Establishing a new business is not an easy task. But in recent years, it has been made easier through simplified methods of acquiring resources. Banks, fintech startups and micro-finance institutions are among the key players in simplifying your access to the loans and capital required to start up a business.
There is, however, a downside. In entrepreneurship, the statistics on failed startups is the downside. So what makes one business successfully take off and the other fail miserably? Some say it’s just a wonderful stroke of luck. Others say it takes hard work. And if you don’t feel like finding a four leaf clover, here are a few tips from the experts.
Be Passionate
When you’re passionate about something, your mental attitude completely changes. Passion creates drive, determination and focus. When you’re passionate about a startup, ensuring that it is a success comes naturally. It’s important to fuel the passion you have for your dream by motivating yourself daily. This can be done by reading success stories of similar businesses and envisioning your desired end goal.
Invest in a Unique Idea
Every successful business was once an idea. The difference between a good idea and a bad one is the uniqueness. A unique idea that appeals to the masses or a specific niche of consumers is key. Most people think that if you do what has already been done and add a twist to it you will succeed, but the truth is this approach will put you in competition with businesses that have been in the game for years. A unique idea will put you in a new category in which you will be the pioneer and increase your chances of success.
Manage Finances Efficiently
Financial management is one of the most important skills of an entrepreneur. The intricate balance of spending and acquiring funds is crucial in keeping your startup to stay afloat. It’s better to approach investors rather than borrow capital to finance your new business. Maintain a controlling share of your business and ensure that you do not bite off more than you can chew. Be realistic in your financial goals and practice patience in your investment.
Network A Lot
Human beings are built as social creatures. The key to building a successful business is in peaking the interest and earning to trust people. The only way to achieve this is to engage them. Build on your social skills and ensure that you build a great network of professionals that you can learn from. Networking in some social circles also gives you a certain type of edge. Ensure that the social networks you engage in are beneficial and avoid wasting time on those that are irrelevant.
Manage Your Time
Productivity and effectiveness are all products of proper time management at startups. When you manage your time wisely, you ensure that you make the most out of every second you spend working on your business. You must learn to prioritize what matters and get through a check list of things to accomplish. When you follow this mantra of time management, you will begin to reap the benefits. Ensure that you don’t burn yourself out, and rest when you need to.
Execute Your Plan
When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Arranging your thoughts into a course of action and following it through to the end is very important. Have a plan in place for every day and have a plan B for every plan A. They say the difference between a good idea and a bad one is all in the execution and more often than not, the execution of an idea is always in the planning. If you get into the mentality of proper plan execution, you are sure to succeed.
Be Ready to Fail
Failure is the hardest lesson an entrepreneur learns in the field of business. It is inevitable that you will fail several times in certain ventures before you finally get it right. Move from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. Be like a chameleon, be ready to change your approach when the situation requires it. All successful business owners are a bunch of failures who never gave up. Keep trying and learning from startups whose outcome was not what was expected and change where necessary.