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...but you don't have to.
Don't do any work until the deal has been inked. The reality of the matter is that people say a lot of things, promise business, and talk of collaborations that matter of fact never happen. In the excitement of things, it's easy to run and get started, wasting your own time and resources, only to follow up with a client that can't remember the conversation you're talking about. If it's not in ink, it doesn't exist! Get your contract signed, invoice paid, and then run and do that work. Do it well! Excellence is the Faith-preneur way.
Don't shy away from talking about the money upfront if the conditions have changed. If the client needs more done, charge them. It's an UPSELL. Transparency around pricing and work to be done in the beginning of the business relationship ensures that both parties walk away from the exchange of goods/services for money with a smile on their face. Always be fair and honest. A good name is worth more than rubies.
Don't share your proprietary methods where no transaction has occurred. YES! That means even friends who need your services must do business with you before you provide value. I know, they're family, but they must pay because when they don't pay, they don't value your input. After all, they're paying other people for the same services. Allow them to bless your business.
Don't avoid doing the 'boring' work. The money is in the boring work. Doing things that others won't do is what sets great entrepreneurs apart from mediocre or hobbyist entrepreneurs. Understand your business model. Know your numbers. Research your target market. Keep up to date with changes in your industry. Create that content marketing calendar for the month. We all love the creative elements but business is a game won by those who run the reps every day.
Don't make anything in your business 'set in stone'. Testing is the name of the business game. The ideas you have are assumptions. The need to be validated by the market. Real paying customers will prove whether you're onto something or maybe this isn't quite it. Face the numbers. Revenue and profit will tell you a whole lot. Don't avoid them. Emotions will lead you astray in business.
Embrace failure. Have a plan, work the plan, adjust the plan, work the adjusted plan, refine the plan....you get it! There's always a better way, but to identify the superior method we have to know what doesn't work. It's not failure, it's R&D. Research and Development is key to building a great business.
Edison said it best, "I have not failed. I have found 10,000 ways that won't work."
7. If you remember nothing at all. Remember this quote by Voltaire:
No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.
Therefore learn to think better. Devote time to discovering new ideas, concepts, ways of thinking. The bottleneck to your business will be you, if you don't grow faster than it does.
Make growth your everyday personal goal.
Be blessed on your entrepreneurial journey.
"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." ~ 3 John 1: 2
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