Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Building a Business

I often get asked about my "brand", meaning my business and the image I have created for my business/myself. Essentially, no matter the type of business, your business will always be a reflection of you. Because of that, it is very important to invest as much as possible (in money, time, and effort) into your business. I have a few very basic tips that might be helpful for those looking to build a business.

First and foremost, you have to really want it. That sounds cliche, but it's important. If you do not truly want the business, it will be much harder to put in the dedication needed for the business to succeed. I have known people who want a business just because they think it's the mature thing to do. They think if they don't "level up" they are somehow failing at life. That mentality, in my experience, is toxic. Without passion, it's just another job. And "just another job" is not something you make sacrifices for.


Second, have a great idea. This kind of goes hand and hand with the first tip. To truly have a successful business, it needs to be something that people are going to care about. Whether that is numerous movie reviews or low carb ice cream or an easy-to-follow financial planning system, if you truly care about it, and feel there is a need for it in the world, other people will likely agree.

Similarly, it's important to understand your customers. Knowing what your customers are looking for, what they expect, and what they don't want to see is vital to customer success. One way of knowing is that you relate to them, because they want the same things you want, but there are tools that can help, too, since as your business grows it will expend past your demographic and become more universal. Guided tour features allow you to create detailed, personalized onboarding tracks that guide your customers in a high-touch, yet scalable way.

Know your limits, but don't settle. It's important to have realistic expectations. If you have delicious of grandeur you can find yourself feeling like you're failing even when you are doing quite well. Your business will most likely not become an overnight sensation. It probably won't be the next Amazon or Apple, but it can change your life and even change the world. That's not to say don't strive for those things. Always be building towards more, just don't expect a miracle. It takes work.

And last but not least, never give up. Another cliche, but it's sometimes the simplest things that are the most important. You might have it easy. You might strike gold on your first swing, but it is more likely that you will fail at some point. That's life. That's business. The real success is in not letting that stop you. Passion, intelligence, hard work, dedication, ingenuity, creativity, empathy, these are the building blocks of any good business. The rest is just the drywall. Go forth and build.   

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