Becoming self employed: the best decision for your career? It’s time to find out! Working for yourself is the dream for many. Set your own hours, decide your own salary, work where you want - the possibilities for more "freedom" in your life and work are pretty intoxicating to think about.
Owning your own business puts control into your hands, but it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. There are downsides to a self-employed future that you need to acknowledge: the ups and downs of income, rejection from potential clients, and watching the business go do someone else who's clearly not as good as you (it happens. BELIEVE ME!). Even when you’d love to do nothing more than quit your current job and register your own business, it’s worth it to apply the brakes and ask yourself some hard questions first.
A successful business needs to be profitable and sustainable. Said differently, it needs to make more money than it spends, and it needs to be something you can continue to do for a while. It needs to sustain itself without asking you to spend every moment of every day for the rest of your life working on it (even if that sounds like fun, it's not healthy!).
You need to be sure you’ve got a future in this work - and that it will sustain you in the lifestyle you want to live. Before you make the leap, consider this:
That sounds bad, right? And it can be, if something goes wrong. However, if you’re the only one liable, you’re the only one who needs to make a decision. Nothing and no one else comes into it, and your only consideration is what will be best for your career next.
For someone who’s tired of the daily grind, that’s probably the most attractive thing about working for yourself. It’s up to you, and even if you make a mistake, you’re still the only one who needs to weigh in. This actionable attitude is very healthy for your career.
Anyone who gets paid for doing a job makes their own money. But when you’re working for yourself, you get to decide your own salary. You price what you’re worth, you can charge for both service and time, and then you pay your own taxes on what you make.
This is a great level of control to have over your income. The reality, though is that it might take a while for the numbers to get to a point where you can live off of your business revenue entirely. And clients can say "no" to your rates... we saw a lot of that happening in the online world this year - did you see how many "Black Friday" offers there were priced under $100??? SO many!
So yes, you can name your wage, and you still have to do the work of attracting clients willing to pay it - and enough of them to keep you from going bankrupt.
Having the ability to choose which way to go, in your own time, is the greatest sense of freedom -and also a big responsibility.
If you're like many Fusion Creatives, it may feel like a ‘non-linear’ approach to your career, as Jonathan Martin, NFL, would say. He came out of the NFL and moved into the financial sector! Every choice moves you in a direction - either toward more of what you want or less. You can make as many decisions as you like to choose your own path, and there’s no ‘traditional’ career frame for you to have to follow.
On one hand, that's exciting - the world is your oyster! On the other, decision fatigue is real. You'll learn pretty quickly how exhausting it can be to be the one making all the decisions. But, you’re the one in charge and that means you've got to get good at making decisions (or hire someone that is!).
The more resources you have, the easier it is to stay in business. And PEOPLE (friends, networks, colleagues) are the best resource to have early in your business when money's tight and even BETTER when you're experiencing solid growth.
This might sound intimidating at first, but the more you network, the more confidence you’ll gain. You won’t have a problem with introducing yourself, or selling yourself in the space of 30 seconds, and it becomes easier to talk in public. You may never give a TEDx talk, but you'll be much more comfortable in front of an audience of your peers. This level of confidence is great for any job, but when the focus is on you, your business can reap the benefits.
Believe in yourself and your business idea. You need more passion and excitement for it than anyone else you know. Disney built his empire on a swamp because he believed so deeply in it coming to pass - even when others thought he was out of his gourd. If you don’t believe in you, why should anyone else?
Entrepreneurship is a challenge, and while it’s often a worthwhile one, you wouldn’t want to walk into it without doings some research and being aware of what it really takes to be successful. Job hunting may be challenging, but it's a heck of a lot easier than staring down the barrel of having to make payroll for multiple employees every couple of weeks. KNOW what you're getting yourself into - at least as well as you possibly can. Arm yourself with information, get help when you need it, and be willing to take the risks to be successful. That includes the biggest, riskiest endeavor of all: believing in yourself. If you've got the courage to do that, then entrepreneurship just might be good for you!
