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Entrepreneur 101: 7 Powerful Business Secrets
By Oliver P Rochester
Let's blow away all the chaff. All of it. Whooosh! Gone.
What's left? Here are seven business nuggets for you to ponder.
Whether you're seeing them for the first time or
the hundredth time, they're just as powerful. Put a check
mark next to any you've mastered and move on to the next.
1. You're in a particular business. Right? Wrong.
Actually, you're in the business of marketing your
business. Now, you and I know you've got a great
product AND great service. But great marketing will
beat an otherwise great business any time. We all
need to put them together. Great marketing and great
business. Now you're unstoppable!
2. Speaking of marketing. You must become an expert on
marketing your business to your market. Don't
delegate this one, absolutely essential task. I've
tried and failed. only you have the drive, passion
and ambition to do it right. Marketing is hard, but
ignore it at your own peril!
3. Balance in all things. Yes, clever and innovative
beats spending buckets of cash. However, be careful
that your leading edge advantage doesn't become your
bleeding edge pain. The money is where the competition
isn't. But make sure you don't end up in left field.
4. Tattoo your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) to the
inside of your eyelids. It's that important. It is
the cornerstone of your business and your anchor when
the storms of trouble hit. Are you unclear about your
USP? That fuzziness can be the root of a thousand
problems to follow.
5. Have A Plan. Sure, it will change. But without one,
how do you know if you're doing what you're supposed
to be doing or just meandering around in the muck?
Your customers, suppliers, lenders and associates will
all respect you for having a clear plan.
6. Don't go it alone. Of course, you're working for
yourself because you want to be your own boss. But
the world is a mighty big place. You're going to need
help conquering it. Build alliances and joint
partnerships. Belong to a mastermind group or two.
Find a mentor. Or two. Or three.
7. Your business is there for you. You are its master.
Otherwise, you've just got a job. Your business must
match your personality. Your business environment
must be supremely comfortable to you. Otherwise,
you'll be tempted to be reactive instead of proactive.
Your creativity is your lifeblood. Make sure your
environment supports this.
How many check marks did you get? It's not an easy list.
But you knew your business wasn't going to be all peaches
and cream when you got into it. The lure of freedom and
wealth still makes it all worth it.
Copyright © 2005 Oliver P Rochester
About the Author
Oliver P Rochester has had the most stringent boss of his
life for the last decade - himself. Employees come and go
but his boss stays the same. This is how he likes it.
You can read more articles about small business at http://www.Dsmallbusiness.com
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