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How to Start Up Your Own Business

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Start Up Your Own Business|How to Start Up Your Own BusinessWhat an exciting time for you! You have decided to start up your own business, and your heart beats faster and a trickle of sweat creases your forehead.

A million thoughts bombard your brain as you have your epiphany moment when you realize that all the events in your life have been leading to this grand moment – your destiny! Maybe you should put the brakes on for a minute, though, and begin to think of things like business growth strategies for your masterplan.

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide for you to follow.

Is this a business with a hook?

In other words, is there something unique about it that will make people want to buy from you? This may not be the case, but there may be a zillion businesses like the one you thought of, and if that’s the case, then you will have to have that “Wow!” factor that’s going to get the people running to you. What will that factor be for your product or service?

The expert market research writer at best essays, says that if it’s something brand new, then the field is wide open, and your business may fly very early on in its existence. Can you cope with this scenario? You could find yourself shooting to the sky while your business collapses around you.

That’s obviously a worst-case scenario, but you must consider all the possibilities and how you would deal with each of them. That’s very smart thinking.

Structure, structure, structure

The more pillars to support the business, the better. One little pillar could collapse very easily, but a couple could hold up the framework if one or two collapse.

It’s important to firstly think of the top structure. This is an extremely important question – do you want a partner? Do you have someone in mind that would be a good fit? It’s nice to have the security of having someone with you to deal with all the myriad events that occur daily in the running of a business. Is that person going to have an equitable share? If he or she is bringing money in to start the business, that’s great.

However, a word of caution – most people have a story to tell about “the partner from hell.” You don’t want this; your business doesn’t need it and your sanity doesn’t need it. Even best friends can turn into monsters. Money does funny things to people.

The blueprint for success

If you are going to go it alone, or even you risk having a partner, you will probably need funding for your business. You are going to have to get a business plan together, and you could seek an operator that will help you in this endeavor.

All financial institutions that you approach will ask you for a plan, and it must be a sound scenario that looks at your objective, projected income and profit margins.

According to a renowned motivational speaker and researcher at an assignment writing help, don’t lose heart if you get turned down by one company. Try and try again, and if your plan is sound, you will find someone who will back you.

Also, take another look at your plan and maybe do some fine-tuning. There could be a simple reason why backers are turning you down. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and find out what exactly is troubling them. Some adjustments could see you get that finance! You could approach a small loans provider. Get ofay with all the legal structures and requirements.

The dreaded paperwork!

You will have forms coming and going like never before, but they are a necessary part of starting a business.

There are the forms for your backers. Signed, sealed delivered should be the sequence of events here. Ensure everything is completed on these vital forms. Read the small print! Ask questions!

There are many business structures, and these may change as your business develops. Each time there will be more forms. Read the small print! You will need to plan and think of leases, utilities, staff payments and so on.
More forms! Read the small print.

What’s in a name?

Well, a lot actually. A catchy name for your business will go a long way into grabbing the curiosity of others. Does your name accurately reflect the nature of your business? This is not vital, but it helps in honing down the possibilities when people are thinking of a service that they need.

A cute but irrelevant name could be fun, but also an annoyance. If you’ve ever watched the goings in Shark Tank, you’ll know how the sharks get irritated when the presenters think they’re onto something good with a name but it’s quite meaningless. Anyway, think, test it out on friends and ask them to be blatantly honest with you. Catchy and relevant is the way to go.

Register your company

You must register your company with the government and the IRS. If you have gone with a small loan’s provider or a business start-up consultant, they will be able to help you with all that is needed in getting your company in line with the government requirements.

You will find it a requirement of most states to supply a form stating the nature of your business. When it comes to taxes, you will need to keep your business and personal taxes separate. There are rules aplenty when it comes to the IRS, but again, you can get expert help on all this from your consultant or backers. Just ensure that you have completed everything that is needed by state and federal governments. Don’t leave any strings hanging that can trip you up.

Get insured!

This is something that slips the minds of a lot of people. There could be damage to the property you have rented, or theft, or a myriad nasty things that could happen.

There are quite a few different insurance policies that cover various aspects of your operation. Make sure that you know all about them, especially if you are providing a service. It is the nature of life that things can go horribly wrong, and when it does and you’re insured, then there’s nothing to worry about.

