A Guide For Future Entrepreneurs From Our CEO
A Guide For Future Entrepreneurs From Our CEO
Thinking about starting your own business, or know someone who has the entrepreneurial spirit?
This post is for you!
Leaving your long-term job to start on your own is a terrifying prospect for anyone. There are a multitude of unanswered questions and mounting worries running through your head. First and foremost – what kind of business?
Identify your strengths.
Focus on strengths you already have. In my personal experience, I had a strong decade of experience with operations and valuable corporate experience. Starting a business is difficult enough without the added pressure of acquiring and refining a new skill.
Unsure of your strengths? Personality tests are a great place to start.
Personality tests offer deep insights into your unique talents. There are several free online tests that align with the Myers-Briggs, but my favorite is the test at 16personalities.
There are several free online tests you can take to start with, like the standard ones created around Myers-Briggs such as this one at 16personalities. My first coach included this Talent Dynamics test as part of our program, and it was invaluable in teaching me more about leveraging my strengths. Once I learned how important my personality was in crafting my business, I found this planner by EVO that is customized by personality type and structured to make you more productive.
Personality tests can help identify ideal clients that compliment your strengths.
If you can, focus on your ideal clients who compliment your personality while bringing out the best in them. A mutually beneficial working relationship built on trust and connection will develop.
Consider a business coach. It’s an investment, but they give encouragement and guidance to focus on the most important aspects of your business and avoid costly mistakes.
A business coach is an expense that can be hard to prioritize when you’re in the early stages of building a business. However, I’ve found that this expense gives a phenomenal return. If you make sure to find the right business coach for you meant for the stage you are in, they can offer a clear perspective and refine your ideas into an offering or business model that is the best fit for you.
Another valuable resource: friends and family. They have great insight into your best traits.
If you were to poll them and ask for help in identifying the things you are best at, very likely you will start to see patterns in their answers. You can get great support and insights from those who already know you best.
Instead of thinking of the entire broad spectrum or category of skills you have, focus on a few very specific skills.
When you’re able to leverage your unique strengths, you realize work doesn’t feel like work and becomes very enjoyable! As the old adage says, “Find what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Tasks that are not your strengths can be added through a strong network of referrals.
In addition to or in lieu of a strong network of referrals, create a team that grows with your business. This fosters trust with your clients because they don’t feel like you are trying to sell something that isn’t within your wheelhouse of expertise. In turn, you are supporting them with the right person for the right job, whether you or someone from your team, or someone whose work you trust.
Are you ready for business and leadership mentoring, or know someone who is? Check out all that Poka-Yoke Solutions: The Operations Agency or follow our CEO, Erica Q, on LinkedIn for thought leadership. If you know someone who has the entrepreneurialguide spirit, send this blog to them!
