The first months of a business startup are exciting, but it can also be a time full of impatience. You’ve nurtured your fledgling company from a glimmer of an idea to a fully realized business, and you’re ready to take the world by storm.
That same passion that’s fueled your concept until now can help you grow faster as long as you stay focused. Our fulfillment company has been part of many successful startups, so we’re sharing some tips we’ve learned along the way.
Always Play to Win
Top sports coaches will tell you there’s a difference between playing to win and playing not to lose. Belief in yourself allows you to work from a position of strength rather than a timid, defensive attitude. Always bet on yourself to win.
Stay Flexible
Commitment to your business is vital, but as John Lennon once said, life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. Many elements are out of your control, so you should remain ready to pivot in order to skirt roadblocks or take advantage of new opportunities.
Prioritize Customer Service
No matter what the product or service, the goal of every company is to satisfy customers. That’s particularly important today, when bad word-of-mouth spreads like wildfire via social media. Think of your customers as real flesh-and-blood people rather than faceless orders and put their needs first.
Keep Learning
In the early days, startup entrepreneurs are often forced to wear many hats out of sheer necessity. Fortunately, there are a number of helpful solutions available from inexpensive online courses to high-tech digital tools. Learning pays extra dividends in the future when you can effectively communicate with experts you hire for those roles.
Take Advantage of Free Advice
There’s an old saying that free advice is worth the price. But there is actually a wide range of groups and forums where you can network with others who have gone before you. Not only will you pick up valuable nuggets of knowledge, you’ll have the opportunity to form professional relationships that prove mutually beneficial.
Avoid Debt
We’ve all heard the dramatic stories of artists and entrepreneurs who maxed out their credit cards (and sometimes those of others as well) to finance their project or company. In most cases, that business model ends up draining your cash flow through costly interest charges. Get in the habit of paying cash whenever possible.
Maintain a Budget
Both personally and professionally, many people make the mistake of increasing spending as income goes up. While you may be tempted to do the same once orders start rolling in, your business will be better served if you continue to operate as though you’re on a shoestring.
Fulfillment Warehouse Services That Grow Along with Your Business
When you start a new business, you should be concentrating on gaining sales, not processing them. Medallion Fulfillment & Warehouse Logistics offers comprehensive fulfillment warehouse services that scale to fit your growing needs. Contact us for more information.