Speaking of those strings that can trip you up, most business memoirs will include events that damaged a company, but the owner wasn’t insured. It could be a small thing that would never occur to you. Again, get the advice of insurance experts.

Tackling the team

If you’re going to have a sales team and specialists working for you, build your team wisely. If you’re going to advertise, use the sites that you think will attract the right people.

Make use of the call-back system that Broadway operators use when casting a show. Get the person to come back and then back again. It’s rare that producers of a show cast the person the first-time round. By using this system, you’ll make doubly sure that you have indeed chosen the correct candidates.

Also, when using “call backs,” have different people with you when interviewing. This way, you’ll get the perspectives from all the angles.

Is anyone there?

This is a simple one yet can make or break a company. Once you have everything in place, get to market your company. If no-one knows about it, how can anyone buy from you?

Depending on the nature of your business, find out what will make the right impact, and this should be a team effort. Today, besides direct marketing, using digital marketing to its fullest extent will ensure that people get to know about you, quickly! Here’s some sound advice – only market when you’re ready to. There’s nothing worse than garnering a demand without your ducks in a row.

Conclusion

Good luck with your efforts. Three words you must keep in mind all the time – Plan! Plan! Plan! Let this be your mantra on the road to success. The times are challenging but challenges always throw new opportunities and that is what builds new brands and billionaires.

About the Author

Charlie Svensson works as a freelance academic writer for an assignment writing service that ranks as the best thesis, dissertation and essay writing service in the business. His work is centered around providing assignment writing help to university-level students, both native and foreign. He is currently authoring a book on the role of sports in career excellence and plans to release it around January next year.

Six Ways To Help Improve Your Online Security As A Business Owner

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Online Security|Six Ways To Help Improve Your Online Security As A Business OwnerYour business is always something that you can improve, and when it comes to your online security, there should certainly be some active attention towards this area of the company. The online world is a wonderful place, and it can bring with it a lot of opportunities. However, it’s important to recognize that you acknowledge the dangers of the internet and what it can bring. Here are six ways to help improve your online security as a business owner.

Be Vigilant With Your Data Storage

Firstly, it’s important to be vigilant when it comes to your data storage. If you’re not being active enough with the security of your data, then it’s at risk of being stolen or leaked. That’s not something that you want for your company or for the sake of any clients or customers that you hold data for. At this point, you’re then putting other people at risk, and that will never go down well when it comes to your reputation. A good way to handle data storage is to put it all in one place. There’s the cloud, which is an online storage place to keep all your data secure in or you can consider other online and offline options. There are plenty of companies and software out there that are committed to fending off cyber attacks and improving cybersecurity, so it’s important you work hard to ensure your data is safe from anything that you come across in the future. Just because you might be a small business doesn’t mean you won’t be targeted.

Outsource Your IT Security & Support

Outsourcing your IT security and support is definitely something that’s valuable to have when it comes to business. Seeing as a lot of businesses operate with some form of technology or IT device it’s essential everything is working as it should be. If it’s not, then it’s going to cause problems to your daily work life and perhaps restrict your ability and opportunities to make more money.

Consider outsourcing your IT security and support to save yourself the time and effort of having to hire it in-house yourself because this might not be possible with smaller businesses. A managed network security is also worth throwing into the deal when it comes to IT support because they can help ensure your network is secure from hackers at all times, whilst also looking at ways to improve it.

Create Stronger Passwords

Stronger passwords are a great way to help keep your accounts secure. It’s good to change your passwords every so often so that you’re further protecting and securing your logins. Whether that be for your staff members or for yourself, it’s good to use a password software and to take advantage of any two-step authentication that helps to add an extra layer of security. When it comes to passwords, many will attempt to use words and numbers that are relatable either to them personally or via the company. However, it’s important to avoid both of these and to pick something obscure. That’s where password creators on Google Chrome, for example, can provide very useful. If you’re struggling to think of them, just make sure to try and have a number, a special character, and one capital letter within each password. That should be enough to keep it secure.

