If I were starting a business in today’s digital age here are some of the first things I would do to set myself up for success.
Who is this for?
Now this advice is for to people who have a solid grasp on what they want to start off doing as an entrepreneur. They have a concept, figured out their name, and are now looking to move on to the next steps of establish their business. So, here’s the first 3 things that I would do:
1. SETUP A SEPARATE EMAIL ACCOUNT
I can’t express how important is is to separate your business email from your personal email. Most people have emails that they’ve had for years. That’s cool…keep it! Just don’t use it for your business. No one wants to email a business owner at BiggJuicyRed2035@gmail.com. Emails like these can be distracting.
Having a seperate email account will allow you to be consistent. If I tell you my business name is ACME123, you see me in a ACME123 shirt, and your can reach me at ACME123@gmail.com, then it’s a little easier to remember. Everything is consistent.
Lastly use this email only for business inquires or business focused communications. Anything else can go to your personal BiggJuicyRed2035@gmail.com email account…lol. You can easily set up a gmail account for FREE using Gmail.
2. SET UP A AUTOMATED SCHEDULING SYSTEM
As a business owner I found myself taking a lot of meeting and having a lot of calls. At one point I felt like my time wasn’t mine any more. I was tied to the phone, and I could easily be pulled off track from what I should’ve been focused on.
I also realized the the phone was the lifeline to my business. This was how people connected with me, got to know my personality, find out if I was knowledgeable, and get a feel for my style of consulting.
I had to be more structured with the time I spent on the phone, because if I didn’t no work would get done. So, I found a solution. I wouldn’t take any calls unless it was scheduled. I still apply this today. One of the best platforms for scheduling calls is Calendly. It seamlessly integrates with you gmail account and google calendar.
I would set this up for any new client looking to do business with me. Now you don’t have to go back in forth on the best day to talk about a project, job, or service. Let them pick the best time that works for them.
3. INVEST IN A CONSULTANT
I did not do this starting out. My journey has been a looooong lonely road of success and failures. Having a consultant doesn’t solve this, but it does help to have someone that can relate and guide you through. Your journey is your journey, but having a consultant can help you move through the hurdles and challenges a little quicker. Sometime you just need that quick strategy session, or you need to get a quick answer to something that would have you stumped for hours, or maybe you need a connection with someone in you field.
A good consultant has relationships, communicates clearly, pushes you to get out of your comfort zone, and has experience in entrepreneurship. Having someone like this in your corner is invaluable.
I couldn’t understand this when I first started. I was like “Pay someone? And I’m just starting out?!? Nah…I’m good. I’ll figure it out.” I got a lot of experience in that 10 year journey of figuring it out alone, but now that I realize the value of time I would definitly invest in a consultant or mentor. I currently have 3 consultants that play a major role in the success that I have today. I personally focus on Mental, Execution, and Negotiation.
Understand that it’s up to you to execute on the advice and consultation you recieve. But, with the proper guidance and strategy you can see your business catapult in the direction you want it to go.
