________________________
________________________
At this point, you’ve read plenty of articles telling you to write a business plan and seek funding. You’re well acquainted with the different types of business entities, your shelves are full of books on strategy and management, and you’ve done the marketing research. All of this nuts-and-bolts preparation is critical, but what about some of the more nuanced elements of running a business? The tips below can help you can succeed.
There are two different aspects to this particular piece of advice. If you’re still in a stage where you’re working for someone else, with a dream of entrepreneurship, try this thought exercise: how would you perform if you were already working for yourself? Taking this mindset in to work with you, reaching out and grabbing at opportunities instead of waiting for someone to offer them to you, can really jump-start your career and provide you with valuable skills while you’re still developing your entrepreneurial plans. If you’re already at the stage of starting your own enterprise, look at this as a reminder that ultimately you are in charge of your own success or failure. Yes, you need some luck and other factors to converge as well, but you can always control how you react to outside forces, and it’s in this reaction that the seeds of success lie. Own the decisions that you make.
If you’re a big-picture person, this advice may not be welcome. But because you are, as pointed out above, ultimately in charge, you need to be the small-picture person as well even if it doesn’t come naturally to you. An example is operating a fleet, which involves keeping on top of all compliance regulations at the local, state and federal level. If you are operating a government fleet in California, this includes smog and emissions testing. A guide on telematics can help you understand how this technology can aid you in doing smog checks more rapidly so that you can continue running with greater efficiency.
Even if you’re a one-person show, everyone needs support. Look to other entrepreneurs and leaders in the industry for useful information and advice. Look to your family and friends for personal support and tips for managing stressduring challenging times. Know when it’s time to delegate, even if that just means hiring a virtual assistant for a few hours each week. This can take some of the workload off you and allow you to refocus on the most important aspects of your business.
Patience isn’t just, as the saying goes, a virtue. It will also serve you well on the path to success. There’s a culture of always being on the go in the business world and even more so in entrepreneurial spaces, but there are times when slowing down to make sure you’re getting everything just right is much more valuable. In addition, be aware that some things just take time to come together. Summon resilience in the face of delays, adversity and setbacks.
