At some stage, every successful business was simply an idea floating around in someone’s head.
Nothing more.
And then one day someone took that idea, wrapped it in an action plan, made some decisions, got off their butt and turned a theoretical concept into a practical, living, breathing reality.
Aaah the wonder of (business) creation.
Google… just an idea a couple of fellas had; kinda worked out okay for them.
Remember: It doesn’t matter how great your idea is, how ‘ready’ the market is for your product or service, or how much potential you have, if you don’t actually make the decision and take the action.
Ideas are a dime-a-dozen.
It’s good to have ideas… it’s great to do something with them.
There are millions of very smart, creative, talented would-be entrepeneurs who have been spinning their wheels for ten years because they never actually DO ANYTHING!
Talk a lot.
Theorise a lot.
Plan.
Research.
Talk more.
Wait a bit.
Write out pages and pages of notes.
Wait a bit more.
For ever.
And then jump up and down when someone else steals ‘their’ business idea.
Criminal.
I meet them regularly.
They tell me how I need to change my business.
I don’t want someone who’s never picked up a wrench or got grease on their hands telling me how to tune my car.
I have spoken to way too many people who are full of good business ideas and plans which never get acted upon.
The following article is a snapshot of what I’ve learned pioneering a business which was (at the time) the first of it’s kind in this country… some thoughts and ideas for anyone considering establishing and growing ANY type of business.
I’m not suggesting that you embrace all of my suggestions or principles but take a look and see what resonates within you. Some of what I’ve written may or may not be appropriate for your situation… or you may simply disagree; that’s okay too.
This list is by no means exhaustive but it might be a starting point for you.
1. Find what you love to do and make a business out of it. Simple, but too often, it doesn’t happen. The vast majority of people don’t love going to work each day. Tragic. If you’re passionate about what you do, you’re more likely to create a successful business, more likely to stay focused and more likely to remain healthy, happy and positive.. all good stuff.
Don’t tolerate work, celebrate it.
2. Be VERY careful about employing friends. It’s gonna get ugly. Very few friendships survive the new dynamic of the employer-employee relationship. Tears, tantrums and ruined relationships. Not always… but way too often.
Trust me.
3. Get the people stuff right… Too many business owners and bosses get everything right except the people stuff… and they fail. Your biggest challenge in business (unless you’re flying solo) will not be about marketing, business models, your competition or corporate logo.. it will be about egos, attitudes, personalities, opinions, emotions and politics – people. If you can’t communicate, listen, manage, lead, resolve conflict and laugh…. don’t employ people.
4. Consciously develop your business culture… “This is how we do things, these are the standards, this is what I expect, this is acceptable, this is the level of service we will deliver”… every time. Your staff and your customers must know and understand the culture of your business… a culture of exellence… of better… of different… of fun… of personal growth… of whatever you want it to be.
5. Be the leader people need. Whether or not you want to be a leader, once you become a business owner with employees… you’re the leader.
So lead!
Don’t be vague, indecisive and inconsistent… if you can’t lead, they won’t follow.
Make decisions… do the tough stuff.
Be a role model.
If you want a cool book to read on the subject, check out John C. Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. It rocks.
“A leader who has no followers… is merely going for a walk” – Johh C. Maxwell
6. Have a vision for your organization and get people to buy into that vision. Know exactly where you’re business is going… too many businesses are hit and miss. The old “let’s open the doors and see what happens”.. ain’t a great success strategy. Where will you be in 1, 2, 5 years.. and how will it happen?
7. Don’t tolerate people who are not on the same page as you. Too many businesses carry passengers. Staff who undermine you and the integrity of your business are like corporate cancer and need to be removed. People who don’t want to work… get rid of them too. If someone doesn’t consistently add value to your business, find someone who will.
DON’T compromise.
See ya.
Wouldn’t wanna be ya.
8. Ignore most of the ‘experts’. Most of them have never developed or maintained a successful business. A theoretical understanding of certain business principles doesn’t always translate into a practical success.
