Congratulations! You’ve taken a leap of faith, and you’ve started your company. Most people are probably calling you crazy, and your parents are worried, but you have your business plan and business cards in tow. However, it is not a smooth transition from working out of your home office to owning an office building. It takes hard work. But don’t fret! Here are three ways to make that process easier.
Market Yourself
Your business being small or new, is no excuse not to market it. People can’t give you their money in exchange for the excellent good or services you provide if they don’t know you! For a small business CRM (customer relationship management) is vital. You have to be actively searching for and to communicate with potential customers and long-standing customers. The easiest way to do this is to use a service that handles it all for you. Think of mass emails and social media marketing. If you use a service that handles all of this for you, you’ll have more time to build your company. Yeah, it will cost you, but by now, you know that to succeed, you have to invest in yourself. Using a small business CRM takes care of the hard part (marketing emails, social media) or the part you may know nothing about. Small business CRM is the definition of working smarter, not harder. And in the world of small business, you probably already know this is super important.
Utilize (and Respect) Your Human Resources
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Not sure how your proposal sounds? Run it by someone you trust. Perhaps they will catch something you missed in all the stress that comes with running a company. It’s much easier to fail in front of someone you trust than to fail in front of potential clients. Or maybe you are terrible at organizing all the essential documents that come with starting a new business? Ask your super organized roommate from college if they’ll help you come up with a system. The worst someone can say is no, so ask.
However, once you’ve got this fantastic feedback, advice, or support—say thank you. It might mean sending a hand-written note, candy, flowers, or taking your “human resource” out to lunch. Always show your appreciation, even with the little things, because it all adds up. If you want to run a successful company, act as you do already. Show gratitude.
Be Patient
It may be the hardest thing to do. Being patient when you know you have the next Apple or Netflix running out of your home office is hard. You want the success now, and you want all eyes on you in the big board room meeting. But it takes time. Just look at one of the most successful businessmen of all time, Steve Jobs. He failed monumentally and more than once. However, his persistence and patience are what got him the company of his dreams. And the rest of the world, some of the most significant technology ever invented. It’s cheesy, but it’s true. Rome was not built in a day, and neither will your amazing company. Be patient.
