Having a fantastic idea for a business venture is only the first step – if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you will need to develop a diverse skillset, especially in the early days of your company when you are likely to be personally involved in the decision making around all key tasks and procedures.
While many entrepreneurs simply learn these skills on the job and then, as the business expands, hire those with a higher level of knowledge in those specialist fields to take over, knowing what the fundamentals are in advance can ensure your business experiences smooth and rapid growth.
Money management.
If you have difficulty managing your personal finances on a month to month basis, you are likely to struggle when it comes to running a far bigger enterprise. Make sure you know how all the ins and outs of budgeting will improve the chances of your company remaining on a sound financial footing.
Solid money management skills will also improve your chances of raising the necessary finance to develop and grow your business as few people will be willing to lend to or invest in someone who has a spotty financial track record. Knowing where to go and who to ask for finance is another key area of knowledge that is worth developing as early in your entrepreneurial career as possible. From traditional bank loans and venture capital to newer sources of funding such as peer to peer lending, the more avenues of finance you are aware of, the more likely it is that you will achieve success.
Humility.
As a business owner, you don’t have to excel in every field, but you do need to know where your limitations are. A full understanding of the areas in which you are strong and those in which you are weak will enable you to make the best possible decisions for your business under a wide range of circumstances.
In addition, you also need to be able to spot strengths and weaknesses in those around you, especially the people you take on as employees. Having over control of even a small part of your business where you were previously the head honcho is a daunting prospect, and you need to know that your enterprise is going to be in safe hands. Developing the ability to see beyond the resume and knowing the right questions to ask during an interview will greatly improve your chances of ending up with a team that can count on to help you succeed.
Thinking things through.
In a fast-moving world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the best decisions are always those that are made rapidly. While this may be the case in some situations, the best rapid decisions are those that are made based on a wealth of experience.
If you are new to a field or your enterprise is just getting started, you do not have sufficient resources to draw on to make this kind of decision. Speed is often important, but it needs to be balanced with quality so don’t be afraid to take a little more time to truly think through the implications of every decision you make. The future of your enterprise may depend on it.
