In the business world freedom and responsibility go hand-in-hand. This is actually the cross roads at which many of those going into business for the first time become lost. Down one road you see your financial freedom lighting the path. Longer vacations on sunny tropical beaches, bigger houses surrounded by colorful gardens, and shiny sports cars await you down this road. The other road is as dark and obscure as the space between the stars in the sky. Shrill laughing voices mocking your failure, greedy accountants and bankers hacking their mitts at your money, and the cold shiver of the unknown, all lie within.
These two roads may diverge but they are, however, both leading to the same destination. It therefore becomes a matter of journey as the destination is no longer in question.
Here are a few short but helpful pointers to keep in mind as you make that journey to finally building the business of your dreams.
Just Start
I think that most people tend to procrastinate a lot when it comes to finally starting that business and getting things rolling. You may be making plans or trying to convince yourself that now is not the best time, but in my experience there really is no time like the present. Don't worry about perfecting that business plan or dotting all the I's and crossing all the T's. Just go right ahead and start before you loose your nerve or forget why it was you wanted to start your own business in the first place!
Once you do get started you'll find that progress is already being made - and that on its own can be enough. You'll have plenty of time to perfect your interpersonal and technical skills during the lifetime of your business. So don't let that stop you. Some times what you really need is to just set the wheel in motion before you can begin to steer yourself in any given direction.
Choose Vision over Opportunity
The easiest mistake to fall for during the startup of your business is probably that of opportunism. You're likely to cross paths with a wide range of opportunities throughout your business, but you must learn to keep your eye on the prize and stay focused. Opportunistic people are simply those who see an opportunity, go for it, and retreat at the very sight of failure. The successful ones are much more persistent, only seeking specific opportunities that compliment their vision and learning to avoid those that do not.
Developing a vision for your business is what sets you apart from every other business like yours. It's what makes you stand out among the crowd and identifies you to your customers with one bold and simple statement. For example, IBM and Apple Computers may be selling the same product - personal computers - but anyone can tell a Mac from an IBM as easily as they can tell their hand from their foot. This is because both companies have spent years embarking on and refining their vision. This vision has become as clear as day to their customers and so should yours.
Just remember that your vision is much broader than the opportunities you seek. You must learn to be patient in creating your vision and building your business with that vision in mind.
Keep a Steady Pace
Don't slack too much from your regular routine. It is also equally important not to venture too far too fast. Keeping a steady and constant pace within a certain time cycle of your business is very important in maintaining growth.
For example, you may choose work harder during the winter because the holidays bring in more customers, but don't fall to a slump come spring. The irregularities in work load could throw you off balance or possibly frustrate you all together. People usually show the best results when moving at a steady and constant pace.
This may prove difficult, especially during the startup stages of your business, so it is a good idea to write a yearly agenda for your business - dividing up all the goals you wish to accomplish for that year and spreading them out evenly. Try not to do too much or too little of each so that you can maintain your pace. This will give you a good perspective of how well you're sticking to that pace.
Enjoy the Process
Most importantly, don't forget to enjoy the process. You are not only building your business but you are also building your life, one step at a time. Your work is likely to tie itself into your life at home, with family and friends in all sorts of ways. Just don't forget to kick back, take a break, and enjoy the scenery every once in a while. A few years down the road this will only remind you of where you came from and how you got here.