What I Wish I Knew Before I Started In The Business

You've got a great idea for a business, and you are ready to take on the world. You might have even begun to look for advice on starting a business. There are as many tips as there are businesses in this world, so which ones do you follow? 

At Brant Business Builders, we have all been there. One thing that we can tell you is that there is no perfect way to start your own business. Everyone's journey will be unique to their industry and their understanding of business.  

To help you with your business journey, we asked several of our members what they wish they knew before they got into their business in words that could be used as tips for those looking into starting their own business. Here are the 12 tips they shared.

1. Consistency and getting yourself into a routine is key. However, you also need to make time for yourself. Wake up, get yourself organized in the morning, and have the rest of your day to do your work. Keep consistent in what you do. Take time for your family and outings. Otherwise, you'll get burnt out. Find your boundaries and what suits you in making a routine for yourself to organize your time.
2. Get your message out to every channel you can because not everyone is on Social Media, LinkedIn, or YouTube. It is not as easy as it looks. You will be juggling many balls at once when first starting. Get ready for a bull ride because it's going to be rough and rocky at first. However, once you've figured it out, it does get easier. 
3. If you have young kids, be home for supper once a week and take every other weekend off, no matter what. Your kids are never going to remember that big job you got or anything. When you die, your kids won't remember the money you had, but they will remember the time you spent with them. So, take time for your young kids.
4. Don't be afraid to say no. You know in your gut when you meet with a client that they're going to be a problem, and you're just afraid to say no. The amount of energy clients can suck from you and the negativity they'll bring to your life. It's not worth it.
5. Find a happy balance between work and family. In order to have a happy family, you've got to put food on the table. So, you have to have that happy balance. Also, be in a job that you are passionate about. There's nothing worse than working and just hating going in every day.
6. Surround yourself with people who can benefit you and your business. Let go of some of the control and hire people who can do some of the tasks you shouldn't do. Build a team around you and build from there. You don't have to relinquish ownership, but you do have to give up some control of the activities of the business. 
7. Don't sweat the small things too much or drag them out for a longer period of time than they needed to. Don't let them bother or affect you as much. If you don't let the little things eat at you for too long, then the days won't be too bad, and you will have an easier day and working experience.
8. Trust your instincts. We sometimes hold on to people and ideas for too long. Even worse, it is not unusual to stay somewhere longer than needed before starting a business. Learn to trust your instincts. Stop second-guessing yourself. There's no place for doubt in business.
9. Two things: One, build a network. Talk to local people, using local services. Let people know who you are. Exchanging business for business and creating your brand that way. Maintaining a routine in the beginning, you need to have a pattern. Get out, do your 8 to 5. Whether it's getting on your laptop and looking at some ways to market yourself, or create better exposure, or a new job, new sale, or get on the street. Knock on doors, whatever you need to do, but have that routine. Once you have that 9 to 5 or 8 to 5 routine, it becomes systematic, and you're expecting it. You're expecting something to happen. 
10. Have a game plan for the first five years. Think of every obstacle or hurdle you might encounter, then consider how you can keep moving forward towards your goal. Having a plan for growth will help you grow a lot smoother. 
11. Deal with the little problems as they come up. In a day, you might get five, ten, or even twenty little problems. You want to deal with these problems before they become big problems. 
12. Get ready for a learning curve because it's a lot. You will no doubt be busy every day. One thing you can do to eliminate some of the learning curves is to understand all facets of a business. No matter what industry you are in, start to understand the roles of sales, marketing, and management. This will certainly help you to get ready for it all. 

At Brant Business Builders, we know that starting and building a business doesn't happen overnight. With these 12 expert tips on Things I knew Before I Started My Business, you'll be well on your way to building your empire. 

Brant Business Builders is a Brantford networking group that meets every Wednesday at 7:00 am. If you have a business and are interested in expanding your network, fill out the forms on our website and we would love to have you join us.