Starting a business should be a serious option for many of our youths as it helps in combating unemployment issues and improve financial independence.
Whether you have a startup business idea or operating a small business, these 11 tips will help you to successful grow your startup business.
1. Startups should learn every day
Entrepreneurs should be innovators; and innovators always continue to learn. You should always try to learn something that will improve your business. That goes for mistakes as well—all startups will suffer from mistakes, but the entrepreneurs that learn from them are likely to be successful.
Learning is an asset, and your lessons can help give you reassurance when you feel like giving up. It can be that “money in the bank” when there’s actually not any money in the bank, and give you the courage to keep fighting.
Dedicate time to reading blogs, newspapers, magazines and books. Read stuff related and unrelated to your business.
2. Know the Institutions that support startups
There are many projects and institutions that are supporting startups and small businesses in the Gambia. Make a schedule to visit these institutions and see how to benefit from their support services. It could be training, free advisory, capital etc. Visit institutions like American Chamber of Commerce, Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gambia Investment & Export Promotion Agency etc.
For example American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) recently launched the first start-up incubator project in The Gambia. This project will develop many Gambian startups as it seriously aim to build the next generation of entrepreneurs.
3. Network on social medias
Harness the power of social media to help connect you with potential employees, partners, clients, providers, or people that can promote your product or service. LinkedIn is a very effective business tool for this purpose. You can network with pretty much anyone, read blog posts and show off your accomplishments and expertise on your profile.
4. Don’t forget offline Network
Networking can present you mentorship opportunities, help strengthen your network and help you learn from people who have the success you desire. You should also find people in real life at conferences and networking events.
5. Be open to advice
Find and meet with business leaders to gain insight into the industry and its challenges and opportunities. Listening to the right advice is valuable to your business and your life. However, you cannot listen to everyone’s advice.
6. Work with people you like.
You can accomplish anything when you surround yourself with people who are committed to the business. If you don’t like the team you work with, how will you be able work together.
7. Work with someone who pushes you to the extreme.
One of the reasons why Steve Jobs was able to grow Apple into one of the world’s most valuable brands was because he pushed people. Here’s how he described his management approach.
My job is to not be easy on people. My job is to make them better. My job is to pull things together from different parts of the company and clear the ways and get the resources for the key projects. And to take these great people we have and to push them and make them even better, coming up with more aggressive visions of how it could be.
8. Your health is your wealth
Your health is your most important asset. You can be the most successful person in the world, but that won’t matter if you don’t have your health.
9. Ask for help.
Put the pride aside and ask for help. People will respect your willingness to learn and be humble. You’d be surprised what can happen when you ask.
10. Don’t ever give up.
If you’re an entrepreneur, be an entrepreneur. If you fail with one idea, start another. You’re an entrepreneur, no matter what, whether up or down, success or failure, you’re always an entrepreneur. Remember that.
“Startups don’t die, they commit suicide. In other words, 90 percent of start-ups fail because the founders get bored, discouraged, or something else, and they move on to other things, not because of some catastrophe. No matter how dark it is today, things will always better tomorrow.” — Justin Kan, Justin.TV
11. Have fun.
And lastly, give yourself permission to take it easy once in a while. Don’t worry so much. Fun is infectious, and can help attract the right customers, the right team and all of the right opportunities.
Find it useful opportunity for starters.