People have been catching on to the fact that getting a job with a big firm is no longer the key to stability and well-paying work in today’s world.
The single job career is practically dead, with even linchpins being jettisoned at the first sign of lower stock valuations.
Starting your own business is the better path to the good life these days – just get on the web, find an idea that people will fork over their cash for, and you are off and running.
John Bradberry Charlotte NC has past experience in business, and he has kept on top of recent developments, allowing him to provide sage advice to aspiring entrepreneurs in the past and present day.
Want to learn the factors behind successful startups? In the article below, we’ll share key tips every businessperson needs to keep in mind if they are looking to make it on their own.
1) Focus on one business only
A bad habit many entrepreneurs have is they entertain multiple business ideas, all while trying to get them off the ground at the same time. This stems from their uncertainty about which ones will pan out, but it is inherently flawed.
Since this approach diverts the founder’s attention in many different directions, it is tough for any of these initiatives to gain the escape velocity required to become a business that can run on its own.
Stop it with the juggling act: select one idea (blindfold yourself and choose if need be) and devote 100% of your mental resources to it.
This way, you’ll vastly increase your chances of long-term success, as you’ll have the capacity to solve the big problems that inevitably come up along the way.
2) Intensive research
Making money fast is the dream of any entrepreneur, but any venture that is strong is built through tedious work over months and years.
Yet, many business wannabes make the mistake jumping into a market segment, quickly finding where they think problems exist, and they get to work on a product without doing any real research first.
If you don’t understand the niche you are targeting, you will likely end up with a product that gets only a handful of sales.
The ready/fire/aim philosophy is often misapplied – take the time to intently research your field before committing significant time and money. If you do your homework, your chances of dominating will skyrocket.
3) A coherent business strategy
The death of the business plan has been exaggerated. It is a tempting illusion to believe in, as crowdfunding has made it possible for entrepreneurs to canvass ordinary people for funds before going to banks or angel investors.
Why should you bother with a business plan then? Because they make it easier to understand how your business works. They help by providing the info necessary to inform the decisions you make for your enterprise, thereby making the correct choices clearer.
A good business plan outlines what your company does, the demographics your marketing efforts target, what specific team members do, and expenses for every part of your operation.
While it may not be necessary to seek out traditional funding, the day may come when your ambitions outstrip what grassroots funding can enable.
With a solid business plan, VC’s, angel investors, and investment bankers will be more likely to give you the time of day, as they will be able to quantify the risks and rewards of investing in your enterprise.