Many of us have the wrong idea of what is required to “do” business. The art of “doing” business implies a sense of action; a duty. These tasks typically place a vital claim on both your financial and human resources accumulated.
I have to be honest with you, one of my greatest concerns is when clients come to me with an idea and a stack of business cards. You see, there are some investments that are not so imperative early on in your business development. So many new business owners spend their entire budget on “looking” like a business that there are no remaining funds to actually “do” business.
For example, one of my clients is a licensed hair stylist and is looking to open her first salon. When she approached The Corporate Company about assisting her in building her vision, she had grand ideas about what her corporate letterhead and logo should look like but couldn’t answer some of the most basic and fundamental daily operational decisions. That is not uncommon.
My immediate advice to her was to direct her focus on some of the small areas like proper licensing and permits. What good will ever come of the letterhead if you are unable to ever even open your doors because you have not directed your resources to those areas that are instrumental to your ability of attaining the success you desire. Banks for many reasons no longer build their branding from small business corporate loans.
Many of these financial institutions can no longer absorb the many risks in part due to the level of unnecessary expenditures. Just last week, I received a call from a young man who we decided to help build his core business out of Los Angeles. I couldn’t quite understand the conversation with the high level of noise screaming from behind him through the phone. When I found a way in, I asked, “What’s all that noise behind you out there?” The young man replied that he was having granite counter tops installed in what was soon to be the new break room for his small computer supply business.
I wasted no time when I informed him that he was currently overseeing one of several projects that could very well be the downside of his dream. I make a point to inform all of my clients that your dream was to complete your plan and “do” business, not spend an exorbitant amount of money and time just look like one. One of the hardest and most costly things to do is to “look busy”.
Well, I never like to just beat you up with bad news, but allow me instead to share with you some applications that will further ensure your success.
Start Small: Don’t confuse that with the physical size and scope of your business, but rather challenge yourself to focus on the operational aspect of the day to day. One day at a time, then one week at a time. This keeps your objectivity on point and away from those things that will instead undermine your available resources with pet projects and beautification.
Start Out Organized: Put a solid plan together that keeps your business focused with laser beam precision. Make a list, just a small one for each area of your business that you think are essential. Don’t go any further down your list than 2 or 3 places or bullet points. Systematically, work your resources as well as your sweat equity around those key areas. It has been found that if you start out organized and spend some quality time each day on the maintenance of the organization (i.e. administrative, recordkeeping and etc.), your chances of success increase by nearly 30%. Time is money! Get your business moving
Start Efficiently: Don’t over complicate small tasks by placing details on them that keeps you from acting consistently each and every day. You should appear as if you are making the process work with great ease and little or no budget. This keeps your attention and focus on the expectations of your customers. Meeting their needs becomes more improbable each time you get lost in the weeds of the details.
Start: No matter what happens….START! Don’t get discouraged. As a rule, I make a point not to become involved in the day to day operations. Kick the fear to the side and Let’s Go.
Build your business on a dime. Spend your resources on actually the costs of doing business.
I have to be honest with you, one of my greatest concerns is when clients come to me with an idea and a stack of business cards. You see, there are some investments that are not so imperative early on in your business development. So many new business owners spend their entire budget on “looking” like a business that there are no remaining funds to actually “do” business.
For example, one of my clients is a licensed hair stylist and is looking to open her first salon. When she approached The Corporate Company about assisting her in building her vision, she had grand ideas about what her corporate letterhead and logo should look like but couldn’t answer some of the most basic and fundamental daily operational decisions. That is not uncommon.
My immediate advice to her was to direct her focus on some of the small areas like proper licensing and permits. What good will ever come of the letterhead if you are unable to ever even open your doors because you have not directed your resources to those areas that are instrumental to your ability of attaining the success you desire. Banks for many reasons no longer build their branding from small business corporate loans.
Many of these financial institutions can no longer absorb the many risks in part due to the level of unnecessary expenditures. Just last week, I received a call from a young man who we decided to help build his core business out of Los Angeles. I couldn’t quite understand the conversation with the high level of noise screaming from behind him through the phone. When I found a way in, I asked, “What’s all that noise behind you out there?” The young man replied that he was having granite counter tops installed in what was soon to be the new break room for his small computer supply business.
I wasted no time when I informed him that he was currently overseeing one of several projects that could very well be the downside of his dream. I make a point to inform all of my clients that your dream was to complete your plan and “do” business, not spend an exorbitant amount of money and time just look like one. One of the hardest and most costly things to do is to “look busy”.
Well, I never like to just beat you up with bad news, but allow me instead to share with you some applications that will further ensure your success.
Start Small: Don’t confuse that with the physical size and scope of your business, but rather challenge yourself to focus on the operational aspect of the day to day. One day at a time, then one week at a time. This keeps your objectivity on point and away from those things that will instead undermine your available resources with pet projects and beautification.
Start Out Organized: Put a solid plan together that keeps your business focused with laser beam precision. Make a list, just a small one for each area of your business that you think are essential. Don’t go any further down your list than 2 or 3 places or bullet points. Systematically, work your resources as well as your sweat equity around those key areas. It has been found that if you start out organized and spend some quality time each day on the maintenance of the organization (i.e. administrative, recordkeeping and etc.), your chances of success increase by nearly 30%. Time is money! Get your business moving
Start Efficiently: Don’t over complicate small tasks by placing details on them that keeps you from acting consistently each and every day. You should appear as if you are making the process work with great ease and little or no budget. This keeps your attention and focus on the expectations of your customers. Meeting their needs becomes more improbable each time you get lost in the weeds of the details.
Start: No matter what happens….START! Don’t get discouraged. As a rule, I make a point not to become involved in the day to day operations. Kick the fear to the side and Let’s Go.
Build your business on a dime. Spend your resources on actually the costs of doing business.
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