It’s our fifth birthday this month! To thank you for your ongoing support, and to spread the celebratory feels, we’d like to pop the cork on some valuable lessons we’ve learned along the way, regarding running a small business.
We’re offering one tip for each of our five years in business. So, take a moment to relax and fill up on some free insights with our 5 lessons from running a small business!
1. Plan, plan, plan!
It can’t be said enough. Success starts with good planning. We always advise this in our marketing work, and it’s even more important from an overall business perspective.
Without a plan, you have no goals, no metrics, no drive – it’s a known fact that achievement motivation is an important determinant of aspiration, effort, persistence, and will.1 A plan will help you define your target achievements so you can keep your business on track and stay pumped in the process!
Of course, not any plan will do. The plan must be realistic. It must consider current facts and calculated projections. A plan that is too optimistic will likely have the opposite desired effect – it’ll demotivate, disappoint, and ultimately fail.
Tip: Work with an expert – a business coach, accountant – to help devise your plan. Regularly check in with these experts and other like minded business people – networking groups, other small business owners – to remain accountable to your plan. Change your plan when change is necessary and have contingency plans in place, should unplanned external factors threaten your current strategic direction.
2. Believe in yourself
If you don’t believe in yourself, then who will? For small business owners, you are your brand. A strong confident business owner is more likely to achieve better business outcomes than one who’s sinking in self-doubt.
Tip: To believe in yourself, first practice resilience. A resilient leader encourages a motivated team, thus bettering your chances of business success. Resilience is also the greatest weapon in the face of risk – instilling a sense of trust and determination in yourself, your team, and your business.
3. Surround yourself with good people
You should also create a support team, and believe in them. Their growth, ambitions, and capabilities should be embedded into your business planning. Your team may be employees, subcontractors, or suppliers; it doesn’t matter their formal relationship, it matters how you work together and grow. Take the time to understand them, so that mutual respect can develop and they can appropriately represent your business and brand.
Tip: Keep your internal operations tickety-boo! Without a happy functioning team, you won’t have a functioning business.
4. Delegate don’t dominate
When success hits, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to keep doing everything you currently do. If you try, it’s likely that you – and your business – will fail. Let go of the things you don’t enjoy, and consider outsourcing, hand over those time-consuming tasks that motivate others but not yourself – bookkeeping, accounting, even marketing. Here at We Are Savvy, we’ll gladly take that unnecessary brand and marketing weight off your shoulders, leaving you feeling focussed and your business thriving!
Tip: As soon as you can afford to outsource the areas where you don’t have the expertise, then outsource. Leave it to the experts. If done properly, the benefits will far outweigh the costs!
5. Celebrate!
One of my favourite lessons from running a small business is to celebrate. Celebration spreads happiness, inspiration, motivation, and strong team vibes. Celebrate the wins, and remember, every success is a significant one. Size doesn’t matter! Where appropriate, celebrate wins with your clients and stakeholders too – those who use your services, and those who make it possible to deliver them effectively. Celebration also provides great marketing benefits by creating optimism and excitement.
Tip: Celebration is not just about winning… If you’re at capacity, or a job isn’t the right fit, and you therefore turn it down, this is something to celebrate. It means business is booming and your brand is expanding! Turn the seemingly negative into a promising positive to keep yourself and your team energised.
There’s a lot to consider when starting and running a small business. Remember, deliver on your plans, manage risk, practice resilience, and remain human. With these things in place, you’re likely building a very successful business.
Get in touch via hello@wearesavvy.com.au to talk about how we can help you stand out from the crowd and keep your clients loyal to your business.