Many things can happen when we enter the world of entrepreneurship, but it is up to you how to visualize and handle them. There are several ways to identify those aspects that do not work and generate effectiveness on it. Entrepreneurial ventures are fraught with missteps, mishaps, and mistakes. No matter how steeped you are in business-ownership experience, you are bound to run into problems at some point. The key to your success is to quickly identify your mistakes. Most business owners fall into the same traps. It’s those mistakes that could make the difference between owning a successful and viable small business or owning a money pit that could leave you in financial pain for years to come.
It is important to note that these and many other errors to be presented can be avoided when we incur in education, mentoring, and market or feasibility studies. Even a business plan is an effective and functional tool. So, what are the biggest mistakes owners make when starting and managing their small businesses? Here is our list!
The greatest mistake entrepreneurs make is to believe they can do it all by themselves. While an entrepreneur can do almost everything, they could do almost everything poorly. Just like any other person, an entrepreneur has one or two natural talents. As an entrepreneur, it is your job to identify those talents and focus on them to your fullest. Surround yourself with people who are strong where your talents are weakest. Great companies are built on the foundation of exploiting a few strengths, not on trying to be masters of everything.
The anonymous nature and grand size of the Internet allow people to share anything with anyone at any time. If your business tries to cover up a mistake, it is just a matter of time before word leaks, and you are labeled a liar. That’s not good for business. Be the one to break your own bad news, and you will be perceived as honest and trustworthy.
You never know where, when, or how a new prospect is going to hear of your business. If you have a mix of messages out there, the prospects will have an unclear expectation of what your business can offer. Your company must present a consistent, clear message on all fronts. You will never get a second chance to make a first impression. Make sure every new prospect who sees your business for the first time receives the same, consistent message.
Often, the first thing entrepreneurs resort to when business is tough is to try differentiating on price. Cheaper prices means more customers, right? Wrong! Most customers are willing to buy more expensive items because of the greater quality or the added convenience. During tough economic times, an increase in price, coupled with improvements in quality or convenience, can drive customers to your door. Price slashing is a dangerous game, which could lead to slashing employees or salaries to keep costs down.
There is a reason why employees leave high-paying corporate jobs to go to start-ups, and it’s not for the money. People are driven to serve an important purpose, in addition to getting a paycheck. Many businesses never define their real purpose for existence, and continually attract a mix of employees who are seeking success in different ways. Clarify your company’s purpose, beyond just making money, and you set the stage for attracting like-minded employees. A team focused on the same goal is a very powerful force.
If all business plans come true, being a billionaire would be nothing extraordinary. Many entrepreneurs go into new ventures planning astronomical returns. Yet most never even get the business off the ground. Unrealistic goals not only hurt your credibility but can also be an emotional drain. Set specific, measurable, accountable, realistic, and time-specific (or SMART) goals to ensure continual progress. If you do this, your chances of being an overnight success (in 15 to 20 years) are much greater!
Many entrepreneurs put their personal lives on hold to focus exclusively on their businesses. Ultimately, both suffer. There is no question your business needs your full attention and effort, but only in short spurts. Just like an elite athlete in training, you need to have a proper, healthy diet, get enough rest, and take breaks. Balance your personal and business life, and you will do better in both.
The success of your company is contingent on you being a strong, effective leader. This does not mean you need to be an authoritarian, but you also should not be everyone’s buddy. A great leader sets the course for the company, communicates it constantly, and inspires the team to get to the next level.
Even if you have the latest, greatest, never-been-done-before approach to something, don’t assume that you have no competition. Competition is more than just the direct, obvious competitors. Competition is also all the available alternatives. What else could the consumer do instead of using your product or service? Could they do nothing? The customer almost always has the option of walking away. That alone is a serious competitive threat.
Overnight success usually takes 15 to 20 years to achieve. If you go in expecting to be rich overnight, you may become discouraged early on and give up your dream prematurely. Know that success takes time, perseverance, and it takes hard work. Give your business the time to grow. Only if your company is stagnant for a long time should you take it as an indication that you need to try something new.
