When engaging in a small business startup it is important to have an understanding of what it takes to succeed in business. In this snapshot from an interview between Dale Beaumont and Lisa Messenger discover some great tips on succeeding in business. With a background in sponsorship, marketing and PR, Lisa is currently the managing director of Messenger Marketing and Messenger Publishing. She is also the author of two books, with a six-part series of books soon to be released.
What are the most important things you have learnt about succeeding in business?
1. Maintain your Focus
For too many years I didn’t do this and constantly diluted my efforts because I was running in different directions. While I still offered great service to clients, I constantly had to reinvent the wheel.
2. Build a Great Team
You can’t do it on your own. Let go of the reigns and get some helpers because if you can’t, you might as well give up right now.
3. Build Quality Client Relationships
This is paramount in my business as it is largely based on word of mouth. What is handy, however, is that we only have to work with people we like.
4. Create Leverage
My business is now extremely focused to the point that we can present the same concepts, ideas and intellectual property through multiple products with multiple price points to reach a wider audience.
5. Love What You Do
No, really love what you do! Be so passionate about your cause that you radically believe that you can achieve it. Keep reminding yourself why you’re pursuing your cause and keep raising the bar so you are constantly challenging yourself.
6. Have Self-Belief
When someone tells me I can’t do something, I persist even harder! So should you. Knockers usually crush your ideas and goals because they’re afraid to go there themselves. Before I have even written a word, I have already designed the book cover. I do this so that both my team and myself know that it is not just a pipe dream – it’s about owning my destiny.
7. Surround Yourself with Incredible Mentors
Realise that you don’t know it all and that you need to open up to learning new things from those who have achieved success in parallel industries. You become a product of what you surround yourself with.
8. Have Financial Acumen
If you don’t have financial skills, find someone on your team who does. Our core business went from a flat fee and retainer style of invoicing to a really complex system of third party suppliers with multiple clients and multiple products. When you go from a $50,000 a year turnover to a $100,000 a month turnover, you need incredible systems in place to make it work.
9. Develop Intuition
In the beginning I laboured over decisions, but now I don’t have the luxury of time. I’ve got people around me who do the research, but intuitively you’ve got to know yourself and you’ve got to trust your instinct.
For more of this interview and small business startup success tips, check out “Secrets of Entrepreneurs Under 40 Exposed!“
