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Being a new business owner is a wonderful time in your life and an accomplishment to be proud of. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges or even a bit of uncertainty that lies ahead. There will be a lot of tasks to tackle and information that you’ll need to think about in the beginning stages of running a company.

Start small and continue to build upon your successes and what’s working so you can gain confidence and stability over time. Keep in mind that you’re only one person and can’t do it all. Instead, you should be strategic in how you divide up your time and attention by knowing what you should care about most as a new business owner.

Getting Set up & Protecting Yourself

There are many steps and tasks that will need to be addressed when starting your own business. You should focus on getting your office space set up, perfecting your business plan, and understanding the different ways in which you’ll need to protect yourself and your business. For example, there will be shareholders agreements to put in place and review, designations to get and legalities to comb through, and, in a digital era, you’ll want to make sure you’re protected online against cyber attacks. Know your numbers and consider your personal and business finances, as well, and make sure you keep these accounts separate.

Acquiring New Clients

It’s also important that you focus on developing a powerful message and have a marketing strategy in place right from the start. Acquiring new clients won’t necessarily be easy but is essential to you heading off in the right direction. Focus your energy on the customer and understand your market in greater detail. Figure out which social media channels you want to have a presence on and traditional offline marketing methods you’ll want to use and outline the different types of information you want to include in your marketing materials. You not only need to gain new customers and attention from your target audience but then you have to deliver exceptional customer service so that you keep them coming back.

Hiring Talented Staff

You will have a lot of to-dos to take care of as a new business owner and will want to work on growing your company over time. Therefore, you should care about hiring talented staff to help you out. Get an idea of what positions you need to fill and document detailed job descriptions to make sure you attract the right candidates and hire those who are the best fit. Avoid hiring too quickly or friends and family and put a process and recruiting strategy in place so you can have more success in this area.

Identifying Where You Need Help

Know your own strengths, skills, and talents and also the areas where you fall short or need help. You may need to outsource some tasks or get input from others on certain matters. Identify what you’re struggling with or want more input on such as with your finances, IT, marketing, or business operations, and then get the people you need on your team working for you as quickly as possible. Remind yourself that it’s okay to not know it all or have all the skills you require right away and that pinpointing your shortcomings is a strength in itself.  

Your Competitors

It’s always worth your efforts and time to research and understand more about your competitors as a new business owner. You should know and care about what they’re up to and have a good idea of what makes them unique or different, as well as the reasons customers may flock to them. It’s going to help you know where you should focus your efforts and time and what gaps you may be able to fill in. It’s a great opportunity to help you in your journey to finding ways to have your marketing, products, and services stand out in a sea of competition.

Your Health & Managing Your Time

You should also care about yourself as a new business owner. You’ll want to make sure you’re taking good care of your health and wellness so you can perform your best. When you feel great and are full of energy then you’ll make wiser decisions and be able to lead others more successfully. Managing your time properly is yet another important aspect of being a business owner. You’re going to be pulled in many directions and a variety of people will need you for certain tasks and meetings. You want to make sure that you always show up on time and are prepared for the conversation ahead. Your business will have a better chance of thriving when you make your wellbeing and managing your time a priority.

Finding A Business Mentor

Seek out and secure a mentor if you want to succeed as a new business owner. There are going to be times you’ll want their input and advice on particular matters or situations. Avoid making assumptions or doing it your own way and instead gather other opinions and viewpoints before making a final decision. Find someone who’s been in your shoes before and has made mistakes that you want to avoid repeating. Surround yourself with a strong network of other business professionals and advisors as well who have experience and insights to offer you so you can overcome challenges and carve out a bright future.

Conclusion

Most importantly, have a passion for what you do and what you’re selling. This will be apparent to others and shine through in your interactions. Your job will become harder as time passes and you’ll need to use and turn to these feelings and emotions to help you stay motivated and driven. Now that you’ve come this far it makes sense that you want to do all that’s in your power to ensure a rewarding and profitable future for you and your company. Let these ideas inspire you and help you concentrate your energy and efforts in the right areas.