Seven Life Lessons for Start-Up Success

Providing for your home or business is not easy and nobody said it would. Your success is hinged on your willingness to enhance your knowledge base, determination to succeed, learn from others' mistakes/successes and your adaptability to the changes in your environment. The following article by Andrew Bahlmann on start-up advice posted 12 April 2013 shared some of the lessons he learnt over the years, positing that you can make your own light at the end of the tunnel.

 

 

The journey is hard, really hard. Over time it gets even harder. You keep telling yourself that ‘if it was easy, everyone would do it!’ This is what separates the big dogs from the puppies.

WHEN SHALL I PROVIDE FOR MY HOME

The reality is that nothing of importance can occur except we take charge of our life and accept responsibility for achieving our dreams. Stephen Covey in his book (Everyday Greatness) puts it that “the key is in our decisions, not our conditions”. Jacob realized this in

his decision to start preparing for his home after serving Laban, his Uncle for several years in Genesis 30:30 when he asked his Uncle the pertinent question “……………. when shall I provide for my home…..? I also put it to you, after several years of active service, when will you provide for your home?

 Home in this context means providing for life after active service though it might connotes different meaning to different people; migrating from being a tenant to a house owner, employee to employer, self-employed to a business owner, etc. The major challenge is when the change is suddenly thrust into your path without adequate preparation. Some might never overcome the change like an ex-banker in my estate that committed suicide when he lost his job because he just couldn’t see himself beyond the present and adjust to reality. It’s therefore pertinent to start the process NOW!

THINGS TO NOTE IN RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS-PART TWO

In the part one of this write up, I mentioned key things any organization desiring growth must not ignore. This concluding part has more to say about the approach that guarantees growth and employee loyalty.   

Separate personal funds from that of the business

Most business owners have violated this and can't seem to differentiate. Most treat all income as theirs and spends as it comes without consideration for the liquidity of the business. When the need arises for funding a transaction or the operation, pay salaries, etc it becomes difficult to meet up due to the gap that has already been created. My personal advice all employees should have a salary including the business owners and effort should be made to limit personal expenses to the salary.