I can’t believe that my company Sandbox PM turns 1 year old tomorrow. I was told many things when I started my company including:
- This is THE WORST time to start a business!
- You are entering a very competitive market.
- Most startups fail
I am happy, no DELIGHTED to say that after 1 year my company is still going strong. While all of the statements above are true to an extent, I’d rather provide these top 25 tips for new and seasoned business owners!
Post your tips for new business owners in the comments below!
- Do what you love. Every day when you go into your office, workspace, to work, make sure you enjoy what you do. “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.” – unknown This isn’t just a motherhood statement, I know this to be absolutely 100% true! You can have it, if you want it!
- Know your target customer, your ideal customer. Do everything in your power to delight them!
- Surround yourself with supportive, positive, knowledgeable and passionate people. This includes mentors, coaches, friends, business partners, employees, customers, etc..
- When fear strikes, strike it back down. Call this your Fear Smack Down…where you win every single time! The good kind of fear is usually a beacon to tell you that you are on the right track. Fear-LESS. Feel the fear & do it anyways!
- Be selective and downright picky about who you work with. This includes employees, contractors, partners and yes, even customers.
- Follow your intuition and your gut…always…without fail.
- If it sounds too good to be true, I hate to burst your bubble but it is, it totally is.
- If you are unsure, ask questions until you are satisfied with the answers. If you still have that nagging feeling…go back to number 6.
- Be unafraid to walk away and be unafraid to say no. (see number 6 & 7)
- Do not concern yourself too much with what everyone else is doing in your space. This includes your competition. Do your best, highest quality work every day all the time and you will not fail.
- Beware of free offers of help. Free doesn’t imply quality or follow through. Sometimes it pays to pay to get the job done and done right.
- Get over yourself when it comes to getting help. If you want to grow and scale your business it is time to delegate. Unsure who to delegate to? See 3 and 5.
- Partnershipsare just like dating…get to know each other, test each other out with small projects and then see if the relationship is right for marriage. Oh and get a prenup!
- When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. This advice is not from me…I learned this from the fabulous Dr. Maya Angelou and experienced it firsthand.
- Celebrate your wins and learn from your losses. Everything is a learning experience…embrace it as such and grow. Begin a new day rejuvenated and ready to leverage your accomplishments and lessons learned.
- Leadershipmeans taking talented people with you on the journey, not leaving them behind or underneath. Oh, and it feels so much better!
- Love all, trust few. (this one comes from Danielle Laporte…sound advice)
- As a business owner you WILL have more flexibility, but rest assured you will work harder than you ever have in any traditional job in your life! The upside is…you will love every second!
- Hire slowly…fire quickly. This includes customers. There is no need to continue an unproductive relationship. End it with grace and understanding and move on.
- Invest in self care. Owning your own business gives you so many opportunities to run yourself ragged. If you are not at your best, you will not deliver your best. Make time for you to do something you love, to relax, to be pampered. The same thing applies to the people who work with you. Don’t run them ragged.
- Take vacations. Small ones. Big ones. Take them. Take yourself on a playdate or make a playdate with fellow entrepreneurs on a regular basis!
- If you choose to do work for free, be very clear under which conditions you are willing to do this. This typically involves a specific charitable organization, or cause. Beware of people or companies who ask for free work in exchange for fabulous exposure!
- If you find yourself negotiating price or deliverables, be very conscious, clear and firm about where you have flexibility. Do not under price yourself under any circumstances. On the same note…don’t spend time negotiating something that is already reasonable and appropriate. If this is how a customer is before they sign, think of how they will be after.
- Don’t let the turkeys get you down. This is wisdom from my mom. There will always be naysayers out there. Remember the Fear Beacon in #4? Naysayers and negative comments could also be put in the same category.
- Probably the most important. Appreciate, love and cherish your family, friends and supporters on your journey through entrepreneurship. If it all went down the tubes tomorrow, these are the people who would still be there. Don’t forget or lose sight of these amazing people in your life.
Feel free to share this great post with your crowd! I’ve made it super easy for you with these cut and paste shareables!
Feel the Fear and do it anyways – 1 of 25 amazing business tips from @avv for Entrepreneurs http://ow.ly/92fk4 #mentormondays
Leadership means taking talented people with you. – 1 of 25 incredible tips from @avv for Entrepreneurs #mentormondays http://ow.ly/92fk4
Be Prepared to be Inspired! – 25 tips from @avv for business owners! http://ow.ly/92fk4 #mentormondays
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Anastasia Valentine is an award-winning product strategist, CEO of a fabulous marketing and PR agency, speaker, published author and mother. She has over 20 years achieving amazing results in bringing ideas and products to market in the high-tech, music and retail industries.
She works directly with amazing solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, and small, medium and enterprise-class companies across the globe. Her approach combines her knowledge, skills and experience fueled with her drive, a little tenacity and a lot of moxie to launch and build businesses! Visit Anastasia at www.anastasia-valentine.com
