YOU CAN'T GET LAZY WHEN YOU OWN A BUSINESS
Few Things Are Better Than Being Your Own Boss, but the Buck Stops With You. Here's How to Take Responsibility and Make Your Venture a Success.
By Jeanie Swisher
There is no greater thrill than to be at the helm of your own business. Your name on the door, respect in the community and being the master of your own fate. But being the "big boss" also carries with it a great deal of responsibility. Say "good-bye" to the forty-hour work week.
It began for me eighteen years ago. Being tossed out of country club management because of a four-month illness, I was flat on my back in a hospital bed with nowhere to go but "up." I wanted my own business. I could taste it. I knew I could sell country clubs, but could I sell my ideas to a customer? Today I have four successful businesses running smoothly. Here are some things I've learned that can help you be successful in business.
YOU CAN'T GET LAZY
Drinking coffee and eating donuts at the corner restaurant won't build your business. Going to work late and leaving early won't get the work done. It takes a consistent day-by-day, nose to the grindstone effort to make your business a success. You can't get lazy!
REALISTIC EVALUATIONS
In self-evaluation, shortcomings measure "equally" with our attributes. Good management of your business is knowing when to hire a professional for help. If you're not skilled in marketing, hire an expert to setup your business card and sales letters. Or, a part-time accountant may keep you out of hot water.
FIVE YEARS IS THE GOAL
Going into business is striking out in unknown waters. There is no one to compete with except you. Tracking this month against last month, this year against last year is the only way that you'll see your progress.
There is no business that is consistent every month. There will be very successful months and some not so successful months. Learning the patterns of your business is helpful in planning expenditures, time with the family and relieving stress. At one time I attempted to counteract a slow month of August with an expensive advertising campaign. It failed. It is hot in August and people want to get in the last vacation before school starts in September. Some trends you can't change.
BE THERE
If you advertise that you open at 10:00 a.m., then be there and open at 10:00 a.m. There is nothing more frustrating than to arrive at the dry cleaners at 7:10 on my way to work and find no one there when the sign states that they open at 7:00 a.m. To keep your customers, even if you are only open three days a week for three hours each day, BE THERE when you say you will be.
RESPECT SMALL ORDERS
Your business is like building a fire in the fireplace. First set fire to some newspapers and small sticks. Then put on some mid-size pieces of wood to give the fire a good start. Next, add a big log or two to keep it going. Some days those "little orders" will give you the "lunch money" that you didn't have. EVERY ORDER IS IMPORTANT.
ADVERTISING TOOLS
Using hard-to-read script fonts can make your sales letter or business card very difficult to read. The business world use Times New Roman because it is clear and easy to read. This is no place for filigree artwork. Bold, clear and balanced documents are the objective. Too much information on a business card is confusing to read. It will be a short journey into the trash can. You only have three seconds "maximum" to get a prospect's attention to your product.
BE HONEST
One time I ordered some reprint articles. When they arrived, several pages that were classified as "articles" were only a few sentences long. I returned them and asked for my money back as their guarantee stated I could do. I heard nothing from the company. This is not the way to be a success--give them their money back if they ask for it.
If you offer a guarantee, honor it. It's true that you may never do business with that company again, but "what goes around, comes around." I guarantee that companies which cheat their customers will not be around in five years.
GET BACK TO YOUR CUSTOMER ASAP
Return calls to customers "immediately" is not sooner. People who take time out of their busy schedules to contact you are "buyers." And if you don't get them, someone else will.
MAKING MONEY IS ONLY PART OF THE GOAL
The reward of having a successful business is not only monetary. The rewards also include going to bed a night exhausted from a long day of honest work that will cure insomnia and then waking up refreshed at the crack of dawn to face the next challenge. It's also being at the helm and feeling the wind in your face, knowing that "YOU are in control." An entrepreneur is someone who will work sixteen hours a day to avoid working eight hours a day for someone else.
And remember--IF YOU'RE NOT HAVING ANY FUN, YOU'RE IN THE WRONG BUSINESS.
RUSH $5.00 for Jeanie Swisher's latest tips on how to be a successful business owner. With more than 30 years of experience, Swisher will hand you gut level tips to start the year with a bang. Owning your own successful business can start with a few extra dollars to spare. Order the tips at:
Business Tips SPECTRUM PUBLISHERS 34 South High Street #1200 West Chester, PA 19382
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