Credit: Pexels
Accidental entrepreneurship is more common than you might believe. So often, the creative entrepreneurs I talk with started their business out of a desire to move away from something else, and only after they'd seen some success "selling their stuff"... whether it was profitable or not.
Whether you want to create a clothing brand, become the next music sensation, or open a therapy school, in order to have a profitable, sustainable business doing what you love, you need to know how to build the business - in ways that work for how you're uniquely wired to work, as well as ways that work for your best customers. Most of the time those things are pretty similar, but not always identical.
Using this guide, you can understand the best ways to make your own business a hit.
So many creative entrepreneurs start businesses with little business knowledge, then they wonder why they are experiencing all kinds of issues. Trying to go it alone is a one-way ticket to stress, frustration, and a lot of trial and error.
One of the places I see most creatives trip up is worrying about the type of business to form. LLC? S-Corp? C-Corp? Sole proprietor? Non Profit?
While on some levels, this isn't nearly as important as, say, figuring out who your best buying audience is, it's still not something you want to try to do on your own. Even setting up a sole proprietorship, while easy, comes with risks that you should understand before committing to that type of business.
And if you want to start a non-profit here in the U.S., knowing how to start a 501(c)(3) is key if you want to avoid obstacles. Without the right support, you'll likely have a bundle of problems come tax time.
Don't be afraid to get piecemeal help if your budget doesn't allow you to keep professionals on retainer. Have an attorney review a contract, or hire an accountant or tax pro for an hour to explain the differences in start-up types. Arm yourself with enough clarity to help you make more confident business decisions.
To grow your business, new may be better, but WILD can be the best way to go. Out of the box approaches and innovators in the market face some uphill struggles in the beginning - Walt Disney built his playground in a swamp, for pity's sake! But once the idea takes hold, you'll be miles ahead of what any competitor could do to play catch up.
Being an entrepreneur requires a willingness to take risks anyway, so why not go after what you REALLY want to be doing? Your quirky thought could turn into something big and wonderful. You might manage to build an incredible business from a "silly", yet effective, idea! Be that brave person and start doing what feels right. Honor what you feel called to do with this one precious life of yours!
Some folks can create massive empires from a humble kitchen table start. But wherever you start, it needs to be a place that empowers you. Having a comfortable and functional workspace will help you stay focused. Filling that space with inspiration, motivation, and encouragement will keep you going even when things get hard - and they WILL get hard! That's business!
Your environment at home, at work, and even the folks you associate with all matter. Jim Rohn once said you're the average of the 5 people you hang around most. I don't entirely agree with that notion, but I do believe that you're a product of whatever nourishes you. If you're feeding your mind, body, and spirit things that empower, energize, and lift you up, you'll be farther ahead than folks who are stuck in demotivating and uninspiring situations.
If it's not feeding you, it's not helping you. Nourish your mind and spirit as much as you can. Create a "sanctuary" for your work, and do everything in your power to keep that space sacred to sustain you.
Bootstrapping isn't a badge of honor. Trust me, I've lived that lifestyle and it's stressful. Being "self made" is a myth anyway. Yes, watch your pennies, and be mindful of what's coming in and going out. Debt is a tool that's more like a scalpel than a hammer: it can cut you if you're not careful or knowledgeable in its use.
Oprah once told Queen Latifah to "always sign the checks" - meaning, if you're putting your name on the checks, you'll always know where the money is going, and be able to spot things that are amiss before they become a problem. But minding your pennies is only half the equation.
Sometimes wonderful, miraculous things DO happen - and we need to be open and willing to receive them. Yeah. I know that sounds a bit woo-woo for my tastes, too, but it's true. You just never know when that next client will pop in, or a new offer will arrive - out of the blue - to provide the financial blessing you've been looking for. Like that first point - sometimes just getting the right help at the right moment can be a godsend!
It may seem obvious, but Fusion Creatives are notorious for trying to do everything themselves and save the world in the process. Asking for help is our growing edge. Chaotic Creatives are good at the "trust the process" part, but often struggle with the "sign the checks" part. And Linear Creatives have the opposite strength.