Avoid Any Dodgy-Looking Websites

The internet is a vast space, and there are millions of websites across the world, so you’re likely to come across a few that don’t seem right. Try to avoid any dodgy-looking websites and trust your gut when it comes to these sites. You’ll likely recognize distinguishing features of these websites such as poor grammar and perhaps a poorly made web design. When making payments or sending files, make sure the site displays a green lock in the left-hand corner of the URL box. This lets you know that the website is secure for making payments and sending confidential information.

If something doesn’t look right, then avoid it at all costs because it’s likely to be something that could cause your business harm in some way.

StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Online Security|Six Ways To Help Improve Your Online Security As A Business OwnerDelete Any Old Employee Accounts

Employees are responsible for how they navigate the internet, and so care should be taken to look after them in this regard. However, one way to help the company’s online security is to ensure you disable and delete any old employee accounts. Whether these be online ones or offline with computer logins. You must make sure that all of these are disabled or deleted so that in the case of a disgruntled employee leaving, they don’t do anything that might compromise the safety of the company. It’s worth trying to do this with the employee themselves if they’re leaving on good terms, but if not, it’s good to track every account the staff member has that represents the company or has contained any form of company payment methods. The quicker you do this, the better, and that way you’ve got a limited trial when it comes to your company’s details being on the internet.

Train Your Staff

Training your staff is essential because as much as they’re not able to stop a cyberattack from happening if it were to happen, they do bear some responsibility. It is up to you as a company to provide your staff with the proper training on how to use the internet safely. You can never assume that everyone has the same knowledge of the internet and how to spot hackers and cyber-attacks because that’s not always going to be the case. You may find that people who you thought were confident could still fall into the trap. Make sure you’re regularly training your staff and being made aware of occasions where new methods and protocols have come out in order to protect people’s details online.

Improving your online security is essential, so use these tips to make sure your company stays safe online. Whether it’s outsourcing your security support to training your staff, it’s all-important to do.

Young and Determined: 5 Tips to Start Walking Towards a Bright Future as a Student Athlete

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Student Athlete|Young and Determined: 5 Tips to Start Walking Towards a Bright Future as a Student AthleteStudent athlete? To many people, that’s the ultimate oxymoron. After all, you’re either a student or an athlete, right? And never the two shall meet. While on campus, if you happen to be an athlete, it often feels like you have a sign on your back that says, “Dumb Jock.”

Many people don’t stop to realize that being in your situation serves two purposes: it helps a student get through school and it polishes a school’s image. It should also be no secret that being an athlete can lead to great things in the future. All it takes is some polish on your game as well as your image. The first is in your hands. The second is the business of Creatitive.

5 Tips for a Bright Future

Focus on the Job

Anyone who believes that it’s no big deal to be in your situation has probably never tried it. This is because it really is a lot of work to balance all the responsibilities. Being a student and an athlete is a continual mix of practice, class, weights, study, eat, sleep, and doing it all again tomorrow. The secret of effectively handling all of this, without losing your mind is balance. Between being a student and being an athlete, it’s a full-time job. Treat it that way by effectively managing time to make sure everything gets its rightful share of attention.

Keep Them Posted

If professors know what you are doing, they will expect that there will be missed classes. However, this does not absolve you of the responsibility to keep them informed about your schedule and make sure that there are arrangements in place to get notes, take tests, turn in assignments, and manage anything else related to studies.

Avoid “Imposter Syndrome”

There will be a time in your college career when you feel like you are considered a big, dumb jock. It’s easy to feel like you don’t fit in when this happens, either because of a lack of confidence or poor treatment by others. This is the time to step out of the comfort zone. Make an honest effort to cultivate friends outside of the regular circle. Explore a new interest with someone else.

Don’t be “That Guy”

There’s always one in the crowd. Everybody knows him, but nobody can stand having him around. He’s the one who causes everyone grief. Instead, go out of your way to be a part of things. Show up on time, regardless of whether it’s for practice, class, or study. Be responsible and reliable from the start. If you are going to be late, let someone know. Because of all this, you will have something more valuable than anything else, a good reputation.

Command Your Brand

Signing in as an athlete will mean that you will stand out from day one of your college career. You are not only the face of your team; you are the face of your college or university. Make that face a good one.

Whatever you do as a college athlete, do your best. One black mark can ruin a career. It’s not about you. It’s about the team and contributing as a teammate. Make your contribution as a teammate a good one.

