STARTUP 101: 5 CRUCIAL THOUGHTS WHEN STARTING A BUSINESS

It seems as if everyone wants to be an entrepreneur.  Whether it’s because your job sucks, it’s just time to move on, you’re sick of working for “the man” or you just need additional income – the word entrepreneur is the “new black”.

I always tell people not quit their day job for the first year of starting a business.  Heck, if you can hold on to your job for 2 years continue to bask in getting a check every two weeks and percentage of your healthcare paid for by your employer.  These are two things that you’ll surely miss when you go out on your own.  TRUST ME.

Making that leap to being your own boss is one that should never be taken lightly.  Here are a few CRUCIAL thoughts twhenstarting a business.  Lessons that I have learned over the years and have to reiterate to myself with each and every venture.

1.  BE OBSESSED WITH WINNING.  Don’t make that leap unless you’re obsessed about it and can articulate a clear and competitive edge over your competition.  What can you do that’s different from the competition?  Running a business is extremely difficult.  If you’re not obsessed with winning, and can’t articulate your blueprint for success – don’t give up your day job.  You’ve got to have that edge.  Even 5 years in with NOLA Ice I will wake up at 5am to make sure we have the best spot at a festival.  I’ll be up all night making sure everything is just right for the next morning.  In every situation there’s a winner and a loser.  No one remembers that you came in second, or were just nominated.  They remember the ones who can register that “W”.

2.  STAY FOCUSED.  It’s so easy to want to move quickly, expand into different markets, but you have to make sure everything is just right before making that leap.  Stay focused on your core product or service before making those next steps.  Don’t expand into a new market, a new location, or add additional products until your CORE product, the thing that made you want to do what you do, is perfect.

3.  DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL.  Failure used to be one of my biggest fears but it happened and I learned from it and grew.  Never be afraid to fail.  Your true failure is from not learning why it happened and refusing to pick yourself up and take the next definitive steps to get back on track.

4.  HIRE WELL. I personally say avoid hiring family and friends unless these individuals are competent because once the shit hits the fan they will no longer be your family and/or friend.  Hiring well is crucial to the overall success of your company.  Customer service is huge in any industry.  Having competent, outstanding individuals representing not only your business but you is what will allow you to continue to develop, to continue to grow.

5.  LISTEN.  I can’t stress this enough.  Listening is crucial to the growth of your business.  Some of my best ideas come from my employees and customers.  Listen to their wants, their needs, and try to incorporate that into your corporate structure.  Never be “too good” or “too smart” to at least listen to the advice or suggestions of others.  If you are not prepared to close your mouth and open your eyes and ears then this industry may not be the one for you.

What else would you add to the list?

Website: http://www.NOLA-Ice.com, http://www.CaulfieldHoldings.com

Twitter: @NOLAICEBham @BonTempsBham

Facebook: ww.Facebook.com/NOLAIceBirmingham

DREAMS ARE MEANT TO BE SHARED

I keep reading these articles about NOT sharing your dreams – instead show them.  To me that’s crazy.  Dreams are meant to be shared.  But do so carefully.  It’s a commonly held belief that when you set a new goal for yourself – whether personally or professionally – one should not broadcast it to everyone you know.  In an age where social media rules, where people put too much of their business out there for the world to see – I can totally understand why one would want to keep their dreams, their goals, their ideas a secret.  Platforms like Facebook (statuses), Instagram and Twitter allow too many people to respond.  Too many responses equates to too many opinions.  Those opinions sometimes kill dreams because, essentially, people can be dream killers (or haters – depending on what word you like most). First and foremost, NEVER use Social Media as your dream announcement platform unless you have thick skin.  Honestly.  There are people out there that live to see you fail.  Trust me, I know this from experience.  Those individuals are your “friends” or “followers” online but in real life they are quietly plotting for your demise.  So in addition to dreams, just shut up when it comes to your personal life and your public life online.  Use those social media platforms instead for fun.  Don’t air your relationship issues, your work problems, your inner most thoughts and feelings on the internet where they are permanent…as in forever.  Instead, connect and reconnect with old and new friends. Watch and participate in commentary concerning #Empire, #Scandal, any dumb BET awards show, or what ever may be the hot topic of the day, week or hour.  Read the articles. Join in the discussions.  People post some awesome stuff on Facebook and Twitter.  But if you can’t take the heat when it comes to your personal life, just keep it to yourself.  Especially when it comes to your goals. So, who should you tell your dreams to?  Your circle.  I’ve blessed with this AWESOME group of friends – many of whom are more like family to me than my own flesh and blood.  When I want to do something, whether it’s to pursue a personal or professional goal, I say it out loud to them.  Most of the time they roll their eyes because my dreams are a little more crazy than most.  For instance, I wanted a franchise.  I bought and opened 3 Quiznos Subs (closed and sold them heauxs too).  I wanted a snoball – so I created NOLA Ice (www.NOLA-Ice.com).  I developed a “business bucket list” in which I’ve listed various professional pursuits that I wanted to pursue over the course of the next 5 years.  One of those was to open a gas station/convenience store. I bought one in December 2014 and we opened our doors February 19, 2015.  But with everything that I did I told my friends.  Not to brag. Not to be discouraged.  But because I knew if I didn’t say these ideas, these goals, these dreams out loud, I may never pursue them. Have I mentioned that my crew(s) is awesome?  If not, I just want to let you know that they are.  So in telling my dreams to them, they entail push me to accomplish them.  This what we do for each other actually.  Want to run for political office?  Cool come up with a plan and we’ll put it into action. Want a new job?  Figure out what you want to do and we’ll help and support in any way possible.  Want to jump out of a plane?  Call Kelli she’ll set up an entire weekend build around it and it will be epic…TRUST. One of my favorite books is “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.  From it I learned this simple concept: Once you make the desires of your heart known, the universe will conspire to give it to you.  My universe is God and my crew.  With them all things are possible. With them I will accomplish all that I put effort towards achieving.  I’m not saying that everything is butterflies and roses because I do get asked the hard questions.  I do get the doubters.  But I also need this in order to work out, in my mind, what I am trying to do, trying to accomplish.  I need the difficult friends who see my goals as far fetched.  I need the people who help me work out numbers, and ideas to make sure this could actually work.  I need the people who won’t always pat me on my back and tell me I’m doing a good job, or what I am attempting to accomplish is realistic.  I need all sides. Don’t keep your dreams a secret.  Write them down, talk to others about them.  But be prepared for the good and the bad.  Pray about it.  Then make your decision.

