Starting a business can feel very daunting, but when you have a great team by your side, both in and out of the boardroom, it’s time to take that leap of faith–and make sure you’ve got the best support possible. We’ve collected some advice from women entrepreneurs before you start your business journey to make it a little easier. Read on!
- Ask yourself if this is really what you want to do. If not, then don’t do it.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help—either from friends or professionals who can provide guidance and support in key areas where you lack experience.
- Build a strong support system in the beginning, one that will take you far.
- Take your time to research your market carefully. Make sure it’s something you want to spend the rest of your life doing. Having said that, don’t make any decisions before you’ve investigated thoroughly—you’ll discover much more when you start looking at the market in depth.
- People are important—let others help out, to give them credit where credit is due.
- Don’t be afraid to try something different if it’s not working—it’s vital that you don’t give up on it too early.
- Take your time to get used to the idea that you will be your own boss. It’s hard at first, but don’t give up. Entrepreneurship is like running a business—you need to make sure you’re in the right shape.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed; this is an essential part of entrepreneurship. How can you fully know what it takes if you’re not asking?
- Be ready for mistakes along the way, but don’t let them scare you away. The sooner you realize that mistakes are inevitable, the easier they become—and ultimately it makes them less painful each time you fall on your face.
- Do not be afraid to raise money from friends and family, as long as they have skin in the game.
- Listen to your heart–if it’s telling you that something isn’t right for you, then listen to it. There is no point in going into business with a heart of stone.
- Have a plan, have a vision and have a strategy. Having said that, don’t be too prideful of your loving start–you’ll often need to accept offers of help from others if things aren’t going according to plan.
- Know your strengths and weaknesses. Your strengths may be something you can do alone, but your weaknesses will always make you vulnerable unless you know how to avoid them. Be prepared for the unknown to come at you like a wave, and be sure to ask for help if needed.
- Don’t be afraid to take risks–if starting a business is what you want, then don’t let it stop you from taking the first step.
- Know that others will give you advice–they can see what should or should not be your first move. Take time to think about their opinions and then make the right decision for yourself as an entrepreneur.
- Be sure to make time for yourself and your loved ones. Running a business is often a lonely endeavor, but it’s important to know when you need to take a step back.
- Start small, and then grow. It’s just like planting a flower: You plant the seeds in one location and then move them when they’re ready. It’s an easy process if you’re relaxed about moving the whole thing along with you—and this applies equally in business and life in general.
- Be persistent—never lose sight of the fact that you’ll need time to get everything up and running.
- Be flexible with your initial plans. The best entrepreneurs are able to think of new ways to get their business going. So, even if you have a good idea, don’t be afraid to change it up if needed.
- 20) Don’t be afraid to take on more than you can handle, just because you want everything perfect from the get-go—you’ll never learn anything that way!
- Always find ways of making money after money comes in—it’s better to have too much coming in than not enough.
- Never stop learning—this is the only way to make sure your business is successful for years.
- Don’t lose your head! Mentally, you need to be tough, but not too hard that you hurt others. And don’t forget that learning from others is a great way to stay on top of your game.
- Remember the people who have helped you out along the way.
- Make sure your business is right for you—not the other way around.
- Make sure to listen to all opinions from those around you, particularly those with experience in business areas where you lack knowledge. It’s important to make sure you know enough about not only your business area but other areas as well that will provide a solid base for your business going forward.
- Give yourself time to do things right—it’s vital you make sure things run smoothly and as easily as possible for yourself and your staff.
- Be prepared for failure. It’s okay; don’t let it scare you away.
- Enjoy the process, and don’t lose sight of why you started in the first place. It’s every entrepreneur’s dream that everything comes together, but it rarely happens that way. You must remember that you’re making a product or service—and your end goal is to make money off those products or services!
- Remember that success is never guaranteed–you’re always learning something new along the way, which will help to guide your future decisions in business.
- Don’t expect others to do your job. You’re the boss!
- Know that even if you succeed, there will always be someone that will want to take your customers away from you. Always be ready for it.
- Take advantage of opportunities when they arise, especially things you’re not used to doing. It’s okay to branch out and past boundaries when you considering doing so, but don’t do it just for the sake of doing so–make sure it’s a good business move for yourself and not a rash decision that can create a problem in the future.
The greatest entrepreneurs are those who take risks and succeed, so don’t let the fear of failure stop you from trying to make it happen!
When you build a business, you’re essentially building something that helps people. Take your time working on your business plan, your budgeting process, finding the right operators or sales staff…take all the time you need to know that what you’re doing is what YOU want to do.