When it comes to starting your own business, we tend to see things through rose colored glasses. We think, “Hey, I have a product/service that people will love! This will be easy.” But like many of you reading this know, that’s not the case. Successful entrepreneurs don’t just wake up one day, turn on their computers and begin raking in the dough. Instead, they follow key concepts to not only succeed in the first-year start up, but continue to flourish for years to come. Here is an insight to what the top business professionals out there know;
1.) You Have to be Organized
I cannot stress how important this is. An organized work space is a profit making workplace. Clear the clutter, and develop a check list. There are numerous apps out there to help assist with this, my personal favorite is EverNote. Once you complete your daily to-do’s and see the progress made, you’ll begin to reap the benefits. Less stress= more success.
2.) Keep Detailed Records
Going with our previous concept, keeping detailed records allows you to stay on top of where your business is as far as progression goes, as well as informs you of potential challenges you could be facing. Knowing this allows you to create the necessary strategies to overcome obstacles that can make or break your business.
3.) Get to Know Your Competition
Competition breeds results. And knowing what they are offering your customers that you are not, will only benefit your business. Take a look at their reputation, read the reviews, and study their strategy. Odds are they are following the same outline I’ve provided my clients before.
4.) Understand Your Risks and Rewards
Calculating is the key to growing a successful business. A good question to ask yourself is, “What is the downside?” If you can answer this honestly, then you already know the worst case scenario, and can plan accordingly. Being prepared, and aware is crucial for staying ahead.
5.) Be Creative
Don’t feel pressure to follow the pack. Instead, listen to that voice inside that screams out with unique ideas. You want to become a recognized brand that stands out from the competition, not just another business card tossed in a bowl.
6.) Stay Focused
Anything worth value takes time to develop. And it couldn’t be more true than in business. Like we covered before, you’re not going to just open up shop and start generating revenue right away. It takes time to let customers know who you are, so set your mind on accomplishing short term goals, understanding that each time those are met, everything is in the process of coming together.
7.) Prepare to Make Sacrifices
Any entrepreneur will tell you that running a successful business is not without its drawbacks. Spending less time with family and friends is a given, especially in the first year. But you have to understand, and if you can get others to realize that this is something you have to do if you want to succeed. And once you do, then you will be able to have that life/work balance you started this process with in mind.
8.) Provide Great Service
This is a given. A basic, but often times something that goes overlooked when it comes to preparing your launch. What good is having the next best thing since sliced bread, if no one steps foot in the bakery because your customer service skills fail? Make it a point to treat each and every customer like they are family. Show them the same respect that you would your best friend. Make them feel like they are your number one priority, and the return of their business will be your reward. Business is all about relationships.
9.) Be Consistent
If anything else, consistency is the key component to creating a profitable business.
As you can see, these are pretty basic components. And yet they are often the most overlooked by start-ups. Take the time to go over, and to really emphasis in your business plan, and your road to entrepreneurship will be a much smoother one.