There are a lot of things that we can call common mistakes for entrepreneurs. But one that isn’t talked about that often is a budding entrepreneur’s desire and willingness to dedicate pretty much everything about their production to other people. To make it in this sort of pursuit, you need to have a wide range of knowledge along with that tasty amount of capital. But surely you can just outsource those sorts of tasks? Surely you can just hire other people who have all that knowledge, leaving you free to… well, rake in the money?
The fact is that when you do this you end up relinquishing a surprising amount of control over your entrepreneurial pursuit. Not only that, but you miss out on some amazing and potentially lucrative learning opportunities.
By giving yourself a deeper understanding of many of the key areas in the business world, you really do give yourself the upper hand. So what kind of areas am I talking about here?
Accounting or general finance
Do not think that the basics of accounting and finance are not essential for entrepreneurs. After all, an entrepreneur is defined by a desire for profit. How can anyone trust you with big profits without financial understanding from you? Get to grips with key financial concepts, as it will certainly help you towards your goals. And if you need capital, it will definitely inspire confidence from prospective investors!
The law
Lawyers are expensive. Yes, Captain Obvious reporting for duty, I know. If you need a big budget for legal purposes, then that’s a big set of problems right at the first hurdle. Become familiar with business law – this can help you avoid needing expensive legal help in the early stages of your business pursuit. After all, a lot of the common mistakes found in startups are of a legal nature. That you have some legal knowledge will definitely help potential clients and investors feel a bit safer putting their trust in you!
Project management
One big error that entrepreneurs tend to make: they don’t really take that much control over the specific projects that will affect their revenue and reputation. In all honesty, it’s best that an entrepreneur is really willing to get their hands dirty and get directly involved in these project management processes. Of course, the reason that a lot of entrepreneurs don’t engage in this area that often is because project management is nowhere near as simple as many people make out. That’s why you should look into boosting your skills in this area. Have you considered taking a project management professional course? With the right PMP exam preparation, you could ace it in no time.
Technology
What technology are you going to need in your business? How are you going to go about acquiring that technology and setting it up? Small business often pay a scary amount of money to get I.T. consultants that can assist them with these matters. This can be a smart move, of course. But wouldn’t it be better if you could save money by getting familiar with these sort of essential technology yourself?
