Last Updated on Mar 11, 2020 by James W
Being an entrepreneur takes an incredible amount of work to be successful. Yet when done right, being one’s own boss can be a wonderful way to walk through life. In the early days before hiring others to help, an entrepreneur will most likely need to cover all aspects of a business, from marketing, to production, to order fulfillment. Whether producing goods or providing a service, clients need to be kept happy—because too many unhappy customers can spell doom for a start-up company.
Success also means finding ways to save on expenses without compromising quality. When a little extra cash is needed, immediate payday loans can help. Discount shopping cards, buying in bulk, bartering for other needed products are all basic substructure elements for a cost-effective business—but too few recognize the savings that can be found simply by doing good work.
Listen Carefully
Busy people tend to tackle multiple obligations simultaneously. Whilst that’s part of what makes business-owners so effective it can also cause a lot of trouble when attention is divided. First off, clients want to be heard. They want to know that their wants and desires are understood and also feel confident that you can help them achieve their goals better than anyone else. By listening whilst doing other things you are not giving them the proper care and attention.
Halfhearted hearing also increases the odds of missing key elements to a project. Spending excessive amounts of time following up on information that was already made clear will cost money and customers. So be effective in managing time so that each new client is afforded they one-on-one attention they require.
Do it Right the First Time
Proper listening will help assure quality, yet mistakes can happen even after plans have all been laid out. Delays caused by do-overs will not garner new customers or favorable reviews. Remember, people want good quality and service at a low price. They don’t want drama or excuses trying to explain away tardy deliverable. To help avoid such mishaps be careful not to take on more than can actually be achieved in the agreed-upon time. Also make sure to give each project its due as if it were the only one.
Granted that’s easier said than done but when a person talks on the phone to one client whilst say measuring a production piece for another the chances for miscalculation greatly increases. Even if the customer never catches wind of the problem the poorly measured item is rendered useless and time is lost making corrections. When poor products or services do reach clients before correction the time and expense getting back in good graces will be very costly, indeed. So in addition to listening at the start of a project be sure to give solid work and attention to it once underway.
Stay Surrounded by Good People
No (wo)man is an island. With any kind of business there is always someone else to please. And when the workload increases there may be need to hire out or bring others on board. Keep good, solid people in your life and be good to them. This cannot be overstated. The great employees with the solid work ethic and ethos of under-promising and over-delivering will help make you money and also save you money.
Whereas people who phone it all in and refuse to take personal ownership of their work can cause great harm to new businesses. Poor hiring choices can spell the demise of a start-up before the ink even dries on the sign. Good people may not look like a good financial deal on paper but give it time and look at what quality employees end up bringing to the table.
In addition to cultivating good employees, remember the advantage of cultivating good relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, and anyone else who can make your business thrive. Remember that the problems of unreliable people will quickly become your problems, and no small savings from a discount card or coupon can ever offset the cost of poor workmanship and service. So listen, do it right, and keep good people close at hand; it may not seem like a cost-effective way of doing business but it’s the way for anyone who hopes to thrive.
