KNOW WHO YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE

Whether you are running a successful business, social enterprise or charity, you need to know who is buying your goods or services, and whose needs you are meeting. The greater your understanding of people and their needs, the more successful you can be in meeting those needs and growing in business.

UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS OF YOUR BUSINESS - in particular the thing that drive costs

The greatest vision in the world will only get you so far - if you dont have a clear understanding of what makes your business work, you cant plan strategically or make good decisions. Build a simple financial model. The process will make you think carefully about all the cost items you will have, and playing with the numbers will help you identify the activities that drive your costs.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR NETWORKS

Networking isnt just about knowing the right people, its also about knowing that the right people know you. People do business with people, and if you can convince and able to deliver, you’re already ahead of the game.

LEARN FROM OTHER PEOPLES MISTAKES (AND YOUR OWN)

Particularily in your start-up phase, there are few obstacles to overcome that someone else hasnt tackled already. Learn from their mistakes in development so you dont make the same again. And of course, learn from your own mistakes too.

ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT

Dont be afraid to ask for help. No one expects you to know everything all the time. If you are unsure, it is better to find someone who knows than to try and muddle through. Someone has face that problem before, and dont be afraid to use your network

GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY

Successful entrepreneurs are not afraid to get involved with the dirty work. Sometimes it is the least glamourous aspects of the project that will make of break it, so be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get involved at all levels.

HIRE CAREFULLY

Choosing staff or outsourcing companies will be the most important decision in your business development. The people who work for you are your biggest resource. Companies like Coca-cola know that 95% of their total value comes from their staff.

THINK TOMORROW, BUT ACT TODAY

Keep sight of your vision for the future, but dont let this from getting on with it now. Break your vision down into manageable chunks that you can tackle one by one, and make sure you regularly review your progress against your goals.

DONT BE AFRAID TO THINK BIG

Despite all of the above, dont forget what you really are about - creating social change! Once you’ve found the detail, dont lost the big picture - and dont be afraid to set your sights on the big goals.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 15th, 2007 at and is filed under about us, work, freelance, freelancer tips, social networking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.