Entrepreneur Archives - Page 7 of 7

4 Business Lessons Which Every Entrepreneur Should Take From the COVID-19 Situation

Mumbai, October 21: The coronavirus pandemic has affected every business around the world. Several companies have been shut, people have been fired and many are on the verge of closing down. The pandemic has taught entrepreneurs some harsh lessons which every owner needs to keep in mind before starting a business.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused changes in mindset, attitude, direction, and the behaviour for organisations, according to CISCO.

Here are 4 lessons which entrepreneurs need to keep in mind after the coronavirus pandemic:

Keep a plan B ready:

No one expected that coronavirus pandemic will have this massive impact and the effect will be lasting this long. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, strict lockdowns were enforced and there were several restrictions. This was not an ideal scenario for businesses to run smoothly. Here comes a plan B in handy, on which you can fall back on if your initial plan doesn’t work.

Every day is not going to be the same. Therefore, as an entrepreneur, if you’re struggling to cope with ups and down of the entrepreneurial journey then it is critical for you to have a Plan B in place.

Hire carefully: Allocate a set budget and then hire accordingly. Don’t overspend on resources which can easily be done with limited resources.

Keep a contingency fund ready: Prepare a contingency fund for emergency purpose. This fund is cash or other assets reserved to address unforeseen circumstances or losses in a business. The role of the contingency fund is to improve a company’s financial stability by developing a safety net that the firm can use to fill emergency needs.

Be Open to accepting new technology: The virus has emphasised the importance of technology, as it was relied on more than ever for companies to conduct work. From work from home to business meetings, closing deals and interviews, everything was done online with the help of technology amid the pandemic.

5 Common Startup Tips An Entrepreneur Shouldn’t Follow

Starting a business with an innovative idea is a great deal of work. After completing lots of preparations and paperwork, an entrepreneur can pull off his/her business model. However, there will be always people to give advice that might not work for the startup to grow. Following them blindly, as those pieces of advice worked for others, can prove to be a disaster for your business.

Here are a few tips which an entrepreneur shouldn’t follow:

1) Customer is Always Right:

Many times an entrepreneur hears this line. The main issue behind the advice is customer pays and for that, an enterprise needs to listen to his/her every demand. However, it is a proven fact that no one can be an expert on everything. When conflicts arise, the best way is to clear the misunderstanding with proper communication. This will not only bring the client back but also s/he will trust you more for being truthful.

2) Raise Money and Grow as Fast as Possible:

Of course, speed is something that is needed to sustain in a competitive market. But the biggest mistake an entrepreneur makes is earning more money in a shorter period and then burning it with the same speed without even waiting for their products to fit in the market. The result — the sooner they rise, the sooner they fall. Best way to deal with this issue is to make a plan to expend the money in the right direction and identify product-market fit.

3) Choose Between Business And Family:

This is one misconception that most of the female entrepreneurs have. Instead of believing in this misconception, one should create a seamless work-life integration, where passion intersects with your personal life. The first and foremost part starts believing in yourself, and the second being surrounded yourself with people who believe in you.

4) Following Best Practices:

Walking on the path shown by others sometimes may help an entrepreneur, but not always. A path derived and designed by others, how is that going to fulfil the dreams and aspiration of a budding entrepreneur? To lead from the front, getting inspiration from someone is awesome, but one should not strict to best practices. S/he always be on a lookout to derive new ways to solve issue and progress.

5) Fake It to For Success:

Last but not least. This tip might help an entrepreneur in the initial phase but will end in a disaster. No investor, client or customer like dishonesty. This not only dampens their reputation in the market but also eradicates the trust that people have on them. Ask yourself, do you want to be called as a ‘cheater’? Think wisely before you proceed with this ‘faking’ people tip.