Find someone who’s done amazing things in the business world…. and follow them around until they put a restraining order on you.
9. Hang out with successful people. When we hang out with successful people our standards change and we begin to see, think, operate and decide.. differently.
They drag us up.
Success breeds success.
Find a mentor who’s genuinely interested in you and your business.
Successful, creative, dynamic, pro-active people are inspiring to be around.
And who can’t do with a bit of inspiration?
10. Create a great work environment. One of my priorities in my business strategy has always been to develop and nurture an environment that people love to be in. Over the years I have had people offer to work at Harper’s for free for extended periods of time, simply because they love the environment, the atmosphere and the culture (I don’t take them up on it). Make work a rewarding, fun, stimulating, and enjoyable place to be and (most) other things will fall in place.
11. Don’t be a sheep…. It’s smart to be aware of what others are doing but you’re never going to really succeed if you’re simply copying and replicating. Being an innovator is way better than being an immitator. It’s good to see what others are doing and to learn from them… but it’s great to invest your ideas, passion and creativity into your business.
12. Define professional success (for you). What do you really want to achieve through your career, business? How will you know when you’re successful? What are the markers(KPI’s)? It is money-based? Is it enjoyment-based? Is it lifestlye-based? Too many people understand what goal-setting is all about (on an intellectual level)… but don’t actually do it. What are your goals, hopes and expectations for the first 1, 2, 5 years of your business?
13. Don’t make it harder than it needs to be. As much as humanly possible cover all your bases BUT don’t over-complicate the process. I have watched business partnerships crumble because people couldn’t agree on even the smallest issues. Have a great product, create a good environment, know what people want, keep them happy.
14. Don’t avoid stuff. Don’t put things in the too-hard basket. You know this stuff; the stuff that will make the difference. People tend to do what they enjoy… rather than what needs to be done (same applys when we’re talking about people’s health). The little problem that goes un-addressed will turn into a massive headache in no time.
15. Plan. It’s great to be passionate, driven and optimistic, but our enthusiasm and emotion need to be wrapped in a smart business plan. See, I’m not against planning and research.. but I am against planning for ten years without actually doing anything!
16. Be proactive not reactive. Do what most people in business don’t; create, grow, develop, risk, lead, do … in the words of Ghandi “be the change”. Don’t wait until your business is dying a slow death before you make changes.
17. Don’t get lazy or complacent. If you have a propensity to be lazy, don’t go into business. Quite often people start their new business, experience a level of success and then get complacent / lazy / dis-interested / distracted. Being a work-aholic is a recipe for disaster (on many levels) but so is laziness.
18. Give people a reason to buy what you’re selling (and to continue to buy). In business we need something (positive) to differentiate our business or product from our competitors. An edge. The business types call this a USP; unique selling proposition. So many people (especially in the fitness industry) set up businesses which are virtually identical to twenty other businesses within a ten minute radius. And then they wonder why no-one walks through the door. Your USP might be something amazing like a unique product or service, or it might simply be that your business is the best at what you do.
19. It’s great to be philanthropic and generous… but it’s stupid to go broke in business. I have worked with some very noble, caring, community-minded, socially-conscious, generous people who have NO IDEA about creating a profitable business. They have a desire to create a business which ‘helps’ people… but often, the only person they don’t help, is themself. They feel guilty about making money. Many ‘nice’ people fail because they are too uncomfortable to deal with (some of) the realities of business. Don’t be afraid to charge. Don’t devalue yourself, or your product by undercharging.
20. When you talk to your accountant, lawyer, business advisor, computer guy, etc.. don’t automatically assume they are right or they know what’s best for your business. Question things. Challenge them. Take every opportunity to learn. Sometimes they don’t fully understand the nature of your industry or the culture, or needs, of your business. Listen to the advice, consider it, then you make a decision.
Tomorrow we’ll look at part two….
* Don’t forget my new kid’s book (The Angry Ant) is out now! Love this article? Sign up for my FREE Email Newsletter today to receive more articles like this, and get my FREE Ebook!