Everyone can use a little help from time to time. Be willing to ask for and receive it. Create an environment that allows you to thrive as a creative entrepreneur and put your wild ideas to the test. Then, keep your eyes on the finances, and trust the process. You're doing the hard work, you're sharing your brilliance with your right audience. It's only a matter of time before success is yours!
The digital world continues to expand - particularly for business. The proliferation of new AI tools and other tech-related wizardry means a lot of new opportunities even as old-school methods start to fade.
I'm not going to debate the pros and cons of AI in the creative world here. Instead, I'm going to be the harbinger of doom in another way: cybersecurity. I know, it's not a sexy topic. It's pretty much soething no one wants to talk about - until something happens.
Research reveals that the US has already lost a whopping $10 billion to cybercrime. Although some breaches seem inevitable (if someone REALLY wants in, they'll probably find a way), you can actually protect yourself proactively with just a few smart moves - most of which aren't terribly expensive. Here are a few recommendations:
It seems like a small thing, but most attacks and hacks can be prevented if you keep your antivirus software up to date. I've used MalwareBytes for over a decade now because it catches things before they become a threat.
It’s more than just a security measure. Think of it as an essential step that keeps you poised to repel any cyber attackers attempting to breach your "digital fortress". With antivirus software, you’re not just safeguarding your business, but giving it the strength and resilience to navigate the vast digital landscape with confidence.
When our website went down in 2022, I was grateful that my host kept backups. But when our site ended up with malware that corrupted the backups, I was screwed. I hadn't kept a clean copy of the site for myself. I ended up going through tons of old content on the Internet Archive and re-posting content that had been corrupted. That's when I upgraded to monitored hosting so that I wouldn't need to worry about backups ever again.
Safeguarding your company’s data is a must to fend off the potential havoc of a cyberattack. Creating an uncorrupted backup (and updating it regularly) is your ace in the hole, shielding against the nightmare of stolen, lost, or corrupted data. Whether you're backing up to an external drive or the cloud (or both!), the golden rule for a fail-safe backup is to store those copies in a different place. This way, you’re not putting all your eggs in one digital basket. Establishing a robust backup plan is a smart move to ensure your data stays safe and your operations keep running uninterrupted.
As your business grows, it’s crucial to bring in professionals. Online threats are ever-evolving, and tackling them requires a specialized skill set and constant vigilance. Professional cybersecurity experts not only understand the latest trends in cyber threats but also possess the expertise to implement robust defense strategies. Hiring the right IT support is important, yet it can be pricy to just hire an on-call IT guy for your tech support needs. Outsourcing to Managed IT services like CMIT Solutions is a cost-effective way to fortify your digital defenses. With managed IT, someone else is monitoring the threats so that you don't have to!
When I bought my first domain name, I actually bought two. I was known back then as "Lisa M. Robbin" - long before my first marriage, I had a place in cyberspace. But it was common for folks to mis-spell my last name. So, I picked up lisamrobbin.com as well as lisamrobin.com
This step is arguably one of the smartest, cheapest ways to protect your business online. When someone else owns domains that are similar to your business, they can do ANYTHING they want with it - including drive traffic to a site that makes people THINK it's yours! Securing your digital turf by grabbing similar web domains is a savvy move to lower the risk of your customers, suppliers, or team falling for tricky links or emails from spoofed addresses. For a small business, purchasing similar domains can be a terrific investment in keeping your online space safe and sound. Plus, you know, people mis-spell things all the time. Make it easy for them to find YOU!
As your business grows, you can’t afford to overlook your cybersecurity. It’s crucial to safeguarding your data and preventing breaches. Applying these tips can help improve your cybersecurity, giving you the peace of mind to attend to other aspects of your business.
Live events can be challenging to launch, but they offer a ton of benefits. I've been hosting in-person events for years now. There's nothing more powerful to bring your audience together. It can also help you reach new people. And it’s almost always a proud moment for you to showcase what you’ve been working on with the people who need it most.
