February 2023 Topic: If you could tell someone one thing to watch out for when starting a business, what would it be?
By Jill Vater with Jianna Studio Designs
“Clarity comes by way of careful thinking.” – Bonnie Christine
As a 15-year entrepreneur with more experience than I will bore you with here, I have a few tidbits of advice I would love to share with a new or up-and-coming entrepreneur. I would love to have had this advice back when I was starting out, and I hope it helps you on your small business journey.
Trust yourself over anyone else’s advice, including my own. Your journey is what led you to this point in your life, and only YOU can decide what’s right for you. That said, when the road to entrepreneurial success is paved with tidbits from those who have achieved what you desire to achieve, success is way faster! That is my wish for you: to get there quickly.
Write a business plan. If you’re not sure where to start, find someone who does and get them to help you. A business plan is a map that will guide you on a defined path. To know where you are going, you must have a way of getting there, and a map can help save time and money.
Set realistic goals. Be specific. Be as clear as possible to provide the structure that sets you up for success. Have three types of goals: realistic, stretch, and “impossible.” Set goals that are well defined and measurable, to include precise amounts of value so you can gauge your level of success.
Evaluate yourself and your business often. To remain relevant, you must keep your goals aligned with your career and your life.
Be time conscious. Always have a deadline. The human experience thrives on dates of when goals/projects need to be completed. If you leave yourself without a deadline, it will take you much longer to achieve a goal.
Be consistent. Take action on a daily basis. Try to do one thing every day to reach your goal and stay focused on your business. Recognize your comfort zones and do what it takes to step outside of it in order to think outside the box. Sometimes all you need is ten seconds of courage to get through whatever is holding you back.
Believe in Yourself. Have confidence in yourself and your self-worth. NEVER EVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR WORTH. Recognize your value. Understand what your strengths and weaknesses are and use them to your fullest potential.
Follow through with whatever you commit to doing. There’s a reason why Jim Rohn’s saying is so well known, “The fortune is in the follow-up.”
Adjust. You may need to take detours. Everything is not going to happen the way that you have it planned and know you are not alone on this Journey.
Stay positive. A good attitude can get you through some of the most challenging events in your life.
Partnerships matter. Have an accountability partner and a community to help support you and guide you through the rough obstacles you are likely to face. WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER!
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
