No matter how passionate you are about your business or how talented your ideas may be, you need the help of experts. Don’t rule them out when it comes to helping you make viable business decisions. An outstanding business who can be a leader and stand the test of time doesn’t happen by accident or luck.

It is the result of hard work and doing the very best you can with the information you have at that point in time. There will always be risk with any decision, but business consultants can help you to reduce that risk. They can help you get information quickly to base your future outcomes upon.

Credibility

Never select your business consultants at random. You need to know they are credible and they can deliver what you need with ease. It is important to determine their level of expertise for your type of business and how they can contribute to it. Take some time to look at the possibilities before you hire them.

Find out how well they have contributed to the outcomes for other businesses. They should be similar in nature to yours, but not direct competitors. Find out their qualifications and ask some tough questions. Don’t just take everything you see at face value. What they offer can influence your business – for better or worse. You need to make a very good decision.

In addition to credibility, you need people you can trust and you can communicate with. Some situations can be a tangled web and you need people willing to explore all possibilities. Then they have to be able to convey those elements into words.

Availability

When it comes to seeking the assistance of business consultants, you need to find out who is available. If they have too many clients, they may not be able to address your needs when they come up. Not all business decisions can be made at a leisurely pace so you need someone in your corner who will be able to help you as soon as possible.

They should be passionate about your business and objective. They need to be able to tell you the pros and cons of the situation and what they recommend. Keep in mind you don’t have to act on the advice of business consultants. In the end, it is your business and you have the final say. However, if you trust them to make sound decisions then you will really listen to them.

Cost

It may surprise you to learn how affordable it is to get the expertise of business consultants. You may assume you can’t afford them but that isn’t true. Take your time to compare what is available and the cost. There can be plenty of variables in terms of services offered and what they charge for them. Find an offer that is balanced in terms of what they provide and what you will pay.

The future of your business is important and the decisions you will make affect your reputation and your profits. With that in mind, you really can’t afford not to have business consultants available to help you with the struggles and the possibilities. They can help you to pave a road that is smooth and desirable.

From the outside looking in, your customers and your competitors may thin you just have the Midas touch. Everything you work on turns into a profitable entity. You will know though that behind the scenes is a great deal of time invested in research, development, and the benefits from those with sound advice to share with you.

On developing YOUR unique expression through business to reflect an elegant simplicity with depth and meaning.

1. Be Nimble

Take a page from the tech startup playbook, and adopt a “Rapid Prototyping” mindset.

You’ve gotta start somewhere, and you won’t know until you take the action, see the results, and learn from real reactions from real people.

Don’t chase your tail in circles, waiting for all those marketing exercises to look perfect. Stop thinking if you get the approval of some business coach, your business will be bulletproof.

Hone in on your genius by doing good work… and see where you excel.

Be willing to pivot. Commit to excellence, not convenience.

Don’t get too attached just because you’ve invested time and money in some training or certification. Everything builds up to a final expression that’s uniquely yours because you’re bringing to the table a one-of-a-kind combination of skills and experiences.

2. Don’t Spread Too Thin

We’ve been told a million and one things we need to “fill the funnel” – the freebies, the tripwire, the eBook, the online course, the big group program, the small group program, the private coaching, and the live event.

When those coaches break up the numbers and show you how to get to “6 figures,” it sounds pretty darn good… if you can do 7 things all at once.

Yet, chances are, you’re not a genius in delivering every single format. You may suck at some and drag your ass on others… people can smell it miles away if you aren’t excited about it.

If it’s just something to check off the list, don’t do it.

You don’t have to fill up every single “rung” of what a “business model” should look like. You don’t have to offer everything everyone is selling.

You need to find the expressions that allow you to be in your zone of genius as much as possible. And get unapologetically good at it.

3. Redefine “Leveraging”

What about “leveraging?” You may ask – because that’s another irresponsible sound byte so many are tossing around.

Irresponsible because it’s defined rather narrowly in most cases and often send us down a rabbit hole.

Think outside “leveraging = 1: many” box in the form of digital products, online courses or group programs.

