If you are considering starting a small business, then I applaud you. Small business is the back bone of any thriving country, especially our country. We need new companies to continually flourish and hire people and earn revenue. If you want to get into business, but do not know what kind of business, I can help you. If you are already in business, but need to develop new ideas, the principles are very similar. What we need to do is ask some hard questions first, then ask some creative questions next. The key to getting great answers is by asking some tough questions. Lets take a look at how to develop a business idea for you.
The first thing I would ask you is, "what are you passionate about? What do you love to do?" Nothing you think about is out of line as almost anything, if done right can be turned into a business. Even the love of being in business can be a business. If you are going to be successfu,l then we must find something you are going to love doing everyday. Let us not use statements like, "I don't care if I love it as I want to make big money." Let's not say, "I just want to be the boss, who cares if I love it!" I could go on and on but the key to just starting out in business is doing what you love - ALWAYS! Never just do it because it pays the bills.
The next thing we have to do is be real. What experience do you have that would help in running a business? This needs to be answered truthfully because whatever skills you do not have, we will either have to learn them or we will have to hire someone that has them. For instance, have you ever written or read a business plan? Do you know how to use spread sheets? Have you ever done accounting before or understand accounting? Do not let these scare you off, but we must be real as they will be needed in order to thrive in business. Some are immediate needs, and some are future needs, but they are needs none the less. Here is a basic list of what we need to determine:
Accounting skills
Understanding of the law - general
Employee laws
Business plan
Forming a corporation or other entity
Running the daily business-computer software
Creating systems
negotiating a lease
Creating a mission statement and living it
Advertising
This is just a general list of things you will need to know. Do you see why it is important to do something you love? If you do not love it, then the daily tasks needed will be very hard on you. Being the boss is cheap if you do it for the wrong reasons.
The next thing we need to do, is take what we love and start creating story boards or stories about them. Lets vision what the business will be like. What will we call it? How will we run it. Where will it be located? Nothing is silly about developing this. If you see it in your mind first, then you will do it easier in the real world. As an athlete, I did this all of the time. If you lack vision in business, then many things will be a struggle and you will work harder, not smarter. Again, do not let me scare you, but what we do not posses now, we will have to work on it and gain those skills in the future.
The last thing I want to talk about is this; Can you come to your new business evey day and be creative? Will you promise to never turn off your creativity? Will you work on your business and not in it? Will you promise to keep evolving as business evolves? If the answer is yes to these questions then you are on your way. If the answer is no to them, then you should consider keeping your job. I say that with a heavy heart as if you have come this far you are so close. The next step is described above. Take a big step forward and commit and once you do then let the creativity flow.
Once you are in business and you need to develop ideas, take a look above and repeat the steps. I would also suggest reading the book The Disney Way. this book is incredible as it taps into loving what you do and creating ideas. That is exactly what the Walt Disney Company is all about. Good luck and be creative
Thank you for posting these. I admire you for your wide knowledge about having a business.
Posted by: plumbing | August 05, 2011 at 06:57 PM