When I embarked on the journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur, I was brimming with youthful reverie, ready to take the world by storm and sky-rocket to the top. Oh the follies of youth. As green as my ears might have been, I was convinced that with enough hard work and perseverance, anything was possible. The truth is, hard work will only get you so far. Beyond work, you also have to be willing to learn, work well with others, and make the most out of your time. So without further ado, here are the 3 things I wish I knew (and I mean, really knew, not just knew of) before starting my small business.
#1. Listen to people.
Being headstrong can be a good thing, but every now and again it’s a good idea to take a step back and see yourself from the outside looking in. Being able to evaluate yourself and your actions without bias is a very hard thing to do – but there is an easier way. Ask other people. By asking other people to evaluate what you do and what plans you have, you can save yourself from costly mistakes that drain your resources (-the most precious being time).
This is a 2 part exercise. You also have to listen. Be very aware of what’s being said to you (it may even be a good idea to record it so you can review it again later). I promise you that if you look hard enough and pay attention, you will find something of value in what others tell you. So listen to people. You don’t have to follow their advice, and you may want to keep some salt handy for flavor, but it pays off in the end.
#2. Don’t do it all.
Most business owners (the ones that make it, anyway) are highly resourceful, highly intelligent people that can do anything they set their minds to. The funny thing is, they don’t have to schlep it like the rest of us because they’ve found out the greatest resource of all – other people. The wise delegate. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. For instance, I can tell you exactly how a car works from the ignition switch to the exhaust pipe – but I still hire a mechanic to fix my vehicles when they inevitably break. Why? Besides the fact that I’ve turned wrenches and know how infuriating it is to try to maneuver in a space no bigger than a tin can – he’s better at it. My mechanic fixes cars day in and day out. When he wants marketing, he comes to me for the very same reason
This isn’t an action movie. You’re not John Wayne or Rambo, ready to take down hordes of enemies with a single pistol. You’re one person with a limited amount of energy – and an object multiplied by 1 is the same as when it started. Don’t do it all. Not because you can’t, but because it’s really kind of silly.
#3. Execution is everything.
There once was a man, that wrote in the sand, the answer to all of life’s problems. Though his problems were done, the tide only had one, and the tide was the only one to solve them.
The point is, execution is everything. There is no doubt in my mind that the best ideas have already been thought of. If those ideas were realities, this world would be a utopia by now. After all, we’re advanced enough to have nearly everything we want within moments: Want to talk to somebody? Bam, they’re on the phone. Hungry? Fast food, microwaves, and restaurants are ready when you are. Want to know what the name of that girl that plays