Succeeding in business, no matter how big or small, isn't like rolling the dice or winning the lottery, it really in the end always comes down to a combination of talent, hard work, and the humility to always keep learning. Even for the most wildly successful companies of our time (the Apple's and Microsoft's of the world) while there was certainly an element of 'right place/right time' what allowed their businesses to succeed when so many others were competing in the space was largely due to the skills and abilities of their CEO's. As a small business owner, you're the CEO (and often, the only employee when you're starting out) so it's important to understand that no matter how good of an idea you have; how strong your business plan is; in the end, the success or failure of your business is going to fall squarely on your shoulders. With that in mind, here are a few quick insights for the budding entrepreneur.
Do What You Love or Love What You Do
That statement might sound a bit recursive, but what I’m getting at is that if you cannot, for one reason or another, do 'what you love' then you have to learn to love what you do. Countless studies have found that the affectivity and productivity of people doing what they love to do skyrocket and that should make perfect sense. Think about the subjects in school that you got the highest marks in; now think about your favorite subjects, are you seeing a correlation? Now, if you find yourself in the situation where you are stuck doing a job you don't love, your goal is to try and figure out how to love it.
Fail Harder
A giant mural comprised of over 100,000 thumbtacks sits in the lobby of the immensely successful advertising firm Wieden and Kennedy and greets guests with the somewhat cryptic phrase, "fail harder". If you start a business and never make a wrong move, hit a brick wall or feel like you're in over your head, then you're either oblivious or incomprehensibly lucky. Failure, in one form or another, is often the best way to win, and while some may say that you don't have to fail to learn, and I would tend to agree, chances are that over the course of your business, you will make at least one wrong move, or make the right move at the wrong time, and this is where you have an incredible opportunity to learn from the failure, make the necessary adjustments and keep pushing forward until you succeed.
Ultimately, no business startup will pan out the exact same way, but there are definitely trends that you can pick up on if you look at the successful (and even if you look at the unsuccessful) businesses out there. Learn as much as possible, put the knowledge into action and be sure to keep trying, even when it gets tough.
Mon, 04/2/2012 - 01:56 AM | viewed 422 times
In February, 2012, Facebook held its 'fMC Conference' which introduced upcoming features and changes to the site, including Timeline for Pages. All of these changes impact the way an entrepreneur or smb can best utilize their Facebook presence to increase traffic, interact with fans, and ultimately, convert these fans into customers. Here we'll take a closer look at the changes to Facebook, how you can use the new features to your advantage as part of your business plan, and some helpful tips on creating a successful Facebook promotion.
Sat, 03/10/2012 - 05:35 PM | viewed 492 times
In the initial stages of a business startup, most entrepreneurs recognize that they'll need the expertise of an accountant at various times, but few realize that they'll no doubt need the help of another professional, an attorney. Their logic would be that they don't plan on breaking the law or getting sued, so legal services aren't necessary. The truth is quite the contrary, however.
Sun, 03/4/2012 - 01:54 PM | viewed 531 times
Now that you've developed a great startup concept, and you're in the business plan development stage, the time has arrived to come up with the right name for your new endeavor. There are a number of differing theories on what makes a great business name, but one thing is certain, choosing the right name can play a big part in how your business is perceived by your customers, and it can make or break your image.
Sat, 03/3/2012 - 12:55 PM | viewed 411 times
On average, roughly 600,000 Americans start new businesses each year. If you're one of the millions more contemplating taking that giant step into business ownership, don't let fear of the unknown stop you. Some of the stumbling blocks for would-be entrepreneurs include indecision about the right kind of business, a fear of putting their money and time into a business that fails, or they may simply have no idea where to start. Generating an idea for a small business isn't always easy, but with some good advice and common sense, you can learn how to choose a viable concept.
Thu, 03/1/2012 - 12:16 PM | viewed 617 times
If you're a small business owner or an entrepreneur involved in your first startup, you're well aware of the impact that successful Facebook marketing can have on your bottom line. Finding your way through the maze of available apps and tools is time-consuming, tedious work. If you're on the hunt for the latest and greatest ways to reach a larger audience and build your business, check out our recommended Facebook tools and apps that are specifically geared toward taking full advantage of your fan page.
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