looking for those jobs.

Waiting on the unemployment rolls is not a long-term solution. Eventually, Congress will stop approving these monthly extensions, and a few million people will be dropped from the safety net. If you’re one of these faceless millions, it might be time to consider working for yourself.

Thinking about it is easy, but taking those first steps can be difficult. Fear is very, very powerful. Fear helps you lean on excuses like, “I don’t have the money to start one”, or “My industry is very difficult to start a business in”.

I talk to a lot of people about starting their own company, and most of them are excited about the idea, but fear prevents them from following up on those first steps. Business owners are just like you, but they’ve just learned to get past the fear.

You’re probably thinking at this point, “here goes Captain Weirdbeard again, on his sinking ship the U.S.S. Change-or-Die, telling me how to live my life.” I’m realistic about it though; probably only one or two readers might seriously consider starting your own business, but more of you will only take action when your situation becomes more desperate. I know; I’ve been there, and that’s what it took me to get past my fear.

Of course, there’s more to talk about than can be covered in a local newspaper column. There are plenty of books on how to start a small business, but it’s very tough to find a book that’s persuasive enough to help you with conquering fear.

For that, you’ll need the support of those who’ve succeeded in getting past fear. Green River College has a business development center to help, and if you’re seriously considering it, send me an e-mail. I’ll be your first cheerleader.