For some individuals, the idea that they are an entrepreneur is something they always knew. For others, they wonder if they simply don’t want to work with a boss and wonder if that makes them an entrepreneur or simply someone who can’t work with others. We have come up with 7 signs you might be an entrepreneur. There are many others, but these will help you determine whether you’re ready to ditch the 9-5 and own your own business.
7 Signs You Might Be An Entrepreneur
I knew from an early age that I was going to be an entrepreneur. Those children who run a lemonade stand in the front yard will typically grow up to run their own businesses. The entrepreneurial gene hits some folks early. For other people, dissatisfaction with a job or a downsizing leads them to entrepreneurship.
No matter your reasons, if you’re still struggling with whether you’re an entrepreneur, here is a fun list.
Your family has run its own business. When this happens children are either drawn to running a business or they’ve seen how much work it is and will run the other say and gather a paycheck.
You’ve got confidence to spare. Being an entrepreneur is not for the meek. When you strike out on your own, you need to be able to sell yourself, sell your products and services and build community. Being an entrepreneur is not easy if you’re a shrinking flower.
Passion is your middle name. Entrepreneurs need to be passionate about their self-employment and the product and/or service they produce.
You want to work in your fuzzy slippers and the only traffic jam you want to deal with is from family and pets!
You have a competitive nature. If you look at something and think, “I could do that better or faster!” you might be an entrepreneur.
You’re not afraid of hard work. As an entrepreneur, you don’t earn money unless you produce. It is much easier to work 9-5 and pick up the paycheck on Friday — regardless of how much work you did.
You see opportunities everywhere. Where others see a problem, you see a challenge and a problem to be solved. You don’t even think about all of the opportunities — they are just there!
Are you an entrepreneur? Are you constantly seeking opportunities? Do you want to be an entrepreneur, but don’t know where to start? We can help! Leave us a comment or contact Rex.
Even your clients and potential clients are too busy enjoying the summer to think about business — or your goods or services. What can you do? Some entrepreneurs find that summer is the best time to regroup, revamp and rework some business goals and reset priorities.
How To Stay Motivated This Summer
Even if you want to kick back this summer, don’t let all of your business momentum slide. Here are a few things you can do to stay motivated and keep your business viable and moving forward:
Look at your goals. You’re midway through the year. Are you on track to meet the goals you set? Do you want to, or need to, revamp the goals? Are they still relevant? Have you made changes in the business that should be reflected in your goals? Take a few hours to look over your business plan and your goals and update them if necessary.
Don’t completely stop marketing. Just because “everyone is on vacation” doesn’t mean you need to stop marketing. In fact, not everyone is on vacation. Stay in front of your ideal clients and continue your marketing efforts. Once summer is over, you don’t want to be scrambling to make up for lost ground.
Routines matter. Just because it’s summer and business is slower doesn’t mean you want to get out of the habits you’ve established. Go to the office. Write down your daily to-dos. Keep on track with your goals. Call on clients — whether in person or on the phone. In fact, this may be the best time to reach out to clients and do a check in — they may be slower too and this is an ideal time for you to both talk without feeling rushed.
I know in Arizona with our triple digit temperatures it’s hard to consider leaving the house. If that’s the case with you and you don’t want to leave your air conditioned office, use these summer months to continue marketing because the holidays will be here before you know it and you need to be ready!
The mantra in business has long been, “the customer is always right.” Is that still true? Is the customer always right? Maybe, but again maybe not. Today, a customer is more likely to complain, cause a fuss or demand changes and make unreasonable demands. A disgruntled customer is also more likely to jump online and leave a bad review.
In light of this, why isn’t the customer always right?
Is The Customer Always Right?
Here are some reasons you may want to give your employees, and yourself, more support and not give in to the customer and his or her demands.
It diminishes your employee’s power and autonomy. If you have hired and trained your people and contractors well, you need to trust that they followed your policies and procedures and that the customer just might not be as right as he or she thinks they are. You will have unhappy employees who feel you don’t value them — and just may leave.
It gives a customer the upper hand and may make an angry customer even more abrasive. This may mean the squeaky wheel is getting the grease and bad customers may receive better treatment (simply to shut them down) than does a good customer simply because the bad customer is angrier and louder.
Maybe you don’t want that customer. How will your business suffer if you tell that bad customer, “we appreciate your business, but we don’t want to do business with you any longer?” Will you have to close the doors because of this one customer? Will you get more customers if you kick the bad one to the curb? You just might.
If you’re still operating under the adage that the customer is always right, you may want to rethink that. You need to talk with your employees and see what the situation is with the customer who is always unhappy. How can you support your employee — the lifeblood of good customer service?
Have you ever bid a bad customer adieu? Did your business suffer?
Why is a community crucial to your success? A community feels connected to you and you to them. A community is there for you in good times and bad. your community — whether they are your clients or those with whom you interact regularly, colleagues or friends — helps your business in many ways.
To have a sustainable business you need to grow and nurture your community. It’s not enough to hand out a business card and leave a meeting; you want to truly connect with a potential client or colleague. Invite them out for coffee, ask them questions about themselves… truly connect.
How To Grow Your Business Community
What does it take to build a business community? Here are three ways to get started:
Engage with people. Don’t attend a networking meeting and hand out business cards and run. Stop, engage with people. Comment on something they’d said at the meeting, comment on something they’re wearing or have with them. Let them talk.
Don’t hide behind social media. Yes, it’s easy to think you’re growing your community on social media — and you are, after a fashion. Nothing beats a face-to-face — even if you’re in a different state or country you can connect. Fire up a video chat such as Skype and get to know the person face-to-face, even if it’s virtually. Quality over quantity when it comes to social media numbers.
Get involved. If you’re a member of a professional organizaion, trade group, Chamber of Commerce, get involved. Volunteer on committees. Support the group you’re a part of because it mirrors your business’s mission and values. The more you get involved, the larger your community will be and the more people you will meet.
What can you do today to build your community? What have you tried that has been wildly successful in building your community? Are you still struggling to find and nurture your community? Let us know. We can help.
