How to Prepare for Business Years 2.0+

Hey ‘all! Earlier this week I shared with you a special blog post about all the things I learnt about living the life of an entrepreneur (superhero’preneur to be exact, LOL).
And yes, sometimes it can be hard. Harder than we all wished it would be. But it comes with the territory.

Being an entrepreneur is a mindset. You have to see things as opportunities all the time.
~ Soledad O’Brien, American Broadcaster of Matter of Fact

That’s how today’s blog post came about … to help you prepare for what I like to call “Business Years 2.0+ …

First, did you know that statistics indicate that the first five years are considered “survival years”? Sounds kind of harsh if you ask me but realistically one out of every 12 businesses shut their doors each and every single year. Of course, not all of those businesses that close are failing. It’s all about survival. New technology, changing patterns, shifting trends, etc.

So, by now you’re probably wondering if that statistic is you and how to avoid those first five extremely hazardous years. It’s not always about “survival of the fittest”. Sometimes those who seem right for the job don’t have the right tools. It’s really about survival of the fittest with a plan. A survival plan!

No, no. I’m not trying to freak you out. I’m just trying to remind you how important planning and organization is during these early stages of entrepreneur-land. During all stages really but most importantly the first five years as not doing things with a plan could literally make or break your business. Which could possibly even make or break you. And nobody wants that. Especially not you.

 

To help you find the stepping stones you need to keep your plan afloat (or build one if you have already done so), here’s a list of 6 very achievable milestones to keep you focused and on track:

  1. The Business Model: This is where you get to tell you story. The one that counts. This story should have focus placed on a few questions, such as: who is your client/customer? Who do they value? What do you value? How do you deliver those values?

  2. The Repeat Client/Customer: Yes, this is the happy story where you’ve made the pitch and landed your first client. You’re filled with entrepreneurial confidence that even your toes are smiling. Now, how do you land your second? Third? And so on. This takes time, consideration and understanding of exactly who these clients/customers are, how they spend their time, what they received in value from you and how you can exceed their expectations. Rinse n’ repeat.

  3. The Marketing Strategy: This is what I like to call the bloodline of your business. You can’t just sit around and wait for clients to fall like rain. You must work for it, earn it and have a brand that stands out. One that matters. Working with the right people will help you. Building a team will help you. Taking advantage of online marketing will help you. All of these things I just mentioned WILL HELP YOU … all the way to the bank!

  4. The Team: Remember, how in #3 I mentioned how having a team will help you … all the way to the bank. It’s the truth. Recently I was at a networking event and the extremely talented lady-preneurs who were presenting kept stressing how even if you can’t afford the team right now, you still need the team. Having a handful of reliable and talented individuals working with you will help you grow your business even quicker. Why? Because for once in your life you won’t have to do everything by yourself!

  5. The Brand That Works: Okay, so you’ve been working hard. You’re moving along, have a team in place to help you out and making some good coin. You’re probably wondering what’s next? Well, it’s time to up your branding game. It’s time to create more content, better content, eye-catching content … Content your industry needs. Your clients, customers and audience will see over time that you’re knowledgeable and then WHAM, you’re considered a pro. A guru. A brand that has authority.

  6. The Financial Plan: Ugh numbers! Something a lot of entrepreneurs avoid talking about. But you’re on a path for lasting success so it’s really the final milestone: setting specific financial goals. Without any goals in this area, how do you plan on growing? You can’t. So, quit procrastinating the calculations. Set a number, inform your team members and make it something you can work towards … together.

 

So, if you’re ready and willing to put in the hard work and not be a statistic don’t let anyone stand in your way. Do what you do best and let your team take care of the rest. After all, you’re more likely to succeed if you’ve tripped and fallen a few times rather than if you’ve never tried!

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Picture of Crystal Kordalchuk

Crystal Kordalchuk

Crystal is an artist, a writer, an organizer, a dreamer, a doer, and down-right proud of it NERD!.

Struck with a love for #AllThings creative at a very young age, Crystal dreamed of a life fueled by her passion for creating and bringing the stories and images in her mind into reality.

As she worked toward her dreams, she earned a diploma as a Computer Applications Specialist then another in Graphic Design and from there began to develop her extensive background in multimedia and the arts. She began her worked in the magazine industry as a layout designer and had a succession of design jobs thereafter. It was her role as a graphic/web designer that gave her the first real glimpse of her future. Soon she began a side job as a freelance designer while keeping one foot in the corporate world. A spark was lit! She turned her freelance gig into a full-time business combining design work with her other passion: creating organization from virtual chaos.

Crystal is one of the most organized individuals on the planet. She is by all means a Zen master of her crafts. She excels at helping others become “untangled” and provides her clients with tools to run their businesses smoothly while she takes care of the details behind the scenes. Thus Virtually Untangled was born. A successful business where her work as a top notch creative in graphic and web — with a twist of virtual assistant — married into one amazing place where clients can come with their virtual messes and become magically untangled. Crystal can always make sense of even the most unorganized chaos and offers a virtual detox of order and peace, so her clients can get busy doing the work that they love the most.

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