The Dirty Lies on Starting a Business and Rule # 1
This is the first installment of a twelve part series on. . .
Starting & Running a New Small Business
I know you have heard the statistic . . ." 95% of all new businesses fail in the first 5 years"! How old is that statistic, who knows, everyone uses it, but no one knows from whence it came! I sincerely believe it is decades old, has little validity today, and simply provides an excuse for failure. I heard that statistic 30 years ago! You mean to say nothing has improved! I refuse to accept it. But for those of you who thrive on statistics, you can review a government statistic in our links on new business openings and failures as REPORTED! When was the last time you personally put your faith in a government report!
Now forget those stats, why. . .No one reports the people who fall prey to all the "get rich" business schemes. . . You know the infomercials all over your TV - The "successful" owner of the business sits at his mansion's pool, then jumps into his Lamborghini to visit his yacht, with the overpowering message buy my info and this could be you! Simply call the toll free # and order our exclusive course on "Getting Rich Selling Oil to the Middle East Today". . . 
Hey, you know you peeked at these late at night and thought " that sounds pretty good, just maybe, I can". Flip this Property. . . Buy Houses with No Money Down, Corner the Stock Market, Get Rich Selling Vitamins, Start My Own Internet Business . . . UNFORTUNATELY, there is no end to this list OR the people who buy into the hype. These "hawkers" have created a business....
They Make Money, by Getting Your Money! As I mentioned, the list of the people that fall prey to these pitches goes on and on. . . but the number of these people are never captured in a government statistic. Most people who bought into these get rich $99 courses, will never admit it.
The statistic I want to see, Dreams Lost to Scams! I bet that is well over 99.999% of all the people who sent money in for the latest get rich quick TV ad. With that said, we can begin our journey. I think you can determine where I am coming from with this post. But for those of you who cannot let me spell it out. There is no "sure-fire, easy, one size fits all, make a million overnight, with no money down, working 3 hours a day business" that someone is going to sell you on TV or the radio. Their business is. . ." selling you a dream for money", it is that simple.
If you bought one of the courses you know exactly what I mean, if you have not, now is NOT a good time to dial 1-800 make dough".
With that said, let's get started:
You may have an idea for a business, you may be in business, your spouse, relative or friend may be having those “entrepreneurial thoughts”. One comment, if it is your spouse, run for cover, I cannot help you! Otherwise, you came to the right place, at the right time, and the right channel, tune in, and leave your comments. Engage each other with your posts, keep this blog well dusted and maintained, please do not leave a mess when you go – I will try and answer questions posted with short and easy responses. If the need arises, I will start a separate Post Area, just to post Q/A. But please, do not send me gobs of email, the Whisperer has a day job, a wife, 3 grandkids and and a furry best friend that requires a frisbee twice a day, no not my wife, my dog. Not to mention, I am trying to cut my golf handicap by 3 strokes, and hone my woodworking skills to build a boat.
Rule # 1 When Starting or Running a Business, an Absolute Must !
# 1 Hope is NOT a Strategy !
You now ask Business Whisperer, "What Is. . ."
Answer given at the very end of this posting - ( Do NOT cheat, this Blog watches you very closely)
Hey, Get back Here, I Asked You Not to Cheat!
OK, Now OUR Goal;
We will attempt to unleash ideas for your thoughts and consideration on How to Plan, Develop, Build and Grow a Business, Hey, I am talking any Business, there are common issues to all small businesses regardless of product or service.
- Maybe, you are thinking of starting your own business,
- Maybe, you have a friend who is in business or starting a business,
- Maybe, you think "I know I could do it, I just do not know where to begin"...
- Maybe you own your business and could use a little shot in the ego.
- Maybe you are simply stuck in the "where am I going rut"!
- Others, that may benefit from future topics, are those in businesses that need a little insight, just enough to top off their tank or get them on course.
Please do not, I repeat do NOT, use this info to tell your boss "He is doing it all wrong", that my friend is a major "no-no". Just leave a link to this Blog on his desk, anonymously of course!
OK, A Preview of What is to Come . . . We Will Attempt to Cover in This Blog’s Future Episodes:
Are You The Right Person To Start / Own A Business? ( You Must Have 3 Distinct Personalities to Succeed ) Yes, You Must be Schizophrenic or You Will Fail… I KNOW This Is Nuts, Most Doctors Would Agree, But Most Doctors Are in Business for Themselves, What Does This Say About Them?
Planning, Developing, Building, Growing, and an Exit Strategy ( Consider These From Day 1 ), Exit Strategy, "Whisperer I Am Just Starting…. and You’re Telling Me to Plan an Exit"- -YES, You Need To Know Where You Are Going Before You Decide To Go! Hey, I Told You About Being Schizoid.
Your Business, What You Need To Know, What To Ignore, & What To Forget – A Few Of Life’s Hard Lessons, Unfortunately, Mine!
