Build Your Business from the Inside
The first business I helped get off the ground was a temporary employment agency. It was a great learning experience especially when it came to all the information that flowed in. The temps were all “great” administrative assistants. I was good at getting systems set up but the flow of paper and files became daunting, since I was not schooled in handling clutter. What a wake up call when I couldn’t put my hands on a very important document.
Our success in business comes down to the difference between managing our work or letting our work manage us. We have … Read More
Owning a business presents us with a constant barrage of decisions. What to do first? Who do I market to? What does the business need in order to expand? How much can I charge? Having struggled with these things myself as well as working with members in our Mind Masters groups on the same issues, it still comes down to the fact that the decisions still have to be made. But what always shows up is that there seems to be too many choices, which leads to indecisiveness.
What is it inside of people that makes them willing to risk everything they have to be in business? Is it to join the league of greats like Ford, Carnegie, Hearst, Jobs, Gates or just to have the freedom of being in a business of their own?
Having spent a good part of my early life shy and introverted, the idea of marketing myself was the biggest challenge I had to overcome. It meant I would have to overcome the fear of talking to people or risk not accomplishing my goals. Putting myself into first a monthly networking group and then a weekly executive group got me out of those uncomfortable feelings (small steps).
One of the biggest mistakes business owners make when developing their business plan is not understanding who the ideal client is. You simply can’t be everything to everyone. This is especially true when you start to brand yourself.