Thoughts? Website: http://www.NOLA-Ice.com, http://www.CaulfieldHoldings.com Twitter: @NOLAICEBham Facebook: ww.Facebook.com/NOLAIceBirmingham

Make Your Mess Your Message

Make your mess your message…

These words were spoken by Robin Roberts as she received the Arthur Ashe Courage Awards at this years ESPYS.  Quietly, Roberts is a personal hero of mine, who has overcome battles with breast cancer and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), spoke with the eloquence and humility she’s shown since joining the staff of ESPN’s Sportscenter in 1990.  Her journey is one for all of us to study and her courage and determination is something we should all consider emulating.

Make your mess your message…

Last month I discovered that my Mom actually reads my blog.  Yes, this shocked me. Honestly I never assumed she’d ever click the link. She proceeded to tell me it was good, that she enjoyed my writing, but didn’t understand why so many of my blogs are so personal. I told her that I sometimes use this as a platform of my own self-therapy. To reiterate what I have learned as a person and a small business owner – to not only help others but myself. It’s my personal online therapy but if it helps someone else out…well then I’m happy.

Make your mess your message…

As an adult, as a professional, but especially as a small business owner we have the pressure of trying to appear that we have it all together. Show no worries, show no fear, and keep any and all struggles to ourselves. But this can also derail your path towards success.  Your story – your compelling story – is what drives you down that road to success in a Range instead of a Tercel.

Lets take Oprah Winfery for example.  Oprah was someone who was not supposed to “make it” based off her looks alone. African American female, overweight, not the most gorgeous Halle Berry-esque woman (and don’t tell me I’m lying because we all remember what Oprah looked like before she became OPRAH).  But, because she exposed herself, pulled back that veil, and allowed the world to see her everything – the world responded and she is where she is today.  She exposed her vulnerability and a nation of households and housewives took her in each and every afternoon.  And look at where she is now!

Make your mess your message…

I’ve said it time and time again in private, amongst friends and family, that this has been a tough year both personally and professionally. If you read the post before this one you’ll get a hint into my mind in 2013.  But I’ve also allowed my friends and family into my personal even more – exposing myself for them to know what is really going on.  This is something I generally do not do in that I am that person who always wants everyone to assume that everything is fine and to not worry about me.  Instead I’ve learned that my actions do the exact opposite and to stop responding to questions regarding how I’m doing with “I’m cool. I’m always cool”.

Make your mess your message… 

It may sound strange, weird or even crazy but the things you try to keep quiet about are the things that are critical to your success as an entrepreneur or a professional as a whole.  Your compelling story is a key to your success.  People love the “started from the bottom now I’m here” type stories (shout out to Wheelchair Jimmy).  Hell, people love a good struggle – though they don’t think you’re struggling – and how you fought hard, kicked ass and made it to where you are now.

Make your mess you message…

So what should you do now? Write a blog. Share your story in 500 characters or less. Share your journey. But write it out so that when you are talking to clients, or when someone comes across your site or blog they can learn more about who you are and become even more compelled to hire you because they see you as not only a professional but also as a human being – someone they can relate to and someone they don’t mind doing business with.

Thoughts?

#BOOM

website(s): http://www.NOLA-Ice.com and http://www.CaulfieldHoldings.com and          www.TheNOLATruck.com

Twitter: @NOLAIce @NOLAIceNOLA @TheNOLATruck