Get Your New Business Off The Ground

Most successful businesses are not overnight successes. This knowledge can make starting a new business seem daunting since you are venturing into unknown territory. The risk of defeat is very real but it’s also important to remember that many success stories are born from failure. Staying motivated and organized could mean the difference between your small business making it and falling apart.

As Jeremy Bloom -- author of ‘Fueled by Failure: Dare to Fail. Dare to Succeed.’ and co-founder/CEO of Integrate -- expressed in Entrepreneur:

“Don’t be afraid to aim high. Google wasn’t built in a day, and you won't reach your primary goal in a short time, either”. 

When getting your new business off the ground, there are a few things you can do to ease the stress during this process.

First. Have a mentor. An adviser can provide invaluable insight and constructive pointers. Having someone with pertinent experience -- to act as a sounding board and help you discover which questions you should be asking -- is a great resource to have when building your business. You can find people within your own personal network as well as within your extended professional network. Is there a person outside your network whose work has impressed you? Utilize social media. If you notice this professional replies to direct tweets, try reaching out! Twitter is an easy way to catch the eye of even the busiest of entrepreneurs.

Second. Make a plan. Putting a plan in place is one of your tickets to success. Your idea could be fail-proof, but without a strategy this won’t matter. You should understand what makes you different from competitors, who your target audience is, and how you plan to reach those customers. Additionally, identifying long and short term goals are a great way to stay on track and will leave you feeling accomplished as you cross things off your list.

Third. Define individual objectives. If you aren’t pioneering this business endeavor entirely alone, identify the role of each person involved. Once roles are established make sure there is a clear understanding of expectations. You can hold your employees and yourself accountable by writing out tasks on a team white board and checking things off as you go along.

If you are a rising business less than a year old, consider becoming a part of BBB’s New Business Sponsor Program. This program offers you tools and knowledge for nurturing your new business.

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