Informational Interviews

Is this the year you start your very own business? Do you want to be your own boss and have no superiors at all? Do you want to control what customers or clients you take on? Do you want to decide how many projects you handle, within one day? If you answered yes, then this is the time to get some advice.

When starting a business, advice can easily be turned into reality. One way to do that is by scheduling informational interviews. Having information interviews is much easier than going on a job interview. This will lead you down the journey that you really desire, rather than second guessing, did I actually get the position?

Start by making a list of your connections, that you think will be willing to speak to you. They could be a friend of a friend, connections on LinkedIn, members of an association you belong to, individuals on a forum and more... Basically, they can come from many different outlets.

Then, begin drafting up an email, but of course, always personalize the individual’s name before pushing the send button. People tend to respond better when it's more than just a generalized message.

Once you've received your replies, you can have a thirty minute phone call with them. Of course, be sure to take notes from their advice. You don't want to forget anything. Try to have approximately, three to five phone calls, and see what advice is consistent and what is actually unique.

Now, that you have feedback and ideas rolling around in your head, it is time to put them into action! Take the consistent advice first, since that is proven to work and then, add a little bit of you into the mix, in order to differentiate from the competition. Grab your niche and become the expert!

Follow Through

We have now entered a new year, 2017! Thus, begins your New Year's resolution! So, what are your business plans and goals? There are so many aspects to choose from, such as developing a marketing strategy, reviewing your demographics, updating and editing your current business plans, increasing sales revenue, building stronger customer relations, project management, email management and the list goes on and on…

However, no matter what you choose to focus on this year, simply give it your all. This is the year to make it a priority and have a real sense of urgency. This is the time to analyze your data and grow your business all around. All you need is a little motivation to get started and stay right on track. 

If you need extra help to get your details completed, then maybe it is time to consider hiring an assistant. You might feel overwhelmed or if you just want to be more economical, then why not consider a virtual assistant. Now, you happen to have a retail store, then you might need some sales associates added to your staff. Lastly, you might want to hire an administrative assistant or manager for your office needs. Of course, no matter what type of business, extra hands are almost always needed.

So, what projects need to be tackled immediately without hesitation? Do you have any specific deadlines, short or long term, in mind? Do you have a checklist to run through? These are the questions you should be asking yourself and much more... 

Now, the most important thing to remember is actually to take action! Just talking about it gets you nowhere fast. So, don't procrastinate because the months go by quickly.  Simply take two steps forward and zero steps back because one step back is not an option this year.