Why Independent Professionals Need to Start Small
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Apple, Microsoft, and even Google were not made overnight. They share modest launches, as the three companies started in a garage.
In 1975, Bill Gates started a firm with Paul Allen, called Micro-Soft. In 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne built the first Apple I, of which a local store agreed to buy 50 units. In 1998, University graduates, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, leased a garage to create the first web indexing algorithm.
Today’s giants were yesterday’s tiny startups. Enthusiastic entrepreneurs and freelancers need to remember that some of the biggest brands on the market have had small beginnings. In fact, starting small is by far the safest way to build reliability, momentum, and growth.
Take the time to build a reliable side hustle
While it might be tempting to put everything you have into the creation of a multinational company, it’s a good idea to slow down your race to the top.
Start by building a side hustle that lets you be your own boss and learn all the tricks of managing an independent business.
Ultimately, running a business is a learning process, during which you need to get familiar with some of the necessary actions and decisions to keep your side hustle afloat.
It’s a good idea to keep your everyday job to cut out the pressure of generating a reliable and regular income while you’re still mastering the techniques.
Build a local business that suits your community
While an online business is an appealing strategy, creating a local presence in your community can prove just as successful as a starting platform.
Local businesses can benefit from the support of their community. As a trusted member of your local neighborhood, you are more likely to not only gain the attention of your audience, but also to understand the needs of your community.
Local businesses can develop into global online entities or chains. But belonging to the local economy gives them a meaningful perspective of the market.
Leverage your knowledge
You can never stop learning. For aspiring entrepreneurs, the quicker you can learn the relevant lessons, the quicker you can succeed.
You need to be ready to do your homework to find the best competitive strategy, financing options, or even target.
More importantly, you have to be clear about what you can learn and what others can teach you. Business mentors, similar companies, and customers can help you understand your market and processes in depth.
As learning is a long process, it’s best to start small and grow as you learn.
Create a network of partners
Last but not least, you need a network of partners, suppliers, and business contacts to establish your presence in the market.
Networking takes a lot of time and effort, especially if you’re new to it.
Building meaningful relationships requires mutual benefits, which means that you have to be ready to help others in order to be helped in return. Additionally, creating an open network with diverse backgrounds and expertise can be more helpful than limiting your connections.
Every small step you take is a step closer to success. In the business world, there is no such thing as hitting the ground running.
Focus on first hitting the market with a business idea which you then develop, test, and improve until it’s good enough to appeal to your audience and attract networking partners.
Are you ready to take your first step?
