10 INVALUABLE THINGS TO REMEMBER.

1. ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS COMMON SENSE
…but common sense isn’t always common practice.  Never forget this simple statement.

2. YOUR IDEA IS WORTH NOTHING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE IS EVERYTHING
This is so important. Your idea, no matter how innovative you think it is, no matter how interesting it sounds, no matter how much research you have  done, it is worth nothing.
If you don’t understand your customer’s needs, if your execution is not close to perfect, and if you don’t have a great team, the idea is worth nothing.

3. IF SOMEONE TELLS YOU THAT BRANDING ISN’T IMPORTANT, RUN AWAY
People on the Internet have said if your product or service is great, your branding doesn’t matter.
This is wrong and dangerous. When someone tells you that, they are either ignorant or poor business people

4. NETWORKING IS PROBABLY 50% OF SUCCESS
You will hear a lot of people stress out the importance of networking in business success, but you can’t really understand that importance if you don’t experience it first hand.

5. WORK ONLY WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE PROFESSIONAL
Professionalism and delivery will help you stand out. It is absurd how many businesses are leaving money on the table because of their inability to exude professionalism.

6. WHEN HIRING PEOPLE, DO THE BEER TEST
Ask yourself. If you go out for a beer with this person, will you have a good time?
Does this person show empathy? Can they listen? Can they contribute? Are they open minded? How do they handle criticism? Are they eager to learn? Can they stay cool under pressure?

7. THE BEGINNING IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART AND PREPARATION WILL SAVE YOU TIME
Your beginning will difficult. You will be really enthusiastic but once you realize how overwhelming the processes of entrepreneurship can be, you will start having second thoughts.
Running your business professionally is everything. That’s why you should invest some time upfront in studying the subject. There are a ton of online courses on entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, management, etc. out there. Make use of so much free knowledge..

8. SHARE YOUR JOURNEY BECAUSE THAT INCREASES ENGAGEMENT
This is a pro tip and something that has helped companies enjoy tremendous growth.
Sharing your journey allows your customers to get an insider’s view of your business. It demonstrates that you are transparent and confident about your product or service and it makes you look interesting and approachable.

9. DON’T WASTE TIME ON IRRELEVANT STUFF .
There is usually a huge confusion when people start. There are many things to be done and it’s easy to lose track of what really matters.
There are usually two methods that can determine a great start to your business.

The Japanese Method
Japanese people are notorious for their proactivity and preparation. The Japanese method is inspired by the Japanese mentality and suggests that before your launch you should spend significant time making sure everything is perfect.

The Beta Method
If your idea is something quite innovative, test it in a small segment of the market first.
Find a group of people who might be interested in the idea and pitch it to them.

10. IT WILL BE THE MOST DIFFICULT THING YOU WILL EVER DO IN YOUR LIFE
It includes risk. It includes losing money. It includes losing friends. It includes losing your mind.
A lot of people will question you, a lot of people will envy you and a lot of people will admire you.
At the end of the day, none of that matters.

Andrian Iliopoulos
http://thequintessentialmind.com

Read the full article here …
https://hackernoon.com/so-you-want-to-start-your-own-business-10-invaluable-things-people-never-tell-you-db66fc1862f6

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