From starting a few businesses that have worked and some that have failed, I have come to realize that there are three (3) sure-fire ways for a business to become successful. Now, these three ways are not groundbreaking for internally I knew what they were, but never really put them together.
When you read them, you will say, “I knew that”. But here is the thing; just knowing something doesn’t make it work for you. You must take that knowledge and put it into deliberate practice. So here goes …
#1 You must have Passion for what you are doing
I use to be a passion skeptic. Meaning, I thought that as long as the business had the potential for making money, one could have the drive to make money and not have the passion for the business itself.
However, that is very, very hard to do. I know; I have tried it. I have started businesses where everything looked good on paper and followed proper procedures and guidelines in establishing the businesses. But at the end of the day, the business failed. Why? Because there was no passion for the business itself.
- Passion creates an enjoyment for what you are doing and allows you to ride out the normal ups and downs in a business environment.
- Passion ensures your customers that you will be around for the long haul, and when they do business with you, you will put forth your best efforts in delivering your product or services.
- Passion is the Holy Spirit directing you in the direction God wants you to go in. When you have a passion for something, you can almost be certain that God placed that in your spirit, and He wants you to act on it.
Passion is contagious, and your customers will catch it.
#2 People must already be spending money in your market
If people are already spending money in a market, then it is easier for them to transfer that money over to your business.
Case Study #1
I use to be a Web Technology Specialist for various companies and private organizations. These companies didn’t have a problem paying me for my services because there was a need and they were going to pay someone anyway for the service.
Case Study #2
I started a business where parents could notify their loved ones when their baby was born. To access this services, prior to the birth of the baby the expecting parents would upload all the names and telephone numbers of everyone they wanted to notify on the day of birth into our online database. Then on the day of birth, the new parents would record a voice mail message on the system, and that message would be call blasted to everyone on their list.
It seemed like a cool service to me, and I used it when my daughter was born as well as several other families who signed up for the services. However, this type of technology was not something the average person was accustomed to spending money on, therefore, not a lot of people adopted it.
It is a lot easier to make money in business, when people are already spending money for what you have to offer. If they are not already spending money for it, then you have a hard road to travel, and will need to do the work of an evangelist and spread the good news about your business.
#3 Good enough is Ok in the beginning
In the beginning days of your business, don’t wait for your product or service to be perfect. If you wait for it to be perfect, you will never get started in your business endeavor. The goal is to release a service or product that is “Good enough” and keep refining it until it becomes perfect.
Example #1: iPad
The original iPad revolutionized the computer market, but it was missing some key features (e.g. video camera and multitasking capability). However, the iPad1 was good enough for release, and Apple has since improved it with the release of the next generation of iPads.
Now when I say, “Good enough”, I don’t mean that it is lousy. It must still meet some basic standards, but it doesn’t have to have all the bells and whistles.
Example #2: Podcasting
When I started podcasting back in 2010, I recorded my intros on my cell phone, and the website for the show was not that functional. However, it was good enough to get started. I have since revised how I record podcasts and the website design for it as well.
In fact, I am constantly redesigning my entire website and the way I create my digital content.
The goal is to release the product or service sooner than later. Because later may never come if you are waiting for perfection.
So as I said in the intro, you already know these three things, but you must put them in deliberate practice.
This message is taught by Amos Johnson Jr, PhD. He leads and pastors Church for Entrepreneurs. God has given him a calling to help believers succeed at their calling. He believes a fulfilled life comes from clearly knowing what God has called you to do and doing it.
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