Whether you're launching a pop-up store, selling your new line of fashion accessories, or a meet and greet with your fans, or simply running a booth at a local trade show to put yourself out there and network with your local commercial sector, events can be very lucrative... when they're done well.
Done poorly? They can COST you big time - in more than just financial ways!
Here are a few things to consider before hosting your first big event:
It may sound obvious, but defining the full purpose of your event is the first step to success. Now, we’re not assuming you’d just run an event without even knowing why, but it’s very easy for a first milestone event to be so exciting that you try to spin every single plate and end up with too much on each one.
For this reason, being clear about a few basic objectives will be helpful. Perhaps you’re inviting some fashion bloggers and can admit members of the public to a small fashion show including a designer launch of your new product. There, you can plan a good three-hour event with an hour-long show, a meet and greet, and perhaps a book signing or question and answer session.
This way, you’ve planned your event to be as neat and streamlined as possible, packed with content, and will impose on your audience’s time as little as possible. That really does make a difference.
It’s important to budget and financially plan your event well. Look to the necessary expenses first, such as venue hire, security, bringing along a few staff in extra hours which may count as overtime, if you’ll have any catering or drinks on hand (and of course, the permits necessary to give this out, in some cases you’ll have to hire an event refreshments service), not to mention the logistics for bringing your products to the event space.
Certain niceties may be worthwhile to have but can be optional. For example, a professional photographer to cover the event can be great, as can a videographer who will help you learn more about your robust coverage options, even using drones for wider establishing shots you can use on your website.
Be diligent and strict with your financial planning, negotiate agreements, and have an extraneous budget you can use in the case of emergencies. Finally, insure the event to make certain you can pay for damages in the event of an emergency or unexpected outcome. It will protect your firm diligently.
An event planning timeline allows you to put the pieces together in order, correctly, and with plenty of time to spare. So for example, it’s hard to make other plans when you don’t know the dimensions of the venue you hope to hire, so that should be first on the agenda.
When you find it, you know the space you have to work with, the seating capacity for tickets or walk-ins, and how much security you might need to hire. You can also then plan how individuals will walk around your event space, and how much time, on average, they’ll spend at each display or attraction.
Giving yourself a period of months to put your event together will ensure you can book all the services you need, and potential backups, much earlier than you may have anticipated.
Marketing the event should take place well in advance. With the right preparation and notice to work with, you’ll be able to hype up the event, get smaller influencers or businesses in your local area on board, or simply put together visual materials to showcase what to expect.
That might involve showing sneak previews on your social media feed of the product you’ll be launching. An event page on your website can consolidate all of this marketing into an easy information resource, so those who become interested will see the explicit information and may be able to book a place or arrange their accommodation and parking in advance if traveling to see it.
You can also include your attendees in future marketing, as taking photographs of the speakers and guests and then having release forms signed from those in the image can make a massive and positive difference going forward.
Of course, it’s always pleasant to have speakers, presenters or those you believe could contribute to your event in a meaningful way. That might even involve hiring specific actors or demonstrators to show your product to the audience, or to split up your event into several rooms where attendees can walk through and see different exhibits.
You could even invite specialists in your industry to speak, or perhaps host a few talks based on your experience in the industry and the passion behind your brand. You may need to pay for guest speakers of course, but it’s a great method of connecting with experts in your field and local movers and shakers - also counting yourself among them. As such, it can be a great investment and also a fantastic justification for unveiling more content on your YouTube channel. As such, never have any shame in putting yourself out there like this, the worst your chosen speakers could say is no.
With this advice, you’re sure to implement effective methods of running your first business or influencer event. No matter what event you run, you’ll have perfected the foundations, and as you continue to do this, more wisdom and insight will grow.
No business is an island. Yes, this may be your big idea, and the thing that you’ve put your time, energy, and life savings into, but failing to build a strong team of support could stop you from getting where you want to go. After a business has seen a few healthy years, invariably balls start getting dropped. My friend and former client, Les McKeown calls this "Whitewater". Much like the real rapids of rafting, a business in Whitewater has gotten more complex and it's difficult to navigate on your own.