(Note that you have to invest time and effort to create those content before you even get paid… there’s always an opportunity cost. Is it the best way to spend your time and genius? Have you done the work to make sure you don’t hear cricket when you launch?)

Leveraging can just simply mean that you hone your skills, get amazingly good at it, articulate the value and relevance so you can charge a premium.

4. Forget “Charge What You’re Worth”

This is my big pet peeve.

Don’t tie your self-worth with what people pay you… so disempowering.

I’ve heard coaches being told in whatever training that they’ve to charge some crazy amount per month (even if they’re just starting out)… otherwise, they’re not doing it right.

Stop.

Before we talk number, let’s talk what the number is about.

It’s about what you bring to the table. It’s about how you create meaning and deliver value.

It’s about whether you can say it out loud with confidence and conscience.

Your fee is only as good as what people are willing to pay – and it depends on how confidently and genuinely you can articulate the value, and do good work to deliver above and beyond your promise.

Those who charge $10k a month, and make it worth every penny and more, didn’t start there. They deliver, and they demand a fair exchange for the value they create for their clients.

Get to work. Don’t put yourself on the pedestal. Put yourself in the trenches.

5. Get Out Of the Bubble

All the coaching, programs, and training are putting us in the echo chamber.

It took me almost a year to detox so I can hear mySELF think.

Do what’s right for you. Don’t get sucked into sound bytes and rhetoric.

We’re seeing a backlash to all the sales messages, online courses, and coaching program in this space. When everyone wants to sell you something that sounds just like the next guy, the market gets jaded, skeptical and resistant.

You need to be surer than ever what YOU and your business need at this moment before investing. It’s not “if you’re unwilling to invest in yourself (and whip out the credit card now) you can’t expect others to invest in you” rhetoric – which is selfish, fear-based BS.

It’s not just the money. It’s the TIME and mental space – if you spend time and mental space on one thing, you won’t have it for others that actually matter.

6. Be Honest With Yourself

At the end of the journey, YOU are what matters.

Enough asking your Facebook group buddies how to make your decisions. Don’t be intellectually lazy. Take responsibility.

Most people you meet along the way will eventually fall off – what you do needs to be meaningful to you.

Ling Wong:: Intuitive Brainiac | Creativity Mentor | Copywriting Alchemist. Author of “Copywriting Alchemy: Secrets to Turning a Powerful Personal Brand Into Content that Sells” now available on Amazon.

Through her unique blend of marketing coaching, content strategy and copywriting process, she helps the maverick-preneurs uncover, articulate & transform their WHY into content that connects, resonates and converts – by way of an intuitive yet rigorous iterative process born out of her Harvard Design School training and 15 years experience in the online marketing industry.

Ling is Inbound Marketing, Content Marketing, and Email Marketing certified. Through her writing engagements with various SaaS and marketing companies with the goals of driving organic traffic, building readership and increasing conversion, she’s well-versed in topics including online marketing, content marketing, eCommerce, conversion, UX, social media marketing, and more.

She helps coaches, consultants, service professionals, solopreneurs and small businesses apply these best practices to their specific business models and circumstances.

If you have a solid business plan, you may want to look for potential investors. While this is a difficult step, you may want to stay ready. It’s suggested that you should talk to hundreds of potential investors before choosing the right one for your new business. Here are a few good ways to look for the best investors.

Start-up Launch Platforms

You can contact companies that offer research, information and assistance to new business owners. They help you start your business and look for the right investors. These companies have millions of members all over the world. So, you can get in touch with a good company that offers these services.

Angel Networks

Another way is to look for angel investors. They will offer funds in addition to provide advice, mentorship and access to valuable contacts. As a matter of fact, this is all what you need in order to get your business started and then run it with great success. Make sure you do try out angel networks. These organizations have a list of tons of angel investors who help new businesses with their funds.

Crowdfunding Sites

Just like other sources, crowdfunding sites give you access to different types of good investors. They include common people who want to be part of the next big thing as well as philanthropists who want to help others with their dreams. Aside from this, crowdfunding sites may include accredited investors looking for fresh ideas for investment.

