PLANNING YOUR BUSINESS
The planning stage of any
business can be difficult. Plans are decided,
altered, amended, updated, and corrected. This
process allows a plan to be refined as each
stage is adjusted to correspond to an overall
pattern.
People entering business have
basically two options to choose from, and they
are products and services. In many cases the two
are combined. For example, it is entirely
possible to have a bookkeeping business and at
the same time sell office supplies.
A self-evaluation should
include asking yourself if you have the
experience or knowledge to start your business,
and if you are willing to take the time to learn
what you need to know to be successful. If your
venture is going to be one of "on the job
training" you must be willing to absorb the
price of some lost time and the cost of making
some mistakes. You will know if you're actually
ready to start a business by simply asking
yourself, "If you owned a business, would you
hire yourself?
Motivation and dedication is
a strong force, that together with the proper
planning, can spell financial success. Your
"proper planning" should of course be analyzed
so that your reasons for starting a business is
a reinforcing lever rather than an albatross
around your neck.
Self-motivation and being
your own boss can make a better life for
yourself and your family. Many men and women
have gone into business for themselves simply
because they couldn't continue working for
someone else under conditions they considered
intolerable. A great incentive to succeed in
itself! Incentive and making a profit however,
do not necessarily walk hand in hand. You can
often make a determination on your ability to
make a go of it in business by examining how
well you handle your daily life. For example:
(1) Do you have
organizational skills?
(2) Are you prompt in paying
your bills?
(3) Are you able to sacrifice
immediate gratification to invest in a future
benefit?
(4) Does improving your
quality of life drive you?
(5) Do you enjoy working with
people?
(6) Do you enjoy working with
computers?
(7) Are you a problem solver,
or does normal pressure make you
“short-circuit"?
In the computer business (or
any business for that matter) you must be
willing and able to follow through. To make a
profit, you must confront problems
enthusiastically and with a business spirit that
has no room for putting off a job or challenge.
Putting off, setting aside, or changing your
mind in a negative sense can only lead to quick
failure.It is important that you review your
every business move. Plan and choose not only
the type of computer business you will do best
in, but also the type of business you will be
happiest with.
If you require some training
for specific phases of your computer business,
you will be time and money ahead. Wasted errors
and time can become an expensive mistake.
Starting a business that fits
your computer background and knowledge is sound
and logical. Also, a part of your planning
should and could include educating yourself
either in a first time study or refresher
course. You can accomplish this prior to
beginning your computer business or while you're
operating your business in areas that you are
knowledgeable in. In either event, your plans
should cover a thorough assessment of your
knowledge and interests in the proposed computer
business.
Growth & Expansion
Income producing enterprises
may be planned as long-range long lasting
ventures. Your plans should include growth
potential and the future expansion of your
market. You should also plan for gradual
increases in personal benefits with large
portions of the profits going back into your
business to provide for future growth. Your
initial equipment will reflect your actual needs
for growth.
It is important that you buy
equipment that will amortize over a long useful
life and provide lower operating expenses.
However, you can also start a business for the
sole purpose of making a capital gain. In other
words, you could set up a business, plan on a
fairly short-term operation, with the single
purpose in mind of finding a suitable buyer at
the right time.
Is Your Plan Workable?
Now that you've planned this
far, step back and take a look at it. Is it
realistic? Can you do enough business with the
knowledge you have to make a living? If it
doesn't appear to be workable, now is the time
to revise your plan, not after you've invested
your time and money.
If you're not certain about
what revisions should be made, share your plan
with people who may offer professional and
experienced help. For example, you could contact
someone at your local Small Business
Administration Office, your local banker, or
college business professor. Their experience and
advise could turn into dollars.
If you have strong doubts
about your business, or your ability to operate
it, it might be better at this point to
temporarily delay going into business until you
have the opportunity to brush up on management
skills. After you feel comfortable with the
management part of business, your computer
business operation will begin to show profitable
results.
Sometimes circumstances can
be different than what a person expected. This
of course is normal, and no one can predict the
future with 100% certainty. The difference
between success and failure in planning often
lies in a person's ability to be alert and watch
for the areas that may require change.
When you decide that you are
ready to begin your business, remember that
action is the difference between a plan and a
dream. If a plan is not acted upon, it has no
more value than a dream that never materializes.
To deserve success, you must seek it.
Your Attitude Can Determine
Your Success or Failure
Remember:
IF YOU THINK YOU ARE BEATEN,
YOU ARE;
IF YOU THINK YOU DARE NOT,
YOU DON’T.
IF YOU LIKE TO WIN, BUT THINK
YOU CAN’T,
IT’S ALMOST A CINCH YOU
WON’T.
IF YOU THINK YOU’LL LOSE,
YOU’VE LOST
FOR OUT IN THIS WORLD WE
FIND,
SUCCESS BEGINS WITH A
PERSON’S WILL-
IT’S ALL IN THE STATE OF THE
MIND.
LIFE’S BATTLES DO NOT ALWAYS
GO
TO THE STRONGER OR FASTER
MAN,
BUT SOONER OR LATER THE MAN
THAT WINS
IS THE ONE WHO THINKS HE CAN. |
RoDI
ISOC
IWA
ARTT
RTS
WQC 2003 
ISAQ 2005