Who are you going to let onto your business 'boat'? Before (or just as) you’re experiencing those inevitable highs and lows, you're going to need the right people on board. People who will take your business from strength to strength, and who you will hopefully enjoy the journey with most. And it's not just your internal team. Take a look:
You need the team that’s best for your business, not the people who you would have a great time with on a Friday night. Whether you're using temporary, contract help or employing a full-time staff, your crew needs to not only understand your vision, but also be aligned with what you want your company to be doing in the world.
A like-minded team of passionate individuals who share your vision and can help you create the right company culture to get things done. Experience and skill sets count, but think too about how impassioned your interviewees seem, and how well they convey their vision for helping you move into the future. These folks need to augment your existing support team - or you need to NOT employ them.
You may be very adept at your craft, but, if you're like most creative entrepreneurs on the more Chaotic end of the spectrum, you're probably not nearly as experienced in the business side of things. And vice versa: Linears tend to struggle with the experiential side of business building.
To overcome that knowledge gap, you may need to enlist trusted experts from time to time. If you're not great with tech, you may need to hire a professional to get your network up and running. If you're looking to attract investors, you might want to talk with a private equity consultant like those at IT Ally. Experienced experts cut the learning curve and help ensure that you're maximizing your results from the beginning.
While it's true that you have competitors, not everyone is out to get you. In my experience, a focus on collaboration over competition with your industry colleagues can actually be a big benefit. Industry connections provide you with inspiration, potential clients, and collaborators. Whether you achieve this thanks to knowledge from your expert helpers, or get into networking and events, a supportive community within your industry helps you learn best practices, learn from others in your field, and develop stronger bonds with folks who understand the journey you're on.
Choosing the right support team for your company takes time and patience. But you'll be more likely to survive even the extreme challenges of those first years of whitewater when you do.
The path to success demands more than just a vision; it requires a strategic foundation that's as rock-solid as your determination. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or nurturing the seeds of a budding startup, understanding the pivotal elements that will fuel your journey is paramount. From mastering the intricacies of financing to curating the perfect environment and assembling an unwavering support system, the initial steps on the road to sustainable growth require thoughtful consideration. Here's five mostly obvious, but maybe surprising, elements that set the stage for a thriving and prosperous business venture.
Expansions cost money, and while the ultimate aim is to make more profits, you need some financial cushion to make growth possible. You need to be OK with investing money and not seeing a return immediately. So you can't just pull that money out of the business if it's already allocated for something else!
If you haven't been saving up for growth, you'll have to source financing for your expansion externally: from a bank or private investor(s). One of the major downsides of doing this is that the process of getting an investment can be lengthy and complicated. You have to convince an outside body of the validity and profitability of your business, and possibly share the profits, too.
If growth is on your mind, you'll need to think about where the money for expansion is coming from!
Expansion without a plan can be chaotic and often fails. That is why it's crucially important that you have a clear plan for your business expansion. This document should include your goals, financial projections, values, and an assessment of the risks involved.
It's also a smart idea to create a timeline for when you expect each stage of your expansion to occur. That will help you and your team split all the tasks you will need to do down into sections, as well as keep you on task through the expansion process.
You know what they say: location, location, location!
If you're a solopreneur, this may be a home office, but even still, you need enough room to get work done. I've known micro business owners who had to expand into their garage or basement to have enough room for the work they were doing - and the supplies they needed to do that work.
Larger organizations may need room for more employees, larger operations, or even additional stock or manufacturing capability. Moving your business from one location to another, especially if it's a cross-country move, can be a real challenge.
The good news is that working with companies like Allied - that specialize in cross-country moves - can make all the difference. Don't trust a move to local yokels. Been there. Done that. When we moved from Mississippi back to Nashville, we ended up with more broken lamps and furniture than I could count. When we moved from Nashville up to Indiana, we hired pros to do the loading and unloading. Don't leave your livelihood to chance!
