What do you wish you'd known before you started?

[Melinda B]

I'm looking at writing a post or an ebook on "Things I wish I'd known before I started" or the "Why didn't someone tell me?" topic. So I'm interested in knowing what do you know now that you wish you'd known before you started?

The good, the bad, the ugle, the totally laughable stuff. What would have helped you if someone had told you about it beforehand (whether you would have listened or not?)

[Tracey Anne]

I think your e-book is a great idea, and I'm sure it will be very popular.

I'm a bit of an 'anal-retentive' so I did my planning pretty well, and have no major regrets.

The one I do have is that I convinced myself I needed an expensive Smart phone which to date (4 months in) not a single client or potential client has contacted me on

If I had my time over I would have bought a cheap and nasty little phone just to have a separate number from my personal mobile with no plan.

For home-based service businesses I don't think it's necessary at all. I think unless you're out and on the move a lot in business hours and can't access a computer at all it's just not necessary.

As it is I'm paying a monthly fee (for 2 years) for absolutely nothing. It's a beautiful phone, but the only time I take it out of its case is to recharge it!

[Melinda B]

Oh wow.... that would bite! Thanks for contributing!

BTW, I'm planning on putting everyone who contributes name into the credits with a link to their site.

[FS Concierge]

Hi Melinda,

Welcome to the forum - it's nice to see you getting involved so quickly

You might find these articles of Peter's helpful, as well as the reader comments that follow them:

http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/p232561...-I-d-done.html
http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/p234429...lad-I-did.html

This one from Grant Hyman is great too:
http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/p274246...-d-known-.html

Happy reading, and happy writing!
Jayne

[Melinda B]

Thanks Jayne, off to check those out now!

[Karen Wardle]

Hi Melinda

I actually don't have any regrets with my current business however, with my early attempts I made several.

Firstly, and in my defence I was very young, I didn't have a business plan. But more importantly I didn't see the need for one. I foolishly believed that if my goal was to just have a 'small' business then I really didn't need one. They are only for the big players right? Not only did I not have a written business plan but I didn't even have it clearly laid out in my mind either. Oh I had an idea, but it was pretty rough. I thought that I could 'wing it' as I went, BIG MISTAKE.

If anyone is interested in some free information on writing a business plan I have some information on my site that may interest you http://www.you-can-start-business.co...ness-plan.html


Also, and this is a point that Peter refers to in his article, that Jayne has mentioned. I left it to long too get professional advice. I didn't realise that 'saving' money in that area was not really saving at all. It was actually way more costly in the end.

You might find these articles of Peter's helpful, as well as the reader comments that follow them:

http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/p232561...-I-d-done.html

There is also a lot of free information available on the web which wasn't available 20 or so years ago. Take advantage of it.

Ok so I learned the hard way, but I did learn. They do say that we learn my our mistakes so I must have learnt a whole lot!

Karen
http://www.you-can-start-business.com

[Burgo]

The very first solo adventure was over 30 years ago.
I had been working in the Rag trade for about 7 years, as a fashion buyer, then with a leading fashion house as a rep.
I had an opportunity to go out by myself, so I took it. No plan No money just a belief in my ability to do whatever I needed to do to make an income.
From day one you could say I started way behind the eight ball. The day before I was due to start my own agency we were notified that a baby was available for us in Broken Hill and my wife had to quite work and we then took a few days to drive out there and pick up this wee bundle of fun.

Well apart from all this I had No customers or potential customer list, from scratch I started. I took me almost a month before I wrote my first order and in the meantime we had a mortgage to pay and a family to feed.

My advice is to make sure you have either enough money to last several months to pay the living costs or a part time job that will help to pay them. Better still a spouse that's working.

You really do have to believe in yourself to survive, and once you learn this vital step then the world is your oyster

[Karen Wardle]

For more wise words from this wise man, please see my interview with 'the modest one'.


http://www.you-can-start-business.co...anagement.html

Hi Patrick....I'm waving

Karen
http://www.you-can-start-business.com

[Elizabeth Richardson]

I wish I had known that it's better to set BIG goals rather than SMALL ones. They take the same amount of effort - you just expand your vision of what's possible when you pick the big ones - and it's also much more fulfilling when you achieve them.

I wish I had taken notice earlier of the mentors that advised to open different bank accounts for different purposes - for investment, spending, business and personal - it makes you discipline yourself to spend and invest as well as just make enough to pay your bills. Great results from using this strategy.

I wish I had known that the reason I keep changing businesses every two years or so is because I was wanting to create VARIETY in my life ... now that I realize why I did that (I'm doing a training course with Anthony Robbins in Strategic Intervention and this came to light through Human Needs Psychology aspect of the training) I can choose other more healthy ways to get VARIETY instead.

But I don't regret all the changes I've made - it's given me an enormous amount of skills in a wide range of areas that I wouldn't have got otherwise.

I wish I had known the value of setting high standards and NOT discounting products and services. I've gotten rid of all the users and late-payers and only have the clients who appreciate and respect the work I do. They give me more than enough business and the referrals are phenomenal. If the first question someone asks when they first make contact with me is "How much is this gonna cost?" I finish the conversation immediately and tell them I'm not the right person for them. Saves time and hassle down the track.

I wish I had known that how important it is to have faith that the RIGHT work will present itself when I am ready for it. When I stopped chasing a certain type of work, I found that better jobs, from larger organizations that paid very well (even the government), started to roll in.

I wish I had taken more time and care when writing a vision statement, mission statement and values I intend to live by as well as my goals. Getting the foundation right in the first place makes making decisions further down the track, a breeze. If an opportunity presents itself that isn't in line with your foundation, saying no is empowering and opens the space to move you towards your dreams so much faster.

I could probably write even more - I've really enjoyed the exercise. It makes me appreciate how far I've come - thanks Melinda

[Melinda B]

Thanks for the great reply!