Local business coach and author, Shawn Brodof, offers some advice for start-ups.
Brodof’s book, The Termite Effect – 25 Common Business Mistakes and Their Hidden Consequences, was recently named a winner of the 2010 Best Small Business Book Award (link to Press Release). In it he outlines 25 business mistakes, helps his readers identify and avoid them while offering practical strategies to fix those that may already exist.
Three tips from the book that apply to start-ups are:
- Subscribing to the “Field of Dreams” business building theory (formerly known as “hanging a shingle”) rarely works. You must set realistic expectations for the amount of time, energy, and money that will be required to get your business successfully off the ground.
Mistake #6 – You Cannot Explain Why Your Business is Different from the Competition
- Go beyond features and benefits. Describe the overt benefits of your product and service, give your customers a real reason to believe your marketing message, and offer a dramatic difference from your competitors.
Mistake #18 – You Are a Technician Trying to Run a Business
- Most businesses are NOT started by entrepreneurs. They are started by individuals who are good at a particular trade; they are technicians. Surround yourself with people who can help you manage the business and continually innovate.
To read more about these and the other mistakes, visit www.TheTermiteEffect.com. The book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble in paperback and digital book formats. Visit www.Clarity-Coaching.bizto learn more about Brodof’s coaching practice.
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