A Small Business World - Reviewing Your Working Life
There are now more options than ever and the paradigm has been shifting in terms of how we define "work" or "career".
Many people go through much angst when weighing up the big decision - to take the plunge and start up a small business.
The fact of the matter is - it does not have to be a black and white decision.
Taking the plunge doesn't necessarily mean rolling the dice and risking everything.
The opportunity exists to strike a balance between what you are comfortable with in terms of a working environment (a routine) and branching out, trying new things, learning new skills and developing another business interest or career path.
Many employers today are more flexible in their approach - open to the concept of fewer working hours.
The bottom line is - you will probably be more productive with the hours that you do work because you will have rekindled energy thanks to your other new business interests.
We all know that the internet has opened up many opportunities in terms of career and business paths and the flexibility it provides in terms of a business framework is a huge advantage.
Your physical location is irrelevant and your potential customer base is global.
The key to all new ventures is to take a planned and focussed approach.
You may only be spending limited, pre-allocated time on your new business so that time has to be treated like gold.
Researching an intended market is paramount - as is tapping into the ocean of resource that is available to you.
Business Mentors, Business Networks and educational facilities are invaluable resources.
Always research the support people and groups you plan to engage with.
Ensure they are experienced and reputable - talk to those people and businesses which have benefited from their help.
Developing relationships with successful business people who are working in your market of interest is also beneficial.
Find people who have similar values and personality traits to you.
Don't believe that all successful business people are from the same mould.
Sure, there are certain personality attributes that are common, such as determination however it makes it much easier to emulate role models if you feel comfortable with the core values that they live by.
A really important point to consider relates to "sticking to your knitting".
Once you have decided on your new business venture, make sure you focus on your core competency - the key aspect of your business that will determine your success.
Outsourcing non-core competencies such as financial and IT can help save time - and in the long run, money.
It can be a false economy to take on all parts of your business single-handedly.
The money you save short term can be easily eaten up if you ultimately have to employ experts to fix mistakes due to wrong decisions or solutions being implemented early on.
To end on a positive note, many believe there has never been a better time to look at starting a small business.
Be planned and prepared, use the resources available to you and there is a good chance that a small business world could be your oyster.
Many people go through much angst when weighing up the big decision - to take the plunge and start up a small business.
The fact of the matter is - it does not have to be a black and white decision.
Taking the plunge doesn't necessarily mean rolling the dice and risking everything.
The opportunity exists to strike a balance between what you are comfortable with in terms of a working environment (a routine) and branching out, trying new things, learning new skills and developing another business interest or career path.
Many employers today are more flexible in their approach - open to the concept of fewer working hours.
The bottom line is - you will probably be more productive with the hours that you do work because you will have rekindled energy thanks to your other new business interests.
We all know that the internet has opened up many opportunities in terms of career and business paths and the flexibility it provides in terms of a business framework is a huge advantage.
Your physical location is irrelevant and your potential customer base is global.
The key to all new ventures is to take a planned and focussed approach.
You may only be spending limited, pre-allocated time on your new business so that time has to be treated like gold.
Researching an intended market is paramount - as is tapping into the ocean of resource that is available to you.
Business Mentors, Business Networks and educational facilities are invaluable resources.
Always research the support people and groups you plan to engage with.
Ensure they are experienced and reputable - talk to those people and businesses which have benefited from their help.
Developing relationships with successful business people who are working in your market of interest is also beneficial.
Find people who have similar values and personality traits to you.
Don't believe that all successful business people are from the same mould.
Sure, there are certain personality attributes that are common, such as determination however it makes it much easier to emulate role models if you feel comfortable with the core values that they live by.
A really important point to consider relates to "sticking to your knitting".
Once you have decided on your new business venture, make sure you focus on your core competency - the key aspect of your business that will determine your success.
Outsourcing non-core competencies such as financial and IT can help save time - and in the long run, money.
It can be a false economy to take on all parts of your business single-handedly.
The money you save short term can be easily eaten up if you ultimately have to employ experts to fix mistakes due to wrong decisions or solutions being implemented early on.
To end on a positive note, many believe there has never been a better time to look at starting a small business.
Be planned and prepared, use the resources available to you and there is a good chance that a small business world could be your oyster.
