James Doan - Just Minding My Own Business

Making the leap from a stable day job to entrepreneurship is a significant decision that many individuals contemplate. This transition can be both exciting and daunting, filled with opportunities and challenges. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help navigate this journey effectively. Crafting a Solid Business Plan The foundation of any successful business is a well-thought-out business plan. This document serves as a roadmap, outlining your business goals and the strategies to achieve them. Here are some key components to include: Executive Summary: A brief overview of your business idea and objectives. Market Analysis: Research your target market, competitors, and industry trends. Financial Projections: Estimate your startup costs, revenue streams, and break-even analysis. Risk Management: Identify potential risks and outline strategies to mitigate them. Financial and Risk Considerations Understanding the financial landscape is crucial. Entrepreneurs should consider: Creating a Financi...

Countless people dream of becoming entrepreneurs, but they never do. They’re burdened with excuses and fears of failing. From money to time to responsibilities, you can make a million cases for not starting a business. Let’s face it, being your own boss is scary. In most cases, new business owners have a lot to lose with little insight into their chances of success. Worrying about the risks of business ownership is normal. But, excuses only slow you down from reaching your goals. If you really want to start a business, you need to address the reasons you think you can’t start a business and get rid of them. Find a solution to the issue rather than let it hold you back. Money: Lack of funds is a common barrier. But, there are ways to start a business without a lot of capital. You can bootstrap your business, meaning you use your own resources to get started. You can also look for investors or take out loans. Time: Time is another common excuse. You may think you don’t have enough time ...

I came across a recent study by the think tank Populace. They found a majority of those polled said they value relationships, fulfilment and character more than money. Yet they also said that a majority of their fellow citizens feel otherwise, valuing status above all else. That misperception has serious consequences, including misguided career choices. This got me thinking. How far do mistaken ideas about what most people believe affect our business decisions? Often entrepreneurs make assumptions about what people would or wouldn’t do. They then dismiss marketing, pricing or operational strategies out of hand.

Have you ever considered what distinguishes small businesses that achieve sustained growth from those that do not? First, realize there are no strategies that will lead to guaranteed growth. There are seven specific areas in which growth companies concentrate their efforts.  1. Strong sense of purpose. Most businesses that have achieved growth discover that it takes more than the promise of increasing financial reward to fuel their aspirations and ambitions. They find a higher calling than the pursuit of “more money.”

Most people need to take a mental health day from time to time, when they just don't feel like going through with their usual business routine. But if this happens a lot regarding the marketing tasks that you've set for yourself, it's time to pause and reflect.  Did you take on tasks that are too boring, too difficult, or unpleasant in some other way?  If so, perhaps you can outsource those to-dos.  Or perhaps you'd do well to find other marketing tasks you feel more attuned to. Some experts think it's fine to let those following you know when you haven't felt like it.  They say that increases your perceived authenticity.  

There are many fundamentals in life, things that we need to make our lives work well for us. Time management is one of those fundamentals. Without it, it is difficult to get anything done, or have time to enjoy anything in life. There are also no guarantees in l ife. It’s nearly impossible to know exactly what will happen tomorrow, we can only plan to a certain extent. Planning is an essential element in time management; still, plans can change. This is why prioritizing the things you need to accomplish is important, and completing what you can in a manageable time frame crucial. Finishing one task paves the way to completing the next one. You can begin by taking notes and making lists, to sort through your tasks to be completed.

Many people think about starting a small business, often with a great ideas. Few people actually go out and do it.  It takes a special type of person to be an entrepreneur. It takes a strong desire to succeed. As you build your business, you will need courage, perseverance and a great deal of will power. You will have to face many setbacks and learn to deal with them.   You will need a level of technical skill. In this competitive market, you can’t just be good at what you do.  You need to be excellent.  A successful entrepreneur is decisive, self-disciplined and a self-starter. For many years, as your business grows, you’ll be working far more than forty hours a week. It is probable that you will have little money to show for it.