I have been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember, and I always knew that any business I started would have to satisfy my curious and technical mind. My successful early career as an engineer working for a large national car manufacturer was very satisfying, but once I started my family, things had to change. I needed a business that could grow as my children got older and also something I could do part-time. It didn’t take long for me to realize that web development and marketing was the ideal solution for me. It allowed me the flexibility to work from home, spend time with my family when necessary and also provide a valuable service to clients in an industry that was rapidly growing and changing. So how do I do it? Here are some tips that work for me.
- Delegate!
I learned early that surrounding myself with other smart people was the way to be successful. Delegate what you don’t have time for, don’t have the technical knowledge for or don’t like. Find people who do have the time, knowledge and desire. - Spend time doing what you love
I love marketing. I am naturally drawn to it and am good at it. My clients can sense that and are thus drawn to me and my business because I practice what I preach. Helping people market their own businesses is what has grown mine! It’s win/win. - Hire smart
Hire people who are really good at what they do, like what they do and are reliable. You can train anyone with the right work ethic, so work to keep those people. Hire from your own circle and take recommendations from people in your own trusted network. Be fair, flexible and generous with work conditions and pay, and you won’t lose good employees. Finding good experts will help define your business as one of the best. You don’t have to be the expert, just able to find those that are. - Know when to pass
Get to know your ideal client and be selective about the ones you take on. Take on challenges, but don’t over-promise and under-deliver. If you have to do work that isn’t rewarding on any level, your business won’t grow because it’s a passion killer. - Move with the times
We’ve been in business a long time and in the tech world, things change every day. If you don’t keep up with the changes and actually embrace them, you’ll be left behind by others who do. We attend seminars, webinars, weekend camps and share information with each to keep up. The world of the internet has changed a lot in the past ten years. We’re still here. That tells you a lot!
