For the typical startup founder, launching a new business tests the nerves in ways never expected. Finding that right combination of product, pricing, location and business model is difficult to do but necessary in order to succeed. If you’re a startup founder who is just getting your business organized and ready for launch, here are five rules of engagement you should adopt as they can help your business flourish and grow, making it a huge success.
Don’t Go It Alone – Take on a Partner
While your new business is being built because of your idea and dreams, the new businesses that make it past the first few months are those which have more than one person at the helm. When you work alongside another person, you will work harder at reaching your goals because you won’t want to disappoint the other person. Plus, having another person on board in a leadership position will make you hold yourself more accountable for your actions. Additionally, you will have someone by your side you can lean on when things get rough which will make getting through trying periods easier. When there are two people working toward the same goals, it’s much easier to find success quicker than it is when a business is run by just one person. A one-man operation will require the founder to handle a very wide array of daily tasks which all take time to complete. But when there’s two people in charge, the work gets completed faster to ensure quicker results and faster business success. It’s especially important to have an experienced and objective person on board if the business’ original founder is young and inexperienced. Having this type of partner would ensure that there is always someone to turn to for much-needed advice so the business stays on track and focused.
Expect Challenges and Be Ready to Deal With Them
You can expect challenges to come at you from all directions from your customers, staff to vendors. Instead of looking at a challenging situation as something very annoying that’s slowing you down, view it as something to conquer and overcome. For each challenge you face, before acting, think about the best way to approach it that will result in the outcome you want. While it’s not possible to find a quick fix for every challenge you face, it is possible to overcome challenges quickly if you think through all the possible solutions before acting. Otherwise, you may end up spinning your wheels as you attempt to quickly overcome challenging situations. By using your good sense, knowledge and experience, you should be able to deal with every curve ball thrown your way. For those challenges you cannot overcome yourself, ask for help from experts who’ve ‘been there, done that’.
Trust Your Team
The people you’ve chosen to surround yourself with should already be people you trust. But is that trust level sufficient enough for you to feel strongly that they have the best interests of your business in mind? When you fully trust your team to make the right decisions about your business when you’re not around, things will run smoothly and efficiently. Of course, you need to keep on top of things by knowing how your staff is dealing with different situations in your absence so hold regular meetings to make sure you’re always in the know.
Summary:
Every new startup owner faces challenges and problems they never expected, regardless of how prepared they think they are. In order for your new business to succeed you have to find the right combination of product, pricing, location and business model. You also have to be prepared for all the roadblocks you’re sure to face along the way as no business is immune from problems. Being well-prepared is key to your success as is arming yourself with the right people and tools designed to help your business grow and prosper.
By incorporating a few basic rules of engagement into your business planning, you can enjoy business growth without having to worry about falling flat on your face because you simply weren’t prepared. Far too many startups fail early on simply because the founders were ill-prepared for the many problems and pitfalls that came their way. Continue reading to find out more about how you can help avoid problems with your new business.
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