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PLANNING YOUR BUSINESSThe planning stage of any business can be difficult. Plans are decided, altered, amended, updated, and corrected. This process allows a plan to be refined as each stage is adjusted to correspond to an overall pattern. People entering business have basically two options to choose from, and they are products and services. In many cases the two are combined. For example, it is entirely possible to have a bookkeeping business and at the same time sell office supplies. A self-evaluation should include asking yourself if you have the experience or knowledge to start your business, and if you are willing to take the time to learn what you need to know to be successful. If your venture is going to be one of "on the job training" you must be willing to absorb the price of some lost time and the cost of making some mistakes. You will know if you're actually ready to start a business by simply asking yourself, "If you owned a business, would you hire yourself? Motivation and dedication is a strong force, that together with the proper planning, can spell financial success. Your "proper planning" should of course be analyzed so that your reasons for starting a business is a reinforcing lever rather than an albatross around your neck. Self-motivation and being your own boss can make a better life for yourself and your family. Many men and women have gone into business for themselves simply because they couldn't continue working for someone else under conditions they considered intolerable. A great incentive to succeed in itself! Incentive and making a profit however, do not necessarily walk hand in hand. You can often make a determination on your ability to make a go of it in business by examining how well you handle your daily life. For example: (1) Do you have organizational skills? (2) Are you prompt in paying your bills? (3) Are you able to sacrifice immediate gratification to invest in a future benefit? (4) Does improving your quality of life drive you? (5) Do you enjoy working with people? (6) Do you enjoy working with computers? (7) Are you a problem solver, or does normal pressure make you “short-circuit"? In the computer business (or any business for that matter) you must be willing and able to follow through. To make a profit, you must confront problems enthusiastically and with a business spirit that has no room for putting off a job or challenge. Putting off, setting aside, or changing your mind in a negative sense can only lead to quick failure.It is important that you review your every business move. Plan and choose not only the type of computer business you will do best in, but also the type of business you will be happiest with. If you require some training for specific phases of your computer business, you will be time and money ahead. Wasted errors and time can become an expensive mistake. Starting a business that fits your computer background and knowledge is sound and logical. Also, a part of your planning should and could include educating yourself either in a first time study or refresher course. You can accomplish this prior to beginning your computer business or while you're operating your business in areas that you are knowledgeable in. In either event, your plans should cover a thorough assessment of your knowledge and interests in the proposed computer business. Growth & ExpansionIncome producing enterprises may be planned as long-range long lasting ventures. Your plans should include growth potential and the future expansion of your market. You should also plan for gradual increases in personal benefits with large portions of the profits going back into your business to provide for future growth. Your initial equipment will reflect your actual needs for growth. It is important that you buy equipment that will amortize over a long useful life and provide lower operating expenses. However, you can also start a business for the sole purpose of making a capital gain. In other words, you could set up a business, plan on a fairly short-term operation, with the single purpose in mind of finding a suitable buyer at the right time. Is Your Plan Workable?Now that you've planned this far, step back and take a look at it. Is it realistic? Can you do enough business with the knowledge you have to make a living? If it doesn't appear to be workable, now is the time to revise your plan, not after you've invested your time and money. If you're not certain about what revisions should be made, share your plan with people who may offer professional and experienced help. For example, you could contact someone at your local Small Business Administration Office, your local banker, or college business professor. Their experience and advise could turn into dollars. If you have strong doubts about your business, or your ability to operate it, it might be better at this point to temporarily delay going into business until you have the opportunity to brush up on management skills. After you feel comfortable with the management part of business, your computer business operation will begin to show profitable results. Sometimes circumstances can be different than what a person expected. This of course is normal, and no one can predict the future with 100% certainty. The difference between success and failure in planning often lies in a person's ability to be alert and watch for the areas that may require change. When you decide that you are ready to begin your business, remember that action is the difference between a plan and a dream. If a plan is not acted upon, it has no more value than a dream that never materializes. To deserve success, you must seek it. Your Attitude Can Determine Your Success or FailureRemember: IF YOU THINK YOU ARE BEATEN, YOU ARE; IF YOU THINK YOU DARE NOT, YOU DON’T. IF YOU LIKE TO WIN, BUT THINK YOU CAN’T, IT’S ALMOST A CINCH YOU WON’T. IF YOU THINK YOU’LL LOSE, YOU’VE LOST FOR OUT IN THIS WORLD WE FIND, SUCCESS BEGINS WITH A PERSON’S WILL- IT’S ALL IN THE STATE OF THE MIND. LIFE’S BATTLES DO NOT ALWAYS GO TO THE STRONGER OR FASTER MAN, BUT SOONER OR LATER THE MAN THAT WINS IS THE ONE WHO THINKS HE CAN. |
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