In addition to new premises, you’re also going to need to employ more people as you expand your business. It's important to strike a balance here between filling the vacancies that you have and not rushing the recruiting process. Slow to hire and quick to fire is the mantra of the work world. Whether you're working with occasional contractors or building our your full-time team, choose folks who are not only well qualified for their roles, but who are a good match for their teams and the overall values of your business. Hire for culture improvement, not just culture fit.
Last of all, when growing your business you are going to need patience - and lots of it. Yes, even though it can be tempting to seize every opportunity that comes your way, expanding too fast can ultimately destabilize your company, and lead to failure later down the line. With that in mind, it's best to expand at a sustainable rate and ensure that you can properly support any growth at every stage. That's why a plan is important. It helps you see the milestones and keep you on track.
But a lot can go off the rails between milestones. Projects can run overtime, or over budget. In the military, they say, "no plan survives first contact with the enemy" - things happen. You can't plan for every eventuality, but you can have patience and SPACE in your plan to accommodate the things that could go off the rails.
If you're ready to build a growth plan that works for how you're wired to work, book a Star Power Intensive and let's strategize what sustainable growth looks like for you!
Whether your business is online or off, you're going to likely be interacting with people. Gasp! I know! PEOPLE!!
Bluntly, first impressions still matter. They're often awkward, inaccurate, and problematic, but they still matter. As a business owner, your ability to create a favorable initial encounter can impact your company's growth and reputation. Honestly, the number of times I've been pitched a cold email with typos, inaccuracies, and other language issues makes me wonder if that person really wants to do business with me. Recently, I had another business owner call me NICK in his cold email. My name is nowhere CLOSE to Nick! You really have to TRY to misspell Lisa to get Nick... the letters aren't even close together on the keyboard!
Positive first impressions are all about improving your visibility - a good first impression means a positive memory in your collaborator's mind when they walk away. As relationships develop, a person steps back into a conversation from whatever "frame" they left it. So if your first interaction is positive, they come to the second interaction with a positive impression and feeling... setting you up to have another positive interaction and perpetuate that cycle of awesomeness.
If you start off on the wrong foot, it's so challenging to get back on the right one.
Many business owners don't realize how the "little things" can make a big impression. Companies like EverLine Coatings and Services stripe parking lots (among other things), which may not seem like a big deal - until you drive up to a store front that hasn't had the lot painted in decades and you're not even sure if the joint is still open anymore! Having fresh, crisp lines on your lot gives it that "new car smell" so to speak. That clean, fresh look can make a BIG first impression.
Now, there’s a lot more that goes into first impressions than just aesthetics - way more. Here are a few additional ideas to help you make a great first impression with your business.
Yeah, I know it's "aesthetics", but it counts! Your attire speaks volumes about your brand. Dressing appropriately for your industry and the occasion is essential. This doesn’t immediately mean that you have to wear a suit if suits just aren’t your thing. If your business is in the tech industry, it doesn’t immediately mean that you need to wear jeans and a muted jacket. Steve Jobs gave up suits in favor of jeans and a mock turtleneck. That was his wardrobe, his "brand identity" in clothing form.
What it means is to dress as if you (and your business) easily fit into the industry. If you’re into business casual, then just wear that. If there are meetings where people are in suits, then dress for that occasion.
It helps to dress the part, but you don’t always need to dress the part every day, either. If you work from home and you don’t do video calls, why dress like you’re heading for the office? It’s just something to consider when it comes to first impressions.
Have any meetings? Do you have a storefront that opens at a certain time? Does your website promise to deliver something within a certain period of time? All of these things definitely need to be taken into consideration. Being punctual is more than showing up late to a meeting.
Being punctual shows that you respect the other person's time and that you’re reliable. Plus, it shows how committed you are to the engagement. So, always keep this in mind because being late and keeping someone waiting can really leave a sour taste in someone’s mouth (even if it’s justified why you’re late).
