I occasionally find myself second guessing things in my home business. After all, I certainly do not have an MBA and even though I’ve been in and around various types of businesses for my entire adult life—how can I be sure that I am doing things right and not making mammoth mistakes that will tank my business? Well, I can’t be entirely sure that I’m doing things right—but I can be reasonably sure…
I often hear beginning small business entrepreneurs say things like “But, how would I know really?” or “I don’t really know what I’m doing, but…”—so many of us are in the same boat. That is why we read so many articles and books and are constantly looking for guidance and answers. Even if we consider ourselves risk-takers by nature, we don’t really want to screw things up big time!
I think we can only do our best and then trust that things will work out well. But, I also think there is such a thing as “due diligence” in terms of business practices. Even if we want to do things our own way, there are some basic guidelines that can help us stay on the right course (making sure we follow basic bookkeeping practices, pay our taxes, get any licenses, put energy into marketing and record-keeping, etc.). It also helps to find people who have “been there” to serve as mentors. That is one thing I HAVE learned—to find people who have been through it to seek advice from and to not take advice from someone who hasn’t been there. It is like getting parenting advice from someone who has never actually been a parent—they may not be entirely off the mark, but it isn’t the same as someone who has lived through the trenches!
Also: How Prepared is Well-Prepared? (And When is it Too Much?)
Many New Things Seem Complicated