How To Become Successful In The Fashion Industry

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Fashion Industry|How To Become Successful In The Fashion IndustryRegardless if you’re launching a clothing brand or you want to make your fashion business known globally, there are various ways on how to be successful in the fashion industry.

While it’s helpful to have a little experience, it’s easy to learn about fashion as you go using online resources, books or classes. What you need is a thoughtful business plan and some brilliant marketing ideas for your fashion company to take the first step on that path of success.

Below are some of the ways to become successful in the fashion industry:

1. Create A Recognizable And Strong Brand Identity

If you don’t have any clue on how to create a brand identity, there are many ways to find out how. For starters, you can check out a podcast about marketing. You can research online, or seek the help of a professional. Like any business, you would want to stand out from others in a distinct way. In order for your brand to do well and be unique, determine what concepts, ideas or actions represent your brand and make it different from your competitors’.

For instance, you may only sell dresses that fit a certain style or look, or maybe all your clothing is made sustainably. In that case, you will want to create a unique logo to illustrate what your brand is all about. It should incorporate certain elements to relate what it is you’re offering.

2. Think Of Your Niche

In the fashion industry, it’s always important to stand out if you want to become successful. The primary goal, then, is to know your niche and establish your identity on that.

It’s also better to be a master of a certain niche than focusing on multiple ones. In this way, you’ll recognize if you do one thing well instead of trying to please your audience by creating or designing a lot of products.

For instance, if you offer bridal wear, never try offering swimsuits. Also, if your passion is women’s shoes and accessories, don’t include non-related things in your line, like items for babies. Just focus on your niche and seek to be recognized in that first before you expand.

3. Build A Network

Building a network is easier said than done. You really have to work hard for it. A successful business strategy means checking in with your customers, connections or followers. Drop them a line or a text saying hello. Ask for their input. Keep them posted on your business.

A lot of brands accomplish this by connecting with their customers on a regular basis via social media or blogs. Your willingness to build a long-lasting and honest relationship is what builds a good network around the fashion industry.

StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Fashion Industry|How To Become Successful In The Fashion Industry4. Take Advantage Of Social Media For Promotion

Make an account in social media platforms, like Instagram, to post photos and captions of your clothing items. Then, don’t forget to use hashtags to get all of your posts seen by your audience. While Instagram is most helpful in promoting fashion brands, other social media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook may help you reach a bigger audience.

If possible, try to post daily in order to offer lots of content, and stay consistent. Keep your accounts professional and updated. That includes your contact details on your professional website.

5. Listen To Feedback

Whether it’s from your staff or customers, it’s critical to take feedback into consideration. This will enable you to make some helpful improvements, thus making your brand better and more successful. Constructive feedback helps you determine which changes you can apply to your business in order to provide the best possible fashion items for your customers.

Moreover, if people are unsatisfied, or if they offer you advice on how to make your brand better, make sure to take note of it so you may refer back to them later.

6. Dress For Success

Appropriate attire and good grooming are crucial in the fashion industry. It’s your look that reflects your exceptional professional abilities. It has been noted that those who have been successful in the fashion industry dress to further their brand. They emulate the styles that their clients desire in both appearance and value. Whether it’s their shoes, or handbags, or accessories, moguls in the fashion industry dress for success.

7. Stay Updated With The Trends

Individuals who are passionate about what they do continuously advance by understanding the current trends in which their target audience is interested. You may do this by subscribing to fashion magazines, checking fashion social media influencers, and reading fashion articles online.

The formula to success in the fashion industry is a combination of flowing with the trends while keeping it unique for your customers. Comfort, style, elegance, and functionality are all vitally important with regards to fashion. Each of these elements can come and go with the latest trend. To be successful, there’s a balance that needs to be met between your core value and what the next craze is in society.

Conclusion

Whether you’re starting your own fashion brand or attempting to be perched at the top of the fashion industry, the competition can be tough. Just like with any trade, it’s sometimes hard to establish your brand because the fashion industry is filled with creative and like-minded individuals. But regardless of your niche or experience, it’s always possible to be successful in this industry. All you have to do is to work hard and believe in your passion.

