1. Don’t Sink All Your Savings Into Your New Business
Rookie entrepreneurs shouldn’t think that they have to spend big to make it big. The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau is a great book that documents entrepreneurs who invested a hundred bucks or less to launch their business. Heed its advice by not assuming that you need a huge influx of cash in order to make your business a success. For example, a retail store is a huge risk, costing thousands of dollars just to open. It’s a much safer better to sell online at first and work your way up. But make sure you…
2. Don’t Get Ahead Of Yourself
Entrepreneurs shouldn’t feel the need to grow their business too rapidly. That sense of urgency is all in their heads and spells disaster for a lot of companies that begin with huge potential. Just because you find some success selling stuff online, don’t immediately jump to buying a physical location. Prove yourself a pro entrepreneur by not rushing to the next step, letting your company keep growing at a steady pace until you’re actually ready for that retail outlet.
3. Don’t Step Away For Too Long
Your business is your baby, and you never leave a newborn unattended. Be sure to constantly monitor your business so that you can put out fires as they happen and take advantage of new opportunities as they arise. You have to prepare for both the good and the bad by keeping a constant eye on your new company. But, at the same time…
4. Don’t Work Yourself Into A Coma
One of the most common mistakes of an entrepreneur is to overwork. Yes, you have to be vigilant about your business, but no, that doesn’t necessarily mean working 100 hours every week. If you’re burnt out you won’t be delivering the hot ideas that startups need to constantly be coming up with. Let yourself recharge your batteries every once in awhile. Otherwise, all your hard work might be for nothing.
5. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help
As an entrepreneur you’re definitely going to need help, so don’t be afraid to ask for it. Let the people who want you to succeed help you succeed. Friends with the right skills can be an invaluable resource, helping you with the things you need but can’t do yourself. Have a pal good with web design? Let them design your website! If you think that you’re weak for accepting help, you desperately need to change your way of thinking.
6. Don’t Forget Your Connections
If you’re a good businessman you have a lot of contacts and maybe a few favors owed to you. When you’re starting out as an entrepreneur, a critical juncture in your career, you should be contacting a lot of those people and cashing some of those favors in.
7. Don’t Give Up Too Quickly
Your business will probably not be a giant success right out of the gate. Expect to be in the red for awhile. But don’t give up too easily, because you could very well make your company soar if you just persevere. A month is probably not enough time to deem your business a success or failure. Keep at it until you can fairly determine if your company has a real shot. If you followed my previous advice you haven’t invested too much in the startup, so there’s not too much risk in keep carrying on until you can get a more definite answer.
8. Don’t Fear Failure
Sometimes you have to call a spade a spade and fold your hand. Admitting failure requires strength, and if you’re not strong you’ll lose a lot more money than you need to. When you are convinced that things aren’t going to turn around, don’t be afraid to throw in the towel. Featured photo credit: Brian Wilkins via flickr.com
