what business ownership has taught me

www.tonypaullconsulting.com

Supporting Home and Small Business

WHAT BUSINESS OWNERSHIP TAUGHT ME



The most important lessons I learned after almost 17 years

as a Home and Small Business Owner



Using a MENTOR



I have always had mentors of one sort or another

It is my belief that all Start-ups should be assisted by a Mentor

They are not that difficult to find

http://www.tonypaullconsulting.com/how-to-be-mentored/



Learning from Others… and from My Mistakes



After several spectacular failures,I realised very early in my entrepreneurial journey that I needed to be street wise and business savy

if I was going to survive, net alone flourish.



I made it a crusade to meet and talk business ownership

with every successful small business owner I could find.



“Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.”

- Winston Churchill



Word of mouth became my advertising motto



My best marketing achievements came from talking at Business Conferences, Chamber meetings and Industry forums.

I had my “elevator pitch” printed on the reverse of my business cards and so

“if it moved, I gave it a card!”



The Home front- Three simple rules I learned



Keep your partner, and the family if applicable, informed of your plans

Separate family and business, especially when it comes to finances

Make time, on a regular basis, for the family.



I have always insisted on making my home office space somewhere that

I enjoyed spending time in.



Avoiding procrastination



Something I did struggle with in the beginning but on the odd occasion, my procrastination saved me

from several potential financial calamities.

There is a fine line between procrastinating out of fear and just biding your time.

But sometimes a little indecision may not be a totally bad thing.



Dealing with customers



I have always treated my customers, repeat or first timers,as though they are funding my next meal!

Understanding my own attitudes and behaviours as both a customer to my suppliers and as a consumer, has given me a clearer understanding of what to expect from my customers.



Managing finances

Businesses go out of business because they run out of money. Granted, there are many contributory causes for the financial droughtbut when income is exceeded by expenses, the doors close.



I am fanatical about managing the company finances

Be CEO and CFO even if it creates some strain.

Select Financial Managers with care

Always KNOW what money is coming in and going out



My Final Take Away



My final “take away” is something I have deliberately worked very, very hard at all my life – and that is to stay HEALTHY.

No matter how healthy your bank balance may be,it will be meaningless unless you have a healthy and balanced life style.



Click on the Image to get your FREE COPY

http://eepurl.com/b_RJfX

Tony Paull Consulting

Supporting Home and Small Businesses

Follow me on

http://www.tonypaullconsulting.com/

https://twitter.com/tonypaullbiz

https://za.linkedin.com/in/tonypaull

https://www.facebook.com/tonypaullconsulting?ref=hl

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+TonyPaullConsulting/posts

what business ownership has taught me

Small Business & Entrepreneurship