Monday, October 7, 2013

The Benefits Of Becoming An Entrepreneur

By Angel Dudley


Young people have always been advised to be steadfast in their jobs, to stick it out and to earn a long term reputation with a chosen employer. Those rules have certainly changed. More and more people now depend upon their own skills to earn a living and to create financial security for themselves. Becoming an entrepreneur is a dream that is followed by many people but there are dangers and pitfalls involved.

There are any number of reasons why people decide to enter into the world of commerce. Some people think that they have excellent ideas that have not been explored before. Others are convinced that financial security can only be attained by owning and running a business. Yet others want to remain in control of their own lives and some even go on their own because they detest being subordinate to a boss.

It is unfortunate that so many new businesses fail within the first year or two of operation. In most cases this can be ascribed to the fact that the owners do not pay enough attention to vital aspects such as cash flow management and administration. They spend all their energy on the development of their ideas and they do not take the many mundane aspects of business management into consideration.

A good idea is a good start but it is vital to perform proper market research before committing resources to the development of the idea into a fully fledged business. Matters such as demand for the product or service, delivery and packaging all need careful consideration. It may even be better to hire an expert to conduct such research before a final decision is made.

Many successful new businesspeople opt for buying a franchise rather than starting a business from scratch. This may be a good idea because franchises offer proven formulae and they provide extensive support in the fields of management and marketing. Many franchise holders sharpen their business teeth on the experience they gain from being part of a bigger organization that offer direction and discipline.

Another reason why new businesses fail is because they fail to develop long term plans. It is vital to have a strategy that will enable the new business to take advantage of new opportunities and to overcome threats. Many new business owners become so involved in the day to day management of their enterprises that they fail to plan for the future. In this way they fail to foresee adverse conditions and they fail to recognize new opportunities.

Perhaps the biggest threat to the continued success of new businesses is the inability of entrepreneurs to delegate and to assemble competent teams. They are so used to do everything themselves that they are reluctant to allow others to take responsibility for certain tasks and functions. This can be deadly for growing enterprises.

Becoming an entrepreneur is a dream shared by many people. It is a difficult route, however. It is necessary to stay on top of the market, to develop new skill all the time and to learn how to trust others. Running a successful business can be exhilarating but falling into a morass of difficulties can be a nightmare.




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