4 Do’s and 4 Don’ts to Consider When Starting a Business!

There are thousands of blog articles out in the blogosphere that offer help and guides on how to succeed with a small business. The sheer numbers suggests that there is not one single fool proof way to go about things. Success with a small business or in self-employment can only be achieved through experience and listening to the experience of others. Here is a collection of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ I have taken from my experiences.

Don’t:

Bite off more than you can chew – Many people start out with such high ambition that they often find themselves drowning in a sea of unfinished work. The ambition to have an amazing business is an essential virtue to success but you must also know your limitations. Taking on more work than you can handle could mean that the rest of your business is neglected.

Do:

Be realistic – There is only so much one person can achieve and only so much work that can be done at any one time. Create a business plan and map out your progress as you make it. Building upon small achievements and taking work in stages means that no aspect of your business has been overshadowed by another. Also recording your progression is great for your drive and your self-esteem.

Don’t:

Take the easy route – The difficulty of starting a small business is that results don’t tend to be instant. This leads many to employ short cuts or to bend the rules a bit. To many starting out in business it may seem like the only way to create success is to take short cuts. Cheating your way to success is not achievable however, it may provide a temporary fix but in the long run it will begin to show in other areas.

Do:

Take the honest route – The best companies and the best people tend to make what they do look easy. The reality is that true success is always pre-ceded by lots of hard work. Having a clean and honest record is always attractive in the eyes of anyone looking to work with you or buy from you.

Don’t:

Try to lighten your load – Starting a small business is not a ticket for those who are employed by someone else to be able to decide when they wake up in the morning. Do not think that starting your own business will make life easier because it will not. You are not afforded the same leisure time that you are as an employed person. Your working hours will be doubled and work schedule very ad hoc, the one certainty you have is that your social life will take a turn for the worst.

Do:

Work like a mule – Success may seem hard to achieve but that is all for a very important reason. If there was nothing in the way, if true success in life was not hard to achieve then everyone would do it. When we really, really want something we go out and get it regardless of what stands in our way. If we don’t get what we want then it means we haven’t tried hard enough. Start your business because you know that’s what you want and then work, work, work like a mule until you achieve what you want from it.

Don’t:

Be without a buffer zone – Just like Poland was to the USSR in World War 2 we also need a buffer zone in place to protect us from unforeseen circumstances. Working for yourself means that you are now responsible for yourself when it comes to sickness and injury. You no longer are afforded the same job securities that you would find in place if you were employed by someone. Instead you need to provide those securities yourself.

Do:

Get proper coverage – It is so important to make sure there is a plan in place if anything should happen to you. Personal injury can come in many guises and some of these can be severely debilitating. If you have no securities and you suffer a severe personal injury then your business may go under and you would find it very difficult if not impossible to find a job elsewhere. Protection from personal injury is a must especially if you have a family and you are the breadwinner. Personal injury protection insurance covers all eventualities and more so your peace of mind.

Have a successful day!

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