- It will seem as if nothing you do or try is working... until something does.
- Bills due for payment will always arrive on time, but client payments hardly ever.
- If you employ people, not all employee contributions can be quantified - as in, expressed in dollar value - requiring you to learn and understand the value of people, their skills, and the different talents that they might offer your business.
- Your business goals, idea and/or mission - or all of these - will evolve over time. If they do not, you will soon fail... or simply go out of business eventually.
- You will never have enough money, or resources. Get used to it.
- There are probably a dozen regulations that you are required to comply with, including some that your business is required to comply with today, and that you might not even know about (yet). Depending on where your business is domiciled; these may include federal, state, county, city business compliance (tax) requirements. Find out what they are... 'everyone' wants a piece of what you're building!
- Your subcontractors and/or suppliers will always be tardy... whether in delivery of services to your business, responding to requests for information and/or proposals, returning your calls and/or emails (never!), etc. No-one will respond in a manner that matches your expectations. Remember this for when someone requests information from your business, or expresses a desire to do business with you!
- You might be convinced that you need to spend money on marketing. The good news is - if you decide to advertise - at least 10% of our ad spend might result in some traction, or boost your revenue. The bad news is, you will generally not know which 10%. While on this topic - generally speaking - no social media marketing spend will deliver desired results; not FaceBook (and it's suite of products), Google, LinkedIn, nor Twitter. These companies will show you impressions and clicks, and in return... you will be able to show them your empty, cashless pockets.
- There are very few substitutes for face-to-face meetings with prospective clients. Connection via email or telephone works best when following a warm introduction, or meeting. And there is absolutely zero substitute for a new prospect who reaches out to you, and who had been referred by an existing client. Do not send people an email requesting a few minutes of their time. This is disingenuous, and a misrepresentation of 'your ask.'
- And finally, most importantly... SALES FIXES EVERYTHING!
