Options In Starting A Business
October 20th, 2009
There are three main aspects that you need to address in choosing the right business opportunity. You need to know what to avoid, know what you want in a business, and know your own qualifications. I covered the first two parts of this equation in my previous articles, How To Find The Right Home Based Business, and Red Flags and Mine Fields. This article will deal with the third – and possibly the most important – aspect of your decision making process.
Making the decision to start your own business is a very big step in the right direction for your financial future, especially in this economy. Congratulations, you have crossed a very big hurdle in your journey toward financial freedom. Now, let’s try to narrow the scope of your search.
“Decision is the spark that ignites action. Until a decision is made nothing happens.” (Wilfred A. Peterson)
I have run across many people who have said they aren’t good sales people or they don’t want to sell anything or something to that effect. I understand that the thought of selling can be intimidating. I have been in various forms of sales for years and I still don’t care for the concept of trying to convince someone to do something they don’t want to do…and that is what most people think of when they think of selling. Be that as it may, in order for any business to make money, some form of a good or a service must change hands, i. e. a sale must take place. It’s that simple.
Before you jump into one business after another, hoping to strike it rich, (like I did), stop and look at yourself. Take stock of your situation and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in an open and honest manner. Obviously your focus in this business endeavor is to succeed so don’t choose something that requires skills that you have identified as your weak points. Doing so would hamper your chances for success.
I once worked for a very well known national company. This company has a phenomenal marketing presence which everyone recognizes. That alone got my foot in the door. The sales job I had with this company depended on my ability to cold call. That was one of the things I identified as a weakness when I 1000 took stock of myself. Although I loved the company and its products, if I would have stayed in that position relying on my ability to cold call, I would have starved. My point is simply that you should not choose a business at which you’re not well suited.
My assets are that I am a good communicator, very detail oriented, a good teacher, patient, and I very much want to help people. My weaknesses are that I am lousy at cold calling and I consider it a waste of time to try to convince someone that my product or service is good for them if they don’t think it is. It doesn’t sound like I would make a very good candidate for a typical sales job.
I was fortunate to find the perfect business for my skills. Yes, it is a sales position technically. (How else would I make money?) But it differs from the classic sales position that scares most people. I never cold call anyone. I only call people back once they have contacted me and asked for information. That eliminates one of my biggest weaknesses right there. I also know that I will be investing my time working with new customers so I don’t want to bring someone aboard whom I will have to drag to work every day. That eliminates me trying to convince anyone to do something about which they may be reluctant. There, now both of my weaknesses are out of the way.
What I have been shown in this business is to simply give people all of the information they will need to make a good decision for themselves. From there, it is up to them to determine if this is a good fit for them. That’s simple enough for me. I am a good communicator. When someone chooses to follow me into this business, I work with them to teach them every aspect of how to earn a six figure income. Once again, it plays to my strengths of teaching and helping people.
My whole point is that you can succeed in the process of finding the right business for yourself if you take a good, hard look at yourself first. Identify your strengths and weaknesses so when you see an opportunity, you will be able to evaluate in an objective manner if you would be well-suited to that business. By doing that, no matter how attractive an opportunity looks, you won’t be tempted to put yourself in a position to depend on your weaknesses to help you succeed. If you are lucky enough to find an opportunity like I did that plays to your strengths, while minimizing any reliance on your weaknesses, you’re home free!
By: Allen Buck