So, while this sounds vague, it means improvement in all forms of your business, with yourself included. You should be striving to regulary improve your website, your storefront, your products, how you market on social media, your email marketing, how you pitch, etc. Improvement never ends, so you need to be mindful of your capacity for change and upgrades at any given point in time.
Like I said earlier, first impressions can be wonky when you're new and just learning. But with time, you'll improve your ability to show up as the best version of you and your brand in every company interaction. It makes a big difference - especially when big money is on the line.
If you want your business to succeed, you must do a good job at keeping your workforce motivated. But what does that entail? What does it really take for the people in and serving your organization to stay motivated for the benefit of the company?
First, you have to realize that it's never about the company. Any team member is always going to put their own interests first. That's human nature. And if you create an environment that helps them believe that their interests are met, motivation rises.
Here are a few things to consider in your own company:
What makes a good leader? It's more than results. I mean, that matters, sure, but there's so much more to leadership than that. It's actually about getting great results while forging stronger relationships with your employees. Ensuring that they feel safe and respected in their work, allowing them to be as productive as possible. Simon Sinek's TED talk explains further.
Safety is the foundational requirement for anyone to be able to take courageous actions. If you don't feel safe, you do the bare minimum because you're focused on your safety needs being met. That makes logical sense. Good leaders, create not just a sense of safety, but an Environment of Empowerment for their teams to thrive in.
"Events" can take on a number of appearances. These don't have to be big corporate gatherings a la Apple's World Wide Developer Conference or a National Conference if you're in direct sales - but it can. It can also be a more intimate appreciation event.
Identifying and praising those that have done well, providing them with additional bonuses such as weekends away, spa days, and electronics can inspire and motivate folks for months or years to come. I knew a woman who had an ambitious sales goal for her first year on the job. When she met that goal, she was rewarded with a 7-day cruise!
Consistency awards are also a powerful motivator. Not everyone can be tops in sales or lead their department, but the folks who are showing up and consistently contributing are just as important. Celebrating everyone in the team by providing them with good food and a positive atmosphere at the event is also a good idea. You may even wish to consider working with one or two executive speakers for your event. Bringing in a celebrity or someone well known from outside the organization can make a big impact on team morale. I've been hired to come into national conferences, local sales meetings, and even leadership training events to help educate and motivate a company's teams to greater success.
It's important to give your workforce appropriate levels of responsibility that they can "rise up" to. Challenges that stretch (but do not break) your team help them feel more confident in their own abilities.
Foster a culture of delegation throughout your organization. Make it clear to your employees that you expect them to rise to the occasion when they are given additional responsibility, and make it meaningful by getting them to record it and use it in their next review. This isn't an invitation to pass the buck. It's an invitation to growth and to instill a greater sense of trust and community in the organization.
Everyone wants to know that they are doing well at their job. Knowing we are making a positive difference is a motivating factor for most people. We want to feel like we belong and contributing in meaningful ways. Reward in public, admonish in private. Remember that safety matters. No amount of feedback will help if your team doesn't trust you or feel safe receiving feedback from you. Even positive feedback doesn't make a positive impact if your team doesn't trust you.
Starting a new business venture of any kind is sometimes terrifying, often exciting, and involves a lot of other emotions along the way. It’s not for the faint-hearted and it’s certainly not something that everyone can do successfully.
While starting a business might be the easier part, making it a successful one is a whole different ball game. Drawing attention to your business is key, but increasing your visibility often stumps seasoned business owners, not to mention newbies.
How do you get noticed with so much noise from other competitors?
Here are some tricks and tips that will help draw the right kind of attention to your business.
If you’re someone who has never done event work before, you might consider a vendor event or industry convention. When they're targeted to the right audience, they can help you attract a number of clients quickly. I've done events where I've booked 10-20 new clients in a single afternoon.
If you want more visibility, think vertical. You'll want something eye-catching to dress your booth. You might invest in an 8x8 banner for your next event and other eye-catching decor to dress your stand. Remember, there will be a multitude of businesses all there for the same purpose of getting attention. If your booth doesn't stand out from the crowd (or can't be seen across the convention room floor), it will be difficult to get traffic to stick around at your station.
