Have you thought about starting a small business but you weren't sure that you knew all that you needed to know to be successful? If you have already started a small business, I'm sure there are areas where you still need a little help? Today my article talks about understanding that you may not know everything there is to know about business but you can still be successful. The trick is knowing what you don't know and getting help from experts who do.
As I've mentioned, in previous articles, the key to success in business is solving other people's problems. We start off on our entrepreneurship journey by solving problems for people and very soon we buy in to the notion that we have to be the masters of our universe. What I mean by this is that we begin thinking that we must know everything about everything involving our business. I'm here today to tell you that this is actually far from the truth.
As the owner of your business, you are faced with tasks each day which must be completed to satisfaction to run your business effectively. You are in charge of Sales, Marketing, Invoicing, Tax preparation, Payroll, and general maintenance around the place. These are the main things you need to know about right off the bat. Let's think about what else are you responsible for? You are also responsible for Research and Development, Market Analysis, Public Relations, IT, forecasting and trendspotting. Yes, that's a real thing! Understanding where your business is in real time and where it is going, which is valuable information to know.
Realistically, there is a great deal to know about when it comes to the general ad hockery that goes into running a small business. But thinking that you must be the expert on everything is part of the trap that snares most small business owners. The trap is thinking that you must know absolutely everything about everything in your small business and wasting time trying to learn it all!
This is where the agility of small business comes into play and why small businesses are the strongest drivers of a local economy. Small businesses are typically micro enterprises, which means that they usually have fewer than 2-5 employees. The smart small business owner maximizes their time doing the task which they are great at, they delegate those tasks which they are marginal at and they outsource those tasks which they struggle with. If you're like me you handle the sales and marketing aspects of your business, you delegate the IT and technology tasks and you shop out the accounting and bookkeeping. I find that if I google, "how do I…" more than once or twice in a day I'm not using my time wisely.
This is where the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce becomes a strong resource for your business. Everyday we work with business owners to grow their businesses. Normally, when there is not a public health order in place, we present our members with networking opportunities where they can meet other busines owners in the community and begin making connections that will help their businesses run smoother. If you are a wedding photographer, we may put you in touch with an accountant who has experience working with artists and those in the electronic media who need bookkeeping help so they can be out "shooting" projects more frequently.
By identifying experts whose work can be complimentary to the operation of your business you set yourself up for a more streamlined operation. By utilizing other small businesses in the community, you are a direct help to our economy. By focusing on your strengths and doing what you do best and outsourcing jobs that aren't your strong suit then you help another small business succeed.
Call Romeo or Steve at the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce today. We would love to have the opportunity to help you create strong connections that work. After all, it is one of our greatest strengths!