May
The sad state of affairs in the current economy is now considered a fact, but if you let it sap the enthusiasm from your business, you’re going to have a hard time making it to the top. If you’re truly seeking the answers that’ll bring your company back from the dead, the first place you should seek knowledge is your own local startup community. Here are some of my own lessons I’ve learned that should help you out.
Change is ok
A lot of startups usually walk out the door with humble offerings that keep them going for a while before they decide to turn things up a notch. And if things aren’t going the way it was planned, it’s easy to close the doors and move on to a brighter future. Even if you run a traditional physical store, there’s a chance you can even use the same mindset. By trying out fresh ideas before you actually burn more calories on them, you’ll be flexible enough to keep up with the changing times of the economy.
Remain poor, smart, and hungry
It doesn’t matter if you’re a nimble 18-year-old student fresh out of high school or a 55-year-old corporate exile, new owners must go to the end of time to bring in their first customer and keep them happy. As you’re company continues to expand, it’s going to be a lot harder to give every customer special treatment like they had the first time they walked through your doors because you have much more on your plate and less time savoring each meal. Even if you’re happy with the work you have right now and all the repeat customers, never lose your drive. Always make time to go after new people, even it takes more time than usual, so that way you’re ready when things turn for the worst and you lose a couple of people here and there. You’re also gaining much needed experience to see how your industry is responding to the changing habits of your business—and how you can amp up your existing offers.
Results fuel your business
It doesn’t matter if you’re company’s website and a simple Facebook page is all you have when it comes to marketing power, they’re enough to give you just the right amount of feedback to keep you valuable in the customer’s mind. Always track your results using analytic software, so you can respond to the latest offerings and the way you marketed them. A lot of startups usually keep a close eye on such numbers, and stay with it to always improve upon the way you go about business.
Know your limits
I know it’s excruciating to say no to a very important project that’s going to take up precious time you’d rather spend with family and friends. But before you run out the office, think about the lasting impressions you’ll leave in the mind of clients if you fought through it. A lot of people will know the feeling of working weekends and they’ll probably even send more work your way in the long run—when things slow down, and you need any kind of work. Even though you don’t want to make all nighters routine, one or two a month can help boost your business past the rest.
Surround yourself with bright minds
If you take the time to talk to fellow startups about their people, they’ll hardly ever complain about the value of their team. Actually, you’ll probably hear them rave how they’re working with some of the smartest people around and how smooth everything is going. How can you go about gaining much needed help like that? You create a happy work environment. If you don’t believe you don’t have that setting in your own office setting, take a close look at what’s not working. Is it a place where even the best people at Google would work at? If you don’t even come close, then pay close attention to what the other guys are doing and how they attract the best in their field. It’s not just about the money, you know.
