Expert Advice for Start-up Businesses

Who do you go to when you have a heart problem? A first-year med student? No, you go to a professional doctor. It amazes me how many new entrepreneurs look to other “newbies” like themselves for advice.

This is what the “pros” have to say.

Ben Neumann: Founder/President of Ad-Ventures and Icom (http://www.iboost.com)

“Dedication and self-discipline make things work in life! No matter if we are talking about a relationship or a new venture, you will go through ups and downs, through happiness and fights in both areas of your life. An entrepreneur should not start his business with the motivation of becoming rich as the number one priority. If you love what you do, you can be a totally happy person without ever earning a fortune.

Troy Olson: Prepaid Legal Services (http://prepaidlegal.com/go/troyolson

“I tell new associates in the business to treat the start-up cost like they spent 100 times the actual start-up cost. Treat it like a business and it will pay you like a business. Treat it like a hobby and it will pay you like a hobby. Most people start part-time so it’s important that the time they put into their business is well-focused.

Teddy Hickox: EcoQuest International Salesmanager (http://www.ecoquest.com)

“I advise people to really check out the owners of these home-based business opportunities and see what kind of background they have. Found out how many people in your state are doing well in the company you are evaluating. You should start any new business off by making sure that the company has a market niche and can handle big growth. Begin with one-to-one meetings and then do home meetings and eventually big meetings. The key to success is duplication!

Anne Thornley-Brown: CEO of The Training Oasis (http://www.thetrainingoasis.com)

“Don’t hang out with your own crowd. Go where your customers go. Identify a niche and target your marketing efforts there. Join the professional associations to which potential customers belong, write for their publications, and speak at their conferences. Go to trade shows. Don’t scrimp on your marketing material. Like it or not people gather first impressions based on your business card and stationery. Scrimp in this area and you may be sending an unintentional message about the quality of your service. Get advice…lots of it and don’t just go to people who’ll tell you you’re great. Seek people who will give you tough feedback and then use it to learn and grow.

Thor Christianson: CEO of Commercial Lease Solutions (http://mrlease.com)

“I market heavily on the Internet and our web site is our first impression. Initially, it was not a very good one. We’ve had to go back and start from scratch. The perception of you by your customers is essential. If you do not get the chance to show customers how good you are, you have lost. An even better tip would be not to fault your mistakes too heavily- you will make them. Smile, fix the mistake, and keep going. Persistence always pays off!

I have compiled a few tidbits of advice that some of the successful entrepreneurs in my ebook called “Entrepreneurs Tell All” describe.

This article is shareware. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including this notice. Copyright © 2005 Kristi Sayles

Kristi Sayles is an emerging presence on the Internet due to her ability to teach people to profit online, as well as her love for children. She devotes time to them both by offering two newsletters: http://YourMakeMoneyMentor.com and http://YourChildandYou.com

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