This post is brought to you by Saphrym through the Entrecard store.
If you follow the 5 tips we list below, you will not only create a successful business, but you will also find fame and fortune with your friends and family.
- Do not plan anything. It’s always best to “wing it” when you’re beginning a new business that way you can change your strategies quickly. Planning never accomplishes anything. The gut instinct is one of the best tools you have available to you. If your instinct tells you that it’s time to buy a new office chair and desk, then that is exactly what you should be concentrating on. After all, the proper place to start in any business is what your office should look like.
- Don’t use a brand. It doesn’t matter if people recognize your face or logo everywhere. Many of the top successful businesses have changed their logos so often, they would have been better off without one. By the time you develop a brand, people will only get irritated at seeing that picture or hearing that jingle over and over again. This causes jealousy in many people and they will never want to deal with you again. The other problem with brands is it locks you into one single way to present yourself. If you can change your clothes every day, then you should definitely be able to change the presentation of your business every day.
- Do not bother with advertising. People will find you whether you advertise or not. It’s not important and it’s wasted money and effort. You didn’t bother with the brand; you don’t need to advertise it either. People are constantly looking for the next new thing, so since your business is new, they will find you. “If you build it, they will come.” That’s a great quote, and one you should always remember. Just being there is enough.
- Don’t bother with a budget. Budgets only weigh you down. Budgets limit what you can do with your own money. Feel free to spend everything you have and mortgage all of your property to get your business going. After all, you’ll be raking in the dough very soon anyway. And after you make all of that money, you can spend it on whatever you want yet again. Remember, it’s your money, not anyone else’s. And even if it is someone else’s, they gave it to you so you can run the business as you see fit.
- Do not, and I repeat, do not network. Don’t shake people’s hands or give out your business card. Do not contact other people in your business. Creating and running a business requires individuality. By contacting others and letting them know about your business, not only are you offering your own ideas for free that they will likely steal, but you’ll be influenced by the knowledge they give you. This could be detrimental to your business.
There you have it. Those are the top 5 tips to creating a successful business. Make sure you memorize them and follow them every day as you try to make it in this world. Maybe one day you’ll be the next Microsoft or Disney. And as long as you follow these tips, that day will be sooner than you could ever imagine. Either that or you’ll go bankrupt by tomorrow, in which case we claim no liability for any losses you may suffer while following this advice.
Written: Jan 30, 2008
A. Caleb Hartley
January 30, 2008 @ 9:19 am
Is it April Fools’ Day already?
Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley
Gary R. Hess
January 30, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
Oh I’ll have something big planned for April Fools… don’t worry about that
Click for Nick
January 30, 2008 @ 12:05 pm
I think the first point is true, we do have to wing it from the beggining. we will start to figure out the business more as we go along
Michael White
January 30, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
Guess I didn’t set it up as a satire as well as I had hoped.
HappyPanda
January 31, 2008 @ 5:56 am
here’s another one (for real): don’t write a stupid blog about setting up businesses. If you’re so good at it, how come you’re still writing one?
Gary R. Hess
February 1, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
Because some people like to share their expertise.
Marcus Hochstadt
January 31, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
HA! What a nice giggle I had. Thanks for the article, Gary. LOL