Often people who begin their own business, or say they want to start their own business, are not aware of the simple fact that, by definition, a business is set up to make a profit. There is money exchanged for goods or services which is intended to eventually exceed the amount spent on the business. This includes a non-profit organization which would cease to exist if there were no funds from grants or contributions to sustain the work they perform.
Boiled down to the simplest form, if you have an idea or a product concept you need to assess if there are paying consumers for the product or the service in order to begin laying down the foundation for a business built for success. If no one is interested in paying for the goods or services it might be time for plan ‘B’.
Another item for discussion is, what is your time and your money spent on when creating or growing your business? This is in no way a statement saying that colors, branding, and other tools for promotion are not valuable. What is being said is we all need to prioritize where and how we spend our time and our resources when building up a new business or growing one to a new level.
It is about setting up your priorities. Just like in your life at home with your family. Which is the priority – cleaning up the garage? Or reading to your child or going to their Little League game and watching and cheering? Not sitting there at the game staring at your iPhone. Schedule the garage clean up for another time. There are a number of gifted entrepreneurial people, who are full of energy and spirit, who continually spend their precious time and resources on areas where they have no need to be involved with at the present time. They are starting their business or going through transforming their company, and they are spending all of their time and resources on color schemes, logos, business themes and even copywriting.
If you are not certain what your business is about specifically, if you are not certain in your newly transformed business that you will have paying customers, this should be your priority. The priority must be the selling proposition. Will your goods or services command a payment for them, and will there be enough consumers to make the business a real ongoing enterprise?
If you are not in agreement with the above statements it is probably because you are actually performing a ‘hobby’ not a business. A hobby is defined, “a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.” So what you do is attend events to see people you know and like. You enjoy joining groups and speaking about all of the things you are going to do one day. The reality is you never implement anything. You just talk about it. You earn little or no money. You are not running a business.
None of this is to sit in judgment. These are the facts. The sooner you come to terms with reality, the better to create the changes necessary to turn around the current results you have up until now. This is not meant to be harsh.
If these words disturb you, ask yourself why? The lack of prioritization, the continual loss of focus and not having someone to hold you accountable are some of the biggest reasons people fail in their efforts to create a success in business.
If you are ready to face reality and set yourself up for a business and life all about success, contact Mitch Tublin today info@mitchtublin.com or call 877-907-8223.
I like how you delineate the differences between a hobbyist and a business owner. Both of us have seen people who will say they are in business, but they really are not. Your criteria makes it clear.
Agree with you we have. It is really not my criteria, it is a reality.
If you are not selling or charging or collecting money you are not running a business.
Great points, Mitch.
If you are not in business to make a profit, you are not in business. As you say, even non-profits cannot operate without a steady stream of money.
Good wake up call!
Terry,
Appreciate your comment. Funny thing about non-profits, they are in a business.
They have employees, costs and a mission. They need donations, grants and other sources of funding.
OMG!! Preachin’ to the choir!! Businesses are, by definition, meant to make money, If you are not, you don’t really have a business. If you are not, ask yourself WHY you don’t feel worthy of success. Ooo-wee! This one gets me going! Thanks for focusing on this, Mitch! XO, Katherine.
Katherine,
Rather than a person feeling ‘not worthy of success’, it seems more like a permission type of thing. They need to be given or give themselves permission to earn a living doing what they do.
So true – thanks for the clarity!
Mitch, this is great advice. I think prioritizing getting clear on what you are doing and what you are about is very important. Thanks so much for sharing!
Ellen,
Absolutely! How in the world is your potential client or customer going to feel good about doing business with you if you are not crystal clear on these?
Mitch – I doubt many people start heir business to be broke and NOT make any money … but it is shocking how many of those same people don’t set themselves up for success and don’t take the actions they need to so they actually do make money!
Jennifer,
Yes there are all types of people out there. Some do not really understand the concept of running a business. Others do not understand what the basic steps are to set up a foundation for their business built for success. Fortunately for both types, I will be offering a monthly free call on exactly these topics
very soon.