Actually, each site has different focal point for incentivizing investors. Therefore, we suggest that you read up on each site to choose one that aligns with the powerful strategic goals you have set.

Incubators And Accelerators

Since your new business is like a baby, you need to work with a good accelerator or incubator. This way you can get the investor resources to grow your business. These investors perform a big role and help you turn your ideas into a business.

At times, some incubators and accelerators provide physical space so you can establish your office. Since other start-ups will share the same physical space, you can share ideas growing your businesses together. Start-up accelerators like Ycombinator and TechStars provide advice and many other services to investors like you.

Small Business Administration

You can also contact the Small Business Administration for funding. The organization has been offering solid programs for the stimulation of the economy. Basically, they offer loans and grants to small start-ups.

Social Networking Sites

Aside from LinkedIn, many social networking websites can help you get in touch with different types of investors. These sites help you to contact investors all over the world. Moreover, they promote your products or services in other countries of the world as well. Some good names in this field include Meetup, Cofoundr, Startup Nation and EFactor, just to name a few.

Private Equity Firms

If your start-up has great potential to grow into a big business, private equity firms can help you. They can provide you with millions of dollars so you can grow your business. You can check them out as well.

Business has its crests and troughs. Naturally, there is an element of stress in business. When you do not do well, stress can accumulate and bring you down even further. Therefore, a successful businessperson is one who is able to manage stress. You can never avoid stress. Managing stress is the key to becoming successful in business. I have shared some methods that can help reduce stress during the course of this article.

Relieving Stress

First, money is important, but not everything in life. You will have to learn to take the losses in stride. It is easy for anyone to preach. Nevertheless, one can reduce stress by having an open mind. This open mind allows us to absorb the losses as part of life. If you manage to do this, you have won half the battle against stress.

Ascertain the facts:

When you are suffering losses, something has gone wrong somewhere. It is advisable to ascertain the facts and analyze your mistakes with a cool head. This will enable you to plan well. When you realize your mistakes, you will not repeat them. Thus, you can find ways to beat the stress.

Identify the cause of the stress:

Stress can be of two types. When you start worrying about things you are afraid of or do not wish to happen, you accumulate ‘Bad Stress’. At the same, when you stress over real issues, you experience ‘Good Stress’. Distinguish between the two stresses and prioritize your fight against stress. This will make your life easier.

Take the advice of experts:

When you take the advice of others, you are simply sharing your burden. Your shoulders become light thereby enabling you to think fresh. At the same time, you get a third party perspective on things. A financial expert can suggest some beautiful ways to get away from financial stress. Taking the advice of such people is always beneficial to you in the end.

Pause and proceed:

This is one of the time-tested methods of relieving stress. Taking a pause or a deep breath can help you analyze things with a cool mind. You usually end up finding the solution to your problems almost immediately. Relaxing your mind and body is essential. If possible, take a break and go for a nice holiday to recharge your batteries.

Take care of your health:

There are many things in life more important than money. The sooner you realize and accept this fact, the better you will start to feel. Your health plays a great role in relieving stress. Taking care of your health is of paramount importance.

The only thing permanent in the world is ‘Change’. The person who is capable of adapting to the change is successful. This is true in life and in business. Every day is a new day in business. One should look forward to tomorrow and live in the present. If you want to succeed in business, you have to look into the future and spot trends before others do it. So being able to spot a trend in business is incredibly important.

Spotting Trends

Spotting trends require a lot of practice. This article dwells on certain tips to follow that can enable you to spot the trends before others beat you to it.

Have a sense of anticipation:

There is a difference between novelty and trends. Every trend begins with a novelty, but not every novelty ends into a trend. One of the finest examples of a novelty becoming a trend is the success of Uber. What started as a mere car-pooling service, ended up as one of the fastest growing ‘call taxi service’ in the world. This is because the founders of Uber, Travis Kalanick, and Garrett Camp had the vision to grow a business opportunity from an activity as simple as hailing a cab.

Sense the change:

You can experience novelty on a daily basis. It does not take much time for a novelty to develop into a trend. Keeping your eyes and ears wide-open can help under such circumstances. Every novelty displays certain specific characteristics. The trick is in identifying them and cashing in at the appropriate moment.

