Business Myths - Avoid These Common Business Mistakes

Written by Maria Marsala


Are you very human like me? Have you made mistakes running your business that you "could" have prevented? Very costly and painful, isn't it? Remember what happens after you lean from this painful place called "development"? Once everything has calmed down, and you look at that situation again, 94% ofrepparttar time you can say, " Boy, I saw that coming!" or "I noticed that and didn't pay attention to it."

An alternative to "learningrepparttar 106791 hard way" is to learn by evolving - not easy but worthrepparttar 106792 trip! You'll need to stay ever "present", be patient and courageous, practice and learn to trust your gut. You'll learn to recognizerepparttar 106793 "red flags" life has given you and pay attention to them rather than neglectingrepparttar 106794 messages completely. Evolving is about noticing thatrepparttar 106795 universe is asking you to do things differently. So, turn anything that isn't working into "feedback," and go from there. You're worth it! For my readers, as well as myself, I holdrepparttar 106796 intention that our lessons will be learned from a place of "evolving."

The titles below are things I've heard new business owners say that usually invite painful lessons. Each summary includes some ways to evolve - grow, shiftrepparttar 106797 way you're thinking, and do things differently fromrepparttar 106798 get go. Been in business for while? Then look to see where you are "stuck" inrepparttar 106799 development problems below - and evolve onwards!

"I need money, so I'll start a business." If you need money to pay for food, clothing or shelter, go get a job. If you have a job, keep it while you start a business. If you have at least two years worth of income plus $10,000 for business start-up costs, you haverepparttar 106800 opportunity to work on your new business full time without having another income. If you start a business from a needy place, that isrepparttar 106801 message that will come across to prospective clients. When you come from need, it shows in so many ways - most of which you're not even aware of because you're notrepparttar 106802 one watching and listening to you.

"I hate my boss and I hate being told what to do, too." Keep you day job until you change your attitude. When you own your own company, it's your responsibility to make sure that everything gets done! And all your clients become mini-bosses!

"I don't need much start-up money because I'm not renting office space." Supplies, memberships, licenses fees, lawyers, accountants, desks, phones, business cards, lunches, phone service, web designers, logo designers, and hiring a coach/consultant. Guess what… they all cost money! Make sure you have enough money so that you can pay others while you build a strong solid business foundation. Keep asking yourself "what will berepparttar 106803 best use of my time" and consider bartering for services.

"I don't need a business plan for a home business." Wrong. Every business owner needs some sort of plan. At a minimum, start by designing a Dream Board . The business plan I send each client is called The One Page Business Plan. It's a fun business plan workbook (yes I said fun) and by completingrepparttar 106804 book you'll have information for your brochure, website and more. My final note on business plans is this... if "doing it perfectly" has stopped you from starting a business plan, forget about owning a business! "Something" will always "come up" and life will change as much in business as it does anywhere. Business Plans are guides to be used wisely and to be looked at and adjusted every 6 months, too.

"I don't know who my ideal client is." If you know who your ideal client is, you can market effectively. Not sure who your ideal client is? See who you are attracting to your business, know what your professional values are, keep an index card around with your ideal client credentials. Knowing who you're marketing to will save you some money, too.

"I don't have any marketing plans." Design a marketing plan aroundrepparttar 106805 ways you enjoy marketing, market with integrity, and learn how to stretch a little, too. Find ways to market that highlight other skills you have, allow you to do things that give you energy, and won't get boring as time goes on. Then every 6 months sit back and take a look-see what worked and what didn't. Make adjustments where necessary.

"I'm running an inconsistent business." Readrepparttar 106806 E-myth Revisited for lots of ideas on how to run a consistent business. The book suggests looking at your business like you'd like to franchise it - even if that's not what you really want to do. "Brand" your business usingrepparttar 106807 same colors on all your marketing materials. Keep customer service and other policies consistant. Give advance warning!

Complaints and Questions Can Help Your Business Grow

Written by Lisa Lake


How many mottos for service companies have you heard that claim "We Listen to Customers"? Ignoring customers is like ignoringrepparttar brown speckled leaves on your tomato plants. They both feed you. But every business gets customers who complain about a product, service, new look, price hike, or change in policy. Are they just whiners, or have they put some thought into their opinions?

Consider Complaints Carefully

I'm that kind of customer that likes to make suggestions for improvements when I shop. I do it kindly, I believe even intelligently. With a marketing background I can't stop myself.

Be tolerant with this sort of consultant/complainer. My dad is one, too.

Take, for example,repparttar 106790 egg department at Megagrocery Store. You could call it scrambled, week after week. The little plastic prices are half broken offrepparttar 106791 shelves, never repaired. The sign overhead is crammed with more little plastic numbers and undecipherable abbreviations. The whole situation makes me doubt whether they ever changerepparttar 106792 prices, even though their grocery flyer claims week to week sale prices. At Smallergrocery Store a mile away, they switch out paper signs aboverepparttar 106793 egg racks every week. The simple signs are nicely handwritten on thick colored paper. Disposable. Inexpensive. No-brainer. THIS WEEK! LARGE DOZEN, 99 CENTS. I grab one and head off.

I had to point outrepparttar 106794 unnecessary egg chaos to management in Megagrocery. The problem? It's much too difficult forrepparttar 106795 busy shopper to decipher egg prices. The solution? Easy! Apparently he didn't like my telling him how nicely his competitor does it, because he didn't change a thing. (Or ask his vendor to.) But sometimes I get results.

Watch out forrepparttar 106796 mere grumblers. Those with chronic complainitis.

Every time my family went to dinner with my husband's grandparents, they whined about having to choose between soup OR a salad withrepparttar 106797 entrée. "You mean you don't get BOTH? Really?" The grumbling went on for whole minutes, their complaining more acidic thanrepparttar 106798 lemon in their ice tea. Diners all around us ordered with ease and enjoyed their dinners. It had been a long time since restaurants had offered both, especially at your Chicken Fried Steak for $5.99 kind of a place - and they knew it. But Gramma and Grampa were STILL unhappy about it, and always let waitresses know.

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