One of my favorite and inexpensive ways to do this is with some helium balloons. Tie them to the top of your booth so that people can see you from a distance. Then, you can just say "look for the balloons" and direct people to your booth from anywhere in the venue.
The online world may be messy, but social media is also a huge part of making most online businesses successful. For a new business, it's free advertising that will help build your credibility in the marketplace when done right.
A multi-channel approach can help you find more of your right audience in a cost-effective manner. Don't spread yourself too thin, though. It's important to be where your people are, but not at the sake of your health and budget.
Be sure to network with other business owners when it comes to your business venture. There are a lot of companies out there, all starting out and all needing to make their own moves within the industry to garner success.
Some businesses might be able to help you get your foot in the door with certain clients or collaborations that will rocket your business to success.
Networking is something that needs to be done on a regular basis. If you’re not connecting with people that can support you or your business, then it's going to be a long, hard, and lonely road ahead.
Even if it's just a "brochure" site, your website is your brand’s image in a digital capacity. That means when prospective leads or customers head to your site, the website is the first thing that they’ll see. Think about what you want your customers or prospective leads to learn when they come onto the site. If you're in e-commerce, think about how clients use the site. Is it easy for them to navigate? Your digital "front door" should help people feel like they belong and that you're open for business!
The online world remains one of the most powerful tools that you can use for your business venture. If you’re struggling to find ways to help add exposure to your business, then consider listing it on any websites that people will look at actively.
You could also reach out to higher-ranking websites to get some free advertising or link exchanges to help get your business noticed across the internet.
Finally, don’t be afraid to partner with other businesses. There will be plenty of businesses out there that are actively looking for other companies to partner up with. It saves money for both parties and can help reach audiences, whether those be similar audiences for both or completely different.
Drawing attention to your new business venture is a great way to help it get the notice it needs and more importantly, to drive sales and success.
There comes a time in your business when you just have too much work to complete alone. Whether you choose to outsource or hire, working with others means keeping them as happy, and as motivated as possible while still staying true to your vision and goals for your business. Here are a few obvious things that matter - and often get overlooked or ignored when you're a solopreneur.
Make sure your staff get paid on time
Like I said, sometimes it's obvious. Having to chase you down for payment is not only inconvenient and insulting, it can result in missed bills and wastes your workers’ time. If you're not at a point where you can consistently pay your folks in a timely manner, you're not ready for regular help. Instead, consider per-project or per-task help until you have a steady baseline income that will support having regular help.
When you're ready to hire - or pay freelancers - you're going to need an EIN (here in the US) if you don't want your Social Security information on blast. In case you don't know how long it takes to get an EIN, it depends on how you apply. If you don't already have one, now's the time to get that handled
As your company grows automated payroll software can be used to track hours and automatically work out wages for the week, making accurate and on-time payments a breeze.
Consider their work-life balance
Entrepreneurs are well known for their strong work ethic. Indeed, sometimes we are accused of letting business come first in everything we do! But your team isn't as invested in your company as you are. You need to consider their work-life balance. As I write this, my assistant is taking a few weeks off for some vacation and to attend to family matters. Your business needs to be able to support them as much as they support you.
Reward success... and failure!
It may sound obvious but you’d be surprised at how many entrepreneurs forget to reward their team when they do well. After all, when our businesses do well we, as entrepreneurs get the built-in rewards of success, increased profit, and status. However, this rarely impacts either in-house or outsourced workers.
To that end, you must take the time to properly reward your team. Contract team members are typically rewarded differently than employess, but those "thank-you's" still go a long way. The best way to know for sure is to ASK them what motivates and inspires them. Then use that information to deepen your relationships with them.
That doesn't mean you have to give them everything they ask for - remember, this is still YOUR business and it needs to work for how you're wired to work. Reasonable requests that can be accommodated go a long way toward building morale and driving team loyalty.
