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The Key to Business Success - Stay Positive
Starting a business requires you to complete a number of steps and make some key decisions. Though part of your overall plan, you?ll need to decide on a business structure, and obtain the necessary licenses and permits. In addition, determining which financing options will meet your short-term needs and long-term goals is crucial.
But none of this makes any difference if you don't maintain a positive attitude about the success of your enterprise.
Starting a new business is a very difficult endeavor. Many ominous statistics hang over your head about the failure rates of new businesses and the number of years it will take to turn a profit. However, by staying positive throughout it all you can not only help reduce the stress on your body and mind, but you also have a better chance of actually succeeding. There are many things you can do to stay optimistic about your new business-and when you take these steps you will find that believing in yourself is the number one requirement for starting a new business.
First, think positively even when you are certain you will be wrong. Selling your crafts at a local market? Set an optimistic goal for yourself to earn by the end of the day. If you set your goals high, you will push yourself harder to achieve these goals. Keep your eyes on the big picture. It is important to be realistic, but also important to see that little failures do not necessarily have to add up to big failures.
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There is help available.
In starting a small business you should never think you can do it alone! One of the best ways to insulate yourself against business failure is to find and work with a mentor, someone with business experience who can guide and assist you.
A good resource is the Service Corps Of Retired Executives (SCORE) which can link you to retired professionals who are available to give you advice.
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Take this same attitude when you are dealing with others. By being positive, you encourage your employees to work hard towards the goals of the company. Nobody wants to work on a project that the leader doesn't believe will succeed! The same is true for clients and customers. Be enthusiastic about your product or service and try to interact with customers as though they have already paid for your services. It is important here not to simply put on a happy face, but to actually believe in yourself and your business.
Work on forward motion. Even if your company does not achieve all of its goals within the first year, you still can work on producing higher profits and better customer relations. Where your business may fail in one area it may succeed in another. Remember that you want your company as a whole to move forward. When you are starting a new business, put positive thinking into everything you do to be sure that you don't find yourself at a stand still.
When you do have set backs, approach them as learning tools instead of getting upset or angry. Every small business will have failures when you are first beginning. Learn from your mistakes and focus on the big picture. By staying optimistic about your company, you have a much better chance for success in the long run.
About the Author: Michael Saunders has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He edits a Websites on Starting a Small Business and Ideas to Start Your Own Business.
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