The Do's & Don'ts of Entrepreneurship

While there is no "one size fits all" approach to business, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of some of the many tried and true methods that business owners follow today. As well as the common methods people have tried that simply don't work. There is no point in trying something that is proven not to work.  

Here are a few dos and don'ts to entrepreneurship:

Do: Understanding Your Target Audience

A key difference between successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs is understanding their target audience. If you don't understand your target audience correctly, you won't make the valuable products, services, or content they need.

Don't: Ignore Your Target Audience

Once you know who they are, you can't just expect to market to them and get them to purchase from you instantly. You must engage and interact with them. The more willing you are to provide what they need, the more likely they will become a loyal customer. Not only that, it proves you truly understand who they are and what they need from you the most.

Do: Be Financially Responsible

Poor cash flow is the number one reason many new entrepreneurs and businesses fail. If you are just starting out, you need to figure out a solid plan to cover your expenses, the costs you need to start your business, and what you need to keep it running full time sustainably. Without this key information, it is always best to wait before transitioning full-time or starting the business. A poor idea of finances likely means you won't be able to sustain your business.  

Don't: Be Impatient and Expect Overnight Success

Social media and many other outlets on the internet make overnight success look straightforward, realistic, and something that happens often. However, that is far from the truth. Even the stories that seem like overnight successes took years to perfect their skills and find the right people to enjoy and share the products or services with. Starting with the expectation that it more than likely won’t happen overnight will help you avoid being frustrated with your progress.  

Do: Learn from Your Mistakes

No entrepreneur is free of mistakes. In fact, many successful ones will tell you their failures are what got them to where they are today. Through failures, you can quickly identify what you need to do to see the outcome you are hoping for.

Don't: Start Without a Plan

You can't start a business without a plan and expect to be successful. Business plans help you define your idea, goals, market, target audience, marketing strategies, and financial projections. Without this information, you won't determine if your idea is viable or realistic. This can lead to many years of frustration as well as wasted resources.

Following these common dos and don’t’s to entrepreneurship will provide you with the basic foundation to get started. Today, many successful business owners have tried these methods and know exactly what it requires to run a profitable business. But, conversely, following many of these don'ts and avoiding these essential dos to entrepreneurship can lead to failure.