How To Create A Positive Culture In The Workplace

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StrategyDriven Corporate Cultures Article |Positive Workplace Culture|How To Create A Positive Culture In The WorkplaceSuccessful leaders never overlook the importance of establishing a set of core values and following positive culture within their organizations. Company culture is defined as a set of values, goals, practices, and attitudes that characterize the organization.

Culture is reflected through customer relations, employee engagement, and the types of people you want to hire for open positions. It naturally forms within the organization, as reflected by its leaders and employees.

Importance Of Having A Positive Culture In The Company

Here are other reasons why a positive culture is important in any organization:

1.It Decreases Employee Health Expenditure

A study by the American Psychological Association shows that about USD$550 million are lost each year due to employee’s workplace stress. Workplace stress has been linked to several health problems like cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndromes. A positive workplace culture ensures that employees are happy, healthy, and able to deal with stress more productively.

2. It Eliminates The Culture Of Fear

Building a business with an environment and culture of fear causes employee disengagement. Employee disengagement is costly because it leads to higher absenteeism rates, more workplace-related accidents, and more errors and defects in their output. A positive workplace culture is critical in increasing employee productivity because it drives employees to trust their bosses and work hard to perform well.

3. It Promotes Loyalty

A strong and positive workplace culture also decreases turnovers and improves employee engagement. Employee turnover is costly because it increases the expenses related to recruiting and training. Expertise loss will also decrease productivity.

StrategyDriven Corporate Cultures Article |Positive Workplace Culture|How To Create A Positive Culture In The WorkplaceHow To Establish And Maintain A Positive Environment Within The Organization

To create a strong workplace culture, leaders must be intentional in establishing and applying core values and culture initiatives. As a leader, how can you start fostering a positive attitude and culture within the organization?

Here are some steps you should take:

1. Have Good Interpersonal Skills

When you show employees that you operate from a set of values based on interpersonal skills, your employees will follow suit. Good leaders show empathy, kindness, and respect for their employees. Companies search for executives who have this set of skills because they know how critical it is to build a positive workplace culture.

A good leader goes out of their way to help and mentor those employees who they think are struggling with work. Leaders who have good interpersonal skills demonstrate compassion towards these employees to foster their resilience and encourage them to perform better.

Firms like M&A Search help organizations find the best executives and leaders who can help establish this culture. Hiring the right team leader is critical in establishing healthy work climates for the employees. When this is overlooked, employees will feel fear and resentment towards the organization and reduce their productivity.

2. Set Clear Goals

Having clear goals guides individual performance as employees will feel empowered to contribute to achieving them. Besides that, emphasizing your KPIs (key performance indicators) will cultivate a sense of professional purpose for your employees, becoming the source of their motivation to work. Talking with your team regarding departmental goals will encourage collaboration among team members as well.

3. Encourage Them To Provide Feedback

Employees should be given an avenue to express their thoughts without worrying that the management will take it negatively. As the organization leader, you should take this as an opportunity to improve yourself or the strategies you are all working on to achieve organization’s goals. Listening to their feedback and suggestions will help employees feel empowered and respected as well.

4. Recognize Those Who Do Well

Recognizing and awarding employees who achieved outstanding results or who show initiative and innovation at work is critical in keeping them motivated to continue the good work. It also encourages other employees to do better because they know that the organization sees their hard work. Giving out awards fosters a culture of friendly competition that leads to higher productivity and improved employee performance.

5. Protect Your Employees’ Rights

It’s important to give employees a safe avenue to report incidents in the workplace. Organizations have the responsibility to maintain a healthy and safe working environment for their employees. When an employee feels they were harassed or bullied, they should talk to human resource or their leader about the incident.

Organizations should act on these reports by initiating an investigation to provide fairness to both parties. Once it’s proven that an employee’s rights were stepped on, leaders should be firm in giving sanctions. Having zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, and bullying makes your employees trust the organization.

Summary

A positive culture in the workplace increases positive emotions among your employees and improves their well-being. This, in turn, helps improve their relationship with others, amplifies their abilities, and encourages creativity. Aside from that, establishing a positive culture impacts how work gets done in the company. Organizations tend to achieve significantly higher effectiveness levels, which include customer satisfaction, process productivity, financial performance, and employee engagement.