By TJ McCue, OpenForum.com
Small Business Owners Share Their Secrets to Success
Small business is the lifeblood of the economy because it adds passion and enthusiasm to all it touches. Sure, the money is nice, too, but that’s not the ultimate value provided to a community.
One of the most gratifying parts of my 25 years of working with small-business owners and entrepreneurs is the conversations I’ve had. So I asked for ideas on growing a business, making better decisions and for tips to help budding entrepreneurs stay focused and succeed. Here are just a handful of the many responses that I received on Twitter, Facebook and e-mail.
Eric Shannon, OhMyDogSupply
“Avoid your employees. Your own employees are the No. 1 reason why you never get anything done. They’re productivity vampires. Spend at least two hours per day with a closed door, no phone, no e-mail and no IM and you’ll be able to ‘take care of business’ like no other.”
Alexandra Golaszewska, AlexandraGo
“Narrow your focus. There are a lot of people out there doing what you do, and if you’re a generalist it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. The more tightly you focus, the more perfect a fit you become for your category. This can be based on your services or on the type of client. For example, if you’re a writer, maybe you only write new business proposals or LinkedIn bios or online dating profiles. Or maybe you offer a wider range of services, but only to restaurants or lawyers or ski resorts.”
Rick Potvin, Science in Vision
“Sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated, but if you aren’t getting the work done, your business is not advancing. ‘Would I have paid me for the work I did today?’ That puts the onus on your performance.”
Greg Rudolph, BoardBlazers
“It’s better to be simple than smart.”
