Face-Palming Tips of Successful Small Business Owners

What’s the magic trick that gets all the balls rolling in the right direction when you are launching your small business?  The trick is:  There are no tricks. 

The unfortunate truth is that if you want success, you’ll have to work for it. Successful small businesses are made up of a little bit of sweat, a dash of tears, a heap of stress, and a whole lot of determination. Yes, it’s possible to get a lucky break, but that’s not really a sound business plan. Still, there are some practices common to successful small biz folk that you should take to heart.

Get comfortable delegating

If you want your small business to run smoothly, realize that you cannot do it all by yourself forever. As your success grows, your workload will also grow and so should your list of delegated tasks. When you spread yourself too thin, you’ll burn out. Collaborate with others, surround yourself with superstar workers, and let them help you grow.

Remember why you started this

Aim to love your business every single day. Does this mean that you will constantly be thrilled and delighted? Absolutely not. Sometimes love makes us want to throw things and pull our hair out when we are passionate about something. Use that passion to drive your business forward, onward, and upward.

Have a plan – or several plans

Successful entrepreneurs need to have both a long term vision as well as short term goals that help achieve that vision. Make plans for your marketing, projects, cash flow - and disastrous “probably-won’t-ever-happen-until-it-does” situations. Reacting to problems takes more time and energy than acting purposefully in the first place.

Keep learning to keep growing

Things are changing constantly all around us. Instead of letting the change terrify you – grab onto it. Stay abreast of what’s happening in your industry. Look around to see what everyone else is doing to emulate the good stuff and avoid the bad. Fail quickly so you can figure out the lesson learned and move ahead with corrections. 

Embrace the “Can-Do” attitude

Lots of people dream of running their own businesses, but few actually put the effort into making it happen. You have already distinguished yourself from the dreamers, so hang onto that thought. The enthusiasm and grit that brought you this far will help you power through whatever challenges lie ahead. 

You may be thinking these tips are too obvious to bother sharing, but it’s surprising how many folks get caught up in the latest tech and tools and forget these basics. Save yourself a serious face-palm later by taking them to heart from the very beginning. 

Sprocket Websites loves to partner with businesses who are growing strong! Check out our Sprocket Store for entry-level website needs or give us a call to talk about SEO, social media and other next-level options. 

This article is an update to “5 No-Brainers that Make a Successful Small Business” dated 7/8/2013. 

Breanne BannonBreanne Bannon

Breanne is a Content Writer, Social Media Marketeer, and Sales Associate for Sprocket Websites.

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