The 4P’s Of Marketing For Your Business ( There Are Actually 6 Despite What You May Have Learned ), We will discuss ALL 6, you can amaze your kids, students, and others.
Websites- “Build It And They Will Come” , “Get Links All Over And The Big G (Google) It Will Put Your Site On The Top "G" Page For Furniture Making (Whoever Said These Is Full Of Sawdust Or Been Listening To Their Table Saw Whine Too Often! ) – FYI There Are Currently 365,000,000 Pages Indexed on Google For Furniture Making, YES 365 million (for Those of You With Comma Issues) ! This Will Be A Great Topic For Today’s Businessperson – You Will Owe Me Big Time for This One!
How & When To Advertise & Doing It On a Shoestring – There Goes My Business Down The Drain, Just Don’t Tell My Clients, OK
Cheap Ways To Get Noticed, Expensive Ways To Get Ignored – Learned On The Streets In Amsterdam—Those Of You Who Know Amsterdam Will Understand, If Not Google images- Red-light District Amsterdam. Get the picture.
Stuck In The Mud Concerns, Hey Sometimes Your Firestones Will Not Push You Out, Then What?
I’ve Fallen and Can’t Get Up…..Now What?? – Who Do You Turn To When You Need Help? Please do not say your Spouse; Remember She / He did Not think it was a good idea!…..They will only say…"See I told you so, You did not listen to me!" . . .Right, like you never heard that before!
Please Understand We Will NOT Cover Financial / Tax Advice. No Exceptions. You Want Everything For Free? But, We Will Cover Means & Sources For Financing Your Business. NO, NOT ME!
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NOW THE 12 DIRTY LIES TOLD and HEARD WHEN STARTING A BUSINESS, there are more but 12 is such a nice round number.
1 “ I want to start a business; I know it will work…”
2 “ My boss is a jerk, I can do a much better job…” ,
3 “ I have a great idea for a product, I will be rich…”,
4 “ People love my work, they compliment me all the time, I know I can make good money doing this…”,
5 “ When I am my own boss, things will be different . . .”,
6 “ Hey, that guy makes a living doing it, so can I. . .”,
7 “ You understand your craft, so of course I understand the business that makes me qualified. . .”,
8 “ I can startup my business on a shoestring, Cousin Harry did, and look at him . . .” ,
9 “ Hey, I make all the money for the company, the customers love me, they told me - “If you ever go out on my own, they will buy from me,and ”. . . and you think, boy this company will be sorry when I leave. . .”,
10 “ Think failure and you will fail, Think like a winner, you will be a winner. . .”,
11 “ Look at the quality of that stuff, look at the poor craftsmanship, look at the materials, hey, I could do it better and make a fortune. . .”,
And lastly, my absolute personal favorite
12 " Hey, I DO NOT need a business plan, I know what I am doing, I got it ALL up here . . .”!
Think – how many of you have heard these, thought these, used these, or simply recognize this behavior.
Now for truths to these lies – Hey, this is only Part 1 – You must tune in next time ! But to hold you over—Here goes today’s advice -
Step 1- What is the Primary Starting Point in Starting Your Business ?
The Primary Starting Point Is –
Plan Your Life,
Then Plan Your Business.
Some of the most successful and happy people I know are entrepreneurs, they created a business that’s in perfect synchronicity with what they want out of life. If you do what you love, you’ll work harder, better and more happily. With that said, Ask Yourself . . .”Am I the ideal candidate to start a business, understand the business, and eventually grow the business.” When I mention business, I do NOT mean your product / service, I mean THE BUSINESS OF BEING IN BUSINESS, and YOU MUST understand this DIFFERENCE before you ever begin.
In 1981, a phone call from a friend asked me to meet with 3 guys starting their own business. We met at a Waffle House outside Dallas, TX. Imagine, they were planning their business and having meetings at a Waffle House! All 3 gentlemen were still employed at very large company, but knew they were going to leave to start their own company. We talked for many hours that day about how they were planning their lives, and the business of running the new business. They were each investing $1000.00, one told me his wife thought he was "crazy". Only then after many hours of great discussions did we discuss their products, market and vision. I learned this rule from them. Shortly after, those 3 guys started that company, you may have heard of it, Compaq Computer.
This Starting Point Rule ( Plan Your Life, Then Plan Your Business ) will NOT make your business successful, Just your LIFE ! You must consider, what is important. Planning is the absolutely essential key in being successful. You may have heard this before, Plan the Business, and Work the Plan, first start with your life plan.Working that plan will make your life successful, then your business.
Happy People Are Always Successful,
Successful People Are Not Always Happy!
Ask Yourself, Which is Important to You?
Now, the answer from above:
Rule # 1- Hope is NOT a Strategy, A PLAN IS !
Tune In for the Next Part of this Series, "PLANNING Your Startup "
Need Help with your LifePlan? A jumpstart to consider Go Here >>
This is a link to a Gov't Stat that is worthwhile viewing Business Startups Gov't Stats: 2000 Census Stats
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