Pounding the pavement is mandatory if you hope to develop a business. Where to start depends on your business. For those of you who need a centralized business area like downtown Tampa: pump yourself up, put on a business-casual outfit and comfortable shoes, and set out at the start of the business day.
When you arrive, you need to find a place to park. You take this for granted until you’re circling the blocks looking for a spot, while dodging cars and pedestrians. You’ll take what you can get, and pay too much for it. After parking you need to figure out where you will park tomorrow. Don’t be afraid to walk a little. Walking from your parking lot is an opportunity to see the city, and you will need to note where things are. You need access to food, shelter, the Internet, clients, and perhaps most importantly, bathrooms! A bathroom is a major oversight when you think you can just hit the pavement in a downtown environment. You are no different than the homeless people you’ll pass by each day. Sit down on a bench for a minute and imagine what they need to survive.
Next, go to the John F. Germany public library, located at 900 N. Ashley, and sign up for a library card. This is free and gives you a base to go to. You’ll have access to all the books, newspapers, magazines, and special forms you’ll need, negating the need to spend money on subscriptions. You’ll also have free, unlimited, Internet access when using your own devices, or about 2 hours of use (per day) if you need to use their computers. You’ll have access to any library in the county, and can access many of their resources from home, or your office, by going to www.hcplc.org.
Helpful tips:
- If you expect to be downtown enough to justify it, get a monthly parking place. You’ll save money and be able to start your day in the right frame of mind.
- If you want strictly daily parking, park at 7-One-7, on the corner of Morgan and Whiting. It’s $2 for the day, and you’ll need cash. It’s a grass lot, but it’s cheap and an easy walk to everything.
Comments