February 2023 Topic: If you could tell someone one thing to watch out for when starting a business, what would it be?
By Katja Chen with Joy Through Choices
The most helpful advice I’ve been given when starting my own business was, “Don’t reinvent the wheel.”
Easier said than done, right?
We all have this desire to do it our own way, leave our mark, our unique footprint. We don’t want to copy anyone or represent the “been there, done that” category. Our business is meant to reflect us, our uniqueness, and our difference, right? So we spend a lot of time and money figuring out what sets us apart, how we want to do “our thing”… and we overlook a basic principle: Success leaves clues.
My mentor told me to find someone who has what I want and then do what they do. That does not mean regurgitating every word they say or adapting the way they talk, walk or dress. It means looking at how they structure their day. How they set priorities and balance their life. How they handle the mundane part of the business; the action steps and activities that generate revenue. Once comfortable with that, we can put our own “spin” on it and shape the way we do business, but only then.
With that, I repeat the advice I was given and the one I’ve shared many times in the past few years: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Follow a person who has what you want and do what they do. Success leaves clues.
Cheering you on!