Know the difference between a fad and a trend:

Most of the novel ideas end up as fads. They are momentary and hence do not have much value in business. However, certain characteristics last long enough for a fad to become a trend. A successful businessperson is one who has the ability to take note of this fact at the earliest opportunity.

Move fast:

Sensing an opportunity is one thing and cashing in on it is something else. You might not be the only entrepreneur to spot a trend. Many more people might have this ability. It boils down to the fact as to who takes the first step. The first entrant into the field stands to gain the most. By remaining ahead of the others, you capture a chunk of the market before the others move in.

If you do not know how to spot a trend, there are organizations of experts who offer free advice to those who are serious in trying to learn how to do so.

People who are familiar with tennis and watch the Wimbledon are sure to have heard these words very often. “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same” What does this signify? These words point out that success and failure are both a part of life. One should learn to treat them equally.

However, a majority of the people do not know how to handle failure in life. This article dwells on certain tips to face failure in business.

Dealing with Failure

Failure in business is very common. In fact, you fail more than you succeed. However, is failure the end of life? Of course, it is not. One should learn to live for another day and fight failure. This is the best way to succeed.

Prepare yourself for failure:

No one in the world likes to fail. However, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Hence, preparing for failure should be one of your priorities when you start your business. This keeps you ready to face any adverse situations and provides you with means to overcome it at the same time.

Never personalize failure:

Failure is something very normal in life. If you start taking it personally, you end up becoming a nervous wreck. The most successful business empires today are those that had failed miserably at the initial stages. The best course of action is to take it on the chin and move ahead in life.

Accept responsibility:

Every failure has a reason. Analyze the reasons and accept your responsibilities. This will make you a stronger person. Admit your mistakes and make a move in the right direction. Mistakes make us all the more human. The ability to learn from your mistakes and avoid repeating them should be your priority.

Never bottle up your emotions:

It is very natural for a person to restrict the flow of emotions. If the situation demands you to cry, you should go ahead and finish it off. This will relieve one of the greatest burdens off your shoulders. You become free to think with an open mind and move ahead in life.

Remember the lessons:

When you fail, you learn some very hard lessons. Remembering your lessons in failure for your entire life is essential. Never commit the same mistake again in your life. This principle is the sure route to success in business and life too.

When you commit mistakes, you learn about your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing them and acting within your limitations can make you succeed more often than not.

What are custom reports and why are they so useful? 
Custom reports help you to document your business’s progress, provide you with a way of comparing that progress over certain periods and assist you in tracking your history of growth. While your profit margins each year, may give you an idea of how your business is progressing, the data that you can collect in reports can be far more beneficial to you when formulating your budget and making plans for the upcoming year.

These reports can also give an insight as to which products or services have been the most successful, and which markets you may have overlooked. In fact, you’ll find that there are many reasons to check back to the data that you’ve collected as your business grows.

More reasons why a business report can be helpful for your business: 
Custom reports can also help you to create a paper trail of your past transactions and business history. These can of course be stored on a computer, and can then be made readily available should you approach a bank for a loan or even make the decision to sell your business. It’s crucial that you let someone other than yourself know where they can find your custom reports, should you be unable to access them for any reason.

Whether your business currently creates custom reports or not, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of doing so, not only because it can give important insights into your business, but also because you would be required to produce them should you ever take on a corporate label.

Annual reports are especially helpful if you’re trying to market your business or seek new clients, and as they are often made glossy and attractive to look at, they can be a great tool to use when wanting to give others a complete overview of your business. Corporations must produce these annually to comply with legal obligations to stockholders and government agencies, and many larger companies have now begun to appreciate the value of annual reports and are producing them whether obliged to or not.

Who can you turn to if you’ve never created a business report? 
There are a good number of companies who specialise in assisting businesses with custom reports, and who can ensure that you make the most of the data available to you. Many tax and accounting firms offer this as part of their bookkeeping packages, and as these reports are a crucial aspect of any successful business, it would be prudent to keep them up to date.