As someone who has started a number of businesses (some failed, some did OK) there are three key things I have learnt. Regardless of your industry or skills, how much financial backing you have or don’t, this is what you need to consider before you even register that domain name.
1. What is your WHY? Why are you starting a business? If it’s for the sheer purpose of making money, that’s totally fine, but you need to understand your own motivations, because that will shape how you move forward. Spend some time thinking about your core values and motivations. Do they align? If not, you’re going to be in a world of stress being at odds with yourself.
2. What problem are you solving? There’s plenty of businesses out there, many doing the same things as you! What’s the issue you’re addressing, and how are you doing it differently (better) than your competitors?
3. Who are you solving the problem for? Understand your people. What are their pain points, stresses, motivators and what influences their decisions? Where are they? What media to they consume? WHAT DO THEY NEED?
Understanding all this will create a platform for connection between you and customers.
If you have a pretty firm grasp on these three things when considering your ideas, you can start to build the pieces of your business around it, and it will drive your activity.
I’ve created a worksheet you can use to explore your answers to these questions. Even if you’re in the thick of business, take some time to reflect and recalibrate to make sure your activity is aligned with what you really want, and who you’re serving.
Print this out, grab a coffee and a pen, and give your business the thinking time it deserves. I make all my worksheets printable, because I really believe in handwriting your planning and thinking before formalising things digitally. There is something magical, affirming, and tangible about the physical act of recording what’s in your brain, by hand.
As always, would love to hear how you go! Drop me a line at hello@commsnerd.com.
Best, Jade.