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Setting up a small business, and heading out in the world as an entrepreneur, can be one of the most empowering things that anyone can do. But, of course, that’s not to say that the process ahead is going to be smooth sailing, or that success is guaranteed.
Many entrepreneurs meet with repeated setbacks and failures before they encounter true success. And all entrepreneurs have to deal with certain logistical issues, particularly at the beginning of their journey, before they can really set out on the path in earnest.
Here are a few tips on dealing with those logistical issues, so that you can get your business off the ground as soon as possible, rather than spinning your wheels in isolation for an extended period of time.
Identify and manage space for your operations — and make sure everything is sufficiently functional in advance
The first order of business is to identify the location and spatial requirements of your particular business model, and then to address those.
A wholly web-based entrepreneur, such as, for example, a digital freelancer or an affiliate marketer, doesn’t need much in the way of space — though they should still have a dedicated working area, ideally a home office, but at least a “work desk”. This is a key way of creating and maintaining a strong psychological distinction between “work” and “life”, which is a big deal considering how terrible work-life balance tends to be with entrepreneurs.
If your business is more rooted in the physical world, however, you should plan accordingly. You can use your garage as an impromptu warehouse for keeping stock, but ensure that you’ve taken adequate precautions and cleaned the place up. Undertake any garage door repair work that needs to be done. Flood-proof the garage as much as possible, unless you want to risk your livelihood being wrecked arbitrarily.
Ensure you’ve got sufficient savings in place before committing full time to your new business
Many people are extremely keen to get started working on their own business, full time. But this is the kind of thing that shouldn’t be done mindlessly.
Do not quit your job on the spot, with on savings, and start working flat-out on an as-yet-unprofitable venture. You don’t know when success will come, and you need to eat in the meantime.
Ensure that you’ve got sufficient savings in place before committing full-time to your new business. Ideally, you’ll want enough money saved away to survive at least 6-months. Otherwise, work on your business as a side-hustle until it becomes sufficiently profitable.
Come up with a schedule and routine you can stick to
A major logistical point to consider, is the need to come up with a workable, and durable schedule.
Many entrepreneurs will go flat out on their businesses in an unfocused kind of way, barely sleeping for weeks on end. The issue is that this can lead to burnout and an unhappy family in short order.
You should, by all means, by dedicated to your business — but you shouldn’t lose all sense of balance and sustainability. Come up with a productive routine that you can stick to indefinitely, and that allows for a bit of life balance.