The Twelve Days of Business: Act One 

Our weekly Swindon business advice column with Gail Gibson

 

Here we are at the end of 2010. What has 2010 shown us in the business world? There’s been a definitive and frantic up and down pace mixed with a struggling economy and a new government at the helm. Next question then: What’s in store for 2011?

 

Right now at the close of another working year in your life, what prospects or potential redundancy are you facing in 2011? Are you just starting out in business, or thinking of going into business for yourself?

 

To help you get a positive view of setting up in business for yourself, to allow you to look at your career and business options, here are The Twelve Days of Business 2010, in Three Acts.

 

Act One

 

1st Day of Christmas

 

Explore your Options. Before you rush into setting up a new business, even if your business idea is something you’ve been passionate about for sometime, consider why you are doing this. Think about your current situation – Do you really want to do this? What will happen if it doesn’t work out? Give yourself a good amount of time to mull over your ideas and reasons for embarking on this journey.

 

2nd Day of Christmas

 

What is your USP? Being clear about what you will offer is of vital importance. Will you offer a product or service? Are you the product or service as a sole trader? Who is your target audience, in other words who are you selling to? Research and establish if there is a need for what you want to promote and deliver. Yes, competition in your marketplace is positive for growth, however what makes you different from others in the same or similar sector? Know what your Unique Selling Point is i.e. What are the benefits you can offer to your market? How will your product or service make a difference to their life or business?

 

3rd Day of Christmas

 

Goals and Ambitions. During this research and discovery stage ask yourself what do I want to achieve and how am I going to get there? Setting goals with realistic objectives to help you achieve them is the most commonsense approach to growing your vision into reality. Create a business and marketing plan to keep you on track and focussed, plus it helps to prevent you from rushing headlong into grabbing every opportunity that may present itself. Seek help and advice to put together concise plans. Make sure your goals are measurable and meet with what your business represents, what you wish to achieve and are set to a suitable time frame.

 

4th Day of Christmas

 

What are your Values? Going into business for yourself brings with it one major constant – your reputation. Consider what you want you business to stand for or represent. How do you want to be seen in your marketplace, in the eyes of your competitors? Core values set the foundation for any business and without them a business will not succeed. Remember too, your brand is your reputation and vice versa. Every telephone call or email, every client meeting and every piece of work or product you deliver, will be preceded by your values.

 

Read Act Two for the 5th to 8th Days of Christmas, coming soon.

 

Written by Gail Gibson of True Expressions

Discovery, Change, Transformation