why now is a great time to start a new business
TRANSCRIPT
Why Now Is a Great Time to Start a New Business
By
Reuben Singh
Today, right now, thousands of people are sitting at their office desks dreaming
about running their own business; they’re desperate to escape the rat race; sick
of the nine-to-five and they know exactly what they’d do differently if they ran the
company instead of their boss. But very few of them will take the leap and follow
their dreams because they’re afraid. And that’s a shame because today is a great
day to start a new business!
People who have the energy, commitment and courage to start a new business
right now have so much going for them. They have huge advantages over those
of us who set up their first businesses 20 years ago. It’s not necessarily simple to
set up on your own these days but it is easier than it has ever been before. So
what are you waiting for? Do it now! If you can’t start a business today then you
probably never will.
The internet creates successful entrepreneurs
The internet has revolutionised all our lives. It has changed the way we
communicate and the way we learn - and it has radically altered the way we buy
and sell. The internet has created millions of new, highly motivated customers all
searching for the next big thing. And it has also created the perfect business
environment; one that allows first-time entrepreneurs to try out new business
ideas without the risks associated with big start-up bank loans. The world is really
a global village with sourcing, logistics, administration, telephony and marketing
all available online.
By creating a free website, using online marketplaces such as Ebay and building a
brand through social media, anyone can start a business from scratch at
practically no cost and take advantage of the global village. Growing your
business is easy too. So many elements of running a successful business can now
be done virtually; bought as software-as-a-service or outsourced remotely.
The best thing about the internet is that it doesn’t care who you are or where
you’re from. It doesn’t tell you that you don’t have the right background to start a
business and it doesn’t judge you. Many highly profitable and very successful
businesses are now run from very modest surroundings. People of all ages and
backgrounds now run multimillion pound companies they started on their home
computers in their spare time.
Customers want something different
The internet has created a culture of discovery. Today, when we shop we’re
looking for quality but we’re also looking for things that are a little bit different.
Twenty years ago if we wanted a new shirt or a new sofa, we just went to the high
street in our local town and if we couldn’t find what we wanted we went to the city
centre stores instead. Whatever happened, we knew our sofa was the same as
thousands of other people’s but there just wasn’t that much choice. The internet
changed all that. Today we know the choice is almost limitless and if we want
something different we’re prepared to spend a very long time looking for it.
Today big is not always better! People want to deal with smarter, smaller
businesses and do not necessarily want to deal with the big businesses. Clients
want friendly, personal service rather than a big, anonymous company. Customers
feel comfortable with small businesses because they like to know who they’re
dealing with; they would rather trust an individual or family business than a huge
faceless company. People know that they’ll get good customer service from a
smaller business and they like the idea of spending their money with people who
really value them as customers.
This new culture means start-up businesses with good websites and strong brands
that communicate with people directly through social media have a much greater
chance of success. The internet means that if you have sealable quality products
or services that are different from your competitors and at the right price, you will
succeed.
Don’t wait to start your new business
I’ve met so many people with great business ideas who have never had the
confidence or courage to just do it. It’s so very easy to keep telling yourself that
you’ll start a business one day but in the end, never even try. Everyone has the
ability to start a business and these days everyone can use a second or third
income stream.
Sometimes the best way to start a business is to collaborate with other co-
founders who have the skills that you don’t. This saves money and brings with it
valuable assets. Your collaborators don’t necessarily have to be involved full time
and neither do you - you can still keep your existing job. It doesn’t matter if it
starts as something you just do in the evenings or at the weekends. It doesn’t
matter if you’re only a part-time entrepreneur. Everyone starts small - there’s no
shame in that. What matters is that you don’t let fear stop you from seizing every
opportunity and trusting your instincts. If you want to start a business then there
has never been a better time. Don’t wait - just do it!
http://www.reubensingh.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/reuben-singh/entrepreneurs_b_5880230.html