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Now that you have your "Why"; Now that you have developed a vision for your business, let's work on some of the details of what the business will be.

The first step of course is to decide "What" you will offer.  Is it a product?  A service?

Great!

The first thing you need to know, however:  Is it something other people want?

If you live in an area that is hot and humid all the time, you probably won't do well selling coats or jackets.  Air-conditioners, on the other hand, might go over quite well.

Great!  We want to sell Air-Conditioners.

Now, how many will you need to sell?  How many people in your area are likely to buy?  What is your competition?  How will you differentiate yourself?

These just a few of the questions that you need to ask, and answer, as they form the basis of your Business Plan.  Yes, you really should write a business plan, even if you are planning to build a home-based business with only yourself.

There are many templates for such plans on the Internet, some free, some not so much.  SCORE is an excellent resource for getting templates, and for getting information on how to fill it out properly.  A business coach or consultant can help you find even more resources, help you put together a comprehensive plan, and even help you to execute that plan.

Your marketing plan is the key to your success.  The best idea in the world is useless unless it is shared.

If you build it, they won't come ... unless you tell them about it!
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Getting ready to start a new business venture?  Get ready for a lot of emotions:  elation, fear, happiness, anxiety - they all play a role, and you will face a mix of those and many more as you get the ball rolling.

Over the next few days I will be posting some tips on how to go about getting started the right way.

Know your "WHY"

Why are you starting a business?

This is one of the most important questions you can answer, because the answer will determine how much energy and commitment you will have to getting it done.  Your why has to be tied to your emotions - that is the fuel of life.  That is what will sustain you when things go wrong (and they will ...) and when the challenges begin to increase, whether it is time management, organization, finances, or a host of other issues with which business owners, new or seasons, must contend.

How big is your why?

Your 'why' is your vision, your future, your reason for being on this planet.  It may your family - it may be fame - it needs to be something that emotionally charges you.

Many people jump into starting a business out of desperation.  This will give you initial energy, but it won't last for the long haul.  You may need to dig deep to find your why.  Here is a video that can help you with the process:

Creating an extraordinary vision!
More to come!

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When someone asks me how I would go about solving a problem or resolving an issue, I usually start in the same place each time.

Change.

Change ... something.  It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  One of the laws of physics is that an object in motion, or an object at rest, will remain so unless acted upon by an outside force.

If you don't like the current situation, something has to change.  Change direction; change speed; change perspective; change location; change *something* and see what happens.

For some reason, people seem to fear change.   But we shouldn't.  Growth implies, even requires, change.  Nature shows us that whatever isn't growing, is dying.  So, if your business is stagnant, do something different.  If your town is beginning to crumble. change the way things are done.  If your relationships are fading, change the amount of time you spend nurturing them.

And, don't forget that law of physics - change requires some outside force.  In order to change your situation or perspective, you will most likely need to change yourself.  And that may require an outside force as well.
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