The first year of business is an adventure filled with excitement, challenges and the undeniable thrill of turning your vision into reality. It’s also a make-or-break time period that will either catapult you into revenue growth, smooth processes and forward momentum OR keep you strangled with too much manual work, wasted efforts and confusing outcomes.
Use the beginning months of your startup to set a solid, success-making launch by following these critical decisions based on real small business scenarios I have worked in, consulted on and lived through myself.
Blog based on Episode 7 of the Savvy Startup Marketer podcast.
Setting the Foundation: The Importance of how you use the first year
The first year of a new business is more about what you’re building on than quick sales and revenue gains. It’s not merely about working hard but working smart to ensure your business complements rather than consumes your life.
Avoid jumping straight into selling without proper planning to prevent disorganization and burnout later.
No matter how successful a business appears on the outside, the chances that the internal systems, management and momentum are slowed (or even on fire) by a poor first year foundation is very high, from what I’ve seen.
Your business can be different if you are patient, disciplined at planning and put tremendous emphasis on starting smart rather than racing ahead.
Strategic Planning vs. Spontaneous Action
Will you shoot-from-the-hip and do a lot of experimenting or will you make more careful, researched decisions?
Listen, it’s okay to do some amount of experimenting and yes, flexibility is part of running a business, BUT… there are too many ways to get good, wise information and coaching these days to be completely wild with decisions.
Lead yourself well as a new owner by being teachable, observing and learning from those who have gone before.
Being strategic and thoughtful in your first year of business can save you from the chaos of spontaneity and prolonging the waste of experimenting and shifting direction constantly.
Money Matters: Frugality vs. Cheapness
A crucial part of the entrepreneurial mindset is how you view and manage money. I recommend frugal over cheap.
Frugality is about being budget-conscious without skimping on essential investments that could propel your business forward. Being cheap means you probably have a scarcity money mindset and need to recognize the necessity of investing here and there.
It’s one thing to be tight with money and another thing to never spend on anything – or to spend out of desperation.
If you’re going to take business seriously, friend, you need to take investing into it seriously.
Promoting Organization and Efficiency
Many entrepreneurs start out with idealized expectations of seamless business operations.
However, the reality is that effective systems and processes need to be designed and implemented. Meaning: you have to build them.
Your focus on organization, systematizing and planning will mean everything to how much things stay that way going forward.
Trust me, waiting until your sales and customers take off is NOT the time to suddenly realize you need a lot more organization.
Build your Startup right – from the very beginning
The first year is about more than just surviving; it’s about thriving and setting a trajectory for sustainable growth and personal fulfillment. By being strategic, informed, and intentional about every aspect of your business, you can avoid common pitfalls and build a business that truly reflects your goals and values.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in navigating the early years of entrepreneurship. Share your story in the comments.
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Check out my Savvy Startup Marketer course – the ultimate course for helping new business owners plan, automate and organize their marketing.
Looking for a turnkey marketing system for your startup? Check out our services at www.lindseywagnon.com
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