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You have a great idea for a product or service that you know will make you the next multi-millionaire. Your family and friends either think you are brilliant or crazy. Perhaps you are not happy with your current employer or career and desire more control of your work and career. After all if you are like me, there is no better boss to work for than yourself. So how can you fail? Wrong question! The question you should be asking is how can I succeed?
It takes not only a great innovative idea, but a passion for success and an attitude to do whatever it takes to reach your goals. And planning, planning, planning.
You will wear many hats as the owner of your own business – innovator, inventor, marketer, sales, executive, financier, purchase agent, production manager, bookkeeper, office administrator, advertising manager, and the list goes on. Even if you are out-sourcing some of these functions you need to know if the people you hire are providing you with the information and services needed. This doesn’t mean you need to be an expert in all the areas needed for a successful business, just that you understand the basics of each. The more knowledge you accumulate, the more successful you will be. The president of a large corporation surrounds himself with a highly trusted group of advisors. But it is the president that hand picks these people based on the knowledge and experience he has accumulated within each area. You need to assume the same responsibilities for your business.
And if you think you will have more free time, well think again. There is no room for a 9-5 mentality in the start-up and growth of a new business. Long hours, working on weekends, holidays and nights are more the norm. And while you might not be servicing customers during these hours, you will certainly want to be taking care of all the non-direct tasks. And this is where the planning, planning, planning comes in. Plans to finance your business. Plans to market your business. Plans to grow your business. And following the planning are the tasks of putting the plans into action.
Almost every waking moment of your life should be filled with thoughts of how to move to the next stage of success. Conversations at breakfast or over the dinner table will center on the business. You never know when a breakthrough will arise and you need to take advantage of those thoughts when they pop up or you will forget and never get back to them. Carry a tape recorder or notebook around with you at all times. I keep one by my bedside as I sometimes wake in the middle of the night with a wonderful idea and I know from past experience if I don’t write it down then and there it won’t be around in the morning. If I am watching television a program or advertisement might inspire me to action so again a notebook is right there on my coffee table.
This all consuming attention to your new business doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy your personal life however. Do take what I call mini vacations. Times during the day to regroup, rest, spend time with your family. Take a walk, do a short stint of exercise, read a book for pleasure, play with your kids, plan a meal where no business is discussed, go for a drive, call up a friend. These activities will clear your mind and rest your body and you will return to your business tasks refreshed anew and you will be reminded that living a full life is not just about how much money you make, but also how you treat those you love and enjoy the pleasures we are meant to experience.
Starting a new business is hard and time-consuming work, but it also fun, exciting and fulfilling. If you have what it takes and are willing to put in the time and work, then welcome to the world of Entrepreneurship!