Business Education

How New Entrepreneurs can Deal with People Who Don’t Take Them Seriously in Business

Financial expert and best-selling author Dave Ramsey occasionally tells a brief story about his road to success. Unsurprisingly, it involves an obstacle that he had to face and eventually overcome – his southern drawl or accent.

When he started out in radio, he faced pushback from station managers in the north (particularly the northeast) who told him that their local audiences wouldn’t take him seriously because he had a southern accent. It was a cultural bias, but a real one, nonetheless. Folks up north just didn’t take him seriously.

How New Entrepreneurs Can Deal with People Who Don’t Take Them Seriously in Business

Entrepreneurship can be a difficult journey, and one of the biggest challenges that many entrepreneurs face is dealing with people who don’t take them seriously in the business world. Whether it’s investors, potential clients, or even friends and family, not being taken seriously can be demoralizing and discouraging. However, there are several strategies that entrepreneurs can use to overcome this obstacle and gain the respect they deserve.

Develop a clear and compelling value proposition

One of the most effective ways to gain credibility in the business world is to develop a clear and compelling value proposition. This means clearly articulating what your business does, why it matters, and what sets it apart from competitors. A strong value proposition can help you stand out from the crowd and demonstrate to others that you are serious about your business.

Build a strong network

Another way to gain credibility and overcome skepticism is to build a strong network of supporters and advocates. This includes mentors, advisors, investors, and other entrepreneurs who can vouch for your skills and expertise. A strong network can also provide valuable feedback and support as you navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

Focus on results

In the business world, results speak louder than words. By focusing on delivering results and achieving measurable goals, you can demonstrate your credibility and expertise. This may involve conducting market research, developing a minimum viable product, or securing initial customers. By showing that you can deliver on your promises, you can gain the trust and respect of others.

Be confident and persistent

Confidence and persistence are key traits for any successful entrepreneur. Even when faced with skepticism and criticism, it’s important to stay confident in your abilities and your business. This may involve practicing your pitch, seeking feedback, and developing a thick skin. Persistence is also important, as building a successful business often involves overcoming obstacles and setbacks.

Stay focused on your vision

Finally, it’s important to stay focused on your vision for your business. This may involve making tough decisions and taking risks, but ultimately it’s your vision that will guide you through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. By staying true to your vision and working tirelessly to achieve your goals, you can overcome skepticism and build a successful business.

All and all, dealing with people who don’t take you seriously in the business world can be challenging, but it’s not impossible – with the right attitude and tools, you can gain the respect and credibility you deserve as an entrepreneur.

So, what other bits of advice would you add to these? Please, take a moment to comment with your own thoughts and experiences in order to benefit others!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer.

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Best Ways to Practice Self-Promotion

February 28, 2018 No Comments

Social media is a great way to promote your business. But, it alone certainly isn’t enough. You have to practice self-promotion and do it right to make it really pay off. Sure, you can effectively use social media to increase brand awareness. However, it does lack a personal touch. That’s why you need to get out and represent your company. The problem with this is, most people just don’t know where to start. Others make the mistake of over doing it. Still a few more tepidly practice self-promotion but only with great restraint because they don’t want to give off the wrong impression. Self-Promotion and Selfishness Make no mistake about it, self-promotion is paramount to growing your business. What you need to avoid is confusing it with being selfish. You see, self-promotion isn’t really about being selfish. (Unless you’re totally selling for your own benefit alone.) In other words, you shouldn’t feel guilty about promoting your brand because it has something of value to offer. That’s the whole purpose of being in business — to fulfill a need. Marketing is a lot like fishing—some companies cast a wide net to scoop up whatever they can get, while others use bait and wait it out until the right customer takes a nibble. To be successful, you need a combination of both techniques to not only grab a large number of new customers at once, but to also allow new business to continuously trickle in through referrals, word of mouth, and general curiosity. —Forbes.com So, don’t make the big mistake of thinking it’s all about you. Keep in mind that your customers get something valuable in return. And, both of you benefit from each transaction. This means that it’s a win-win scenario. You just have to see it for what it truly is and not fall prey to thinking it’s wrong to make a profit. Only when you don’t deliver on your promises is it unethical (and probably illegal). Best Ways to Practice Self-Promotion Now, let’s get to the most effective ways to practice self-promotion. You should know how to behave because your actions will definitely speak louder than words. Here are some helpful tips for how to practice self-promotion: Practice awareness. You can’t network in a vacuum. If you’re promoting your business, there is more than one person in the room. Keep this fact in mind. You need to read the other person or group and interact accordingly. If you fly blind, you’ll inevitably hit a wall. Always be gracious. Remember that polite manners go a long way. But just because someone gives you an opening to talk about your business doesn’t mean they are asking for a shameless sales pitch. Keep it short, succinct, and kind. Offer something interesting. Sometimes, it’s very tempting to rattle off numbers. Or, go into details. But remember it’s important that what you share is interesting. Otherwise, you’re not only boring the other person, you’re undermining your own efforts. Never be dishonest. Of course, you should always be honest about what you have done and can deliver. Don’t embellish or exaggerate because it will come back to bite you. Besides, if you mislead someone, the relationship begins with a lie. And, that’s never good for business. How do you promote your business? What self-promotion tactics work best for you? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Microsoft will Ditch its Own Tech in Favor of Rival Google — Here’s What it Means to Your Business

January 14, 2019 No Comments

If you haven’t heard this news, that’s okay. It’s really a niche story but it does make a very important point. Here’s the short version. Microsoft tried to create its own web browser to replace Internet Explorer. It’s known as “Edge.” And, the code behind it has proven too troublesome. So, the software giant will build a new web browser-based on the technology Google uses to power Chrome. What it Really Means to Reinvent the Wheel Let’s get to the real meat of this cliché. Like many other adages, it’s a truism. The reason people say it is precisely because it is an unavoidable fact. It makes a very blunt point. That is, the wheel already serves a purpose and there’s no need to try to come up with something better because it works so well. The general public typically has a distorted view of entrepreneurship. They think of visionary leaders who created something no one had ever seen before and became household names in the process. While it’s true that some figures have achieved this level of notoriety, the reality for 99 percent of entrepreneurs is very different. Their success is based not on creating an earth-shattering new product from scratch, but on learning what their customers want, making user-centric adjustments to existing products or services and providing it for them. —Inc.com We’ve all heard the saying more than one time. But, it still alludes business leaders who believe they can do “it” better, whatever “it” might well be. Call it hubris or stubbornness, it can get the best of the best. How Entrepreneurs can Avoid the Reinventing the Wheel Trap So, how does one avoid the temptation to reinvent the wheel in business? It’s not simple because the urge is so very strong to come up with the next big thing. Here are three ways to avoid the reinventing the wheel trap: Take a step back. If you feel the compunction to try to reinvent the wheel, take a step back look at the big picture. Take a deep breath and think about how to incorporate what you need that already exists instead of trying to come up with something new. Ask for team member input. Okay, here’s another cliché, “two heads are better than one.” And, it’s also a truism. Getting different perspectives and points of view can really work wonders. Apply your existing resources. You might already have the tools on-hand to accomplish what’s needed. Put those to good use rather than putting a lot of extra time and effort into something which might not pay off. How do you avoid the urge to reinvent the wheel? What practices work best? Which steps can other entrepreneurs take to avoid this mistake? Please, comment and give us your experiences! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

3 Big Reopening Mistakes Businesses should Avoid

June 24, 2020 No Comments

Businesses are anxious to reopen. Consumers are likewise ready to return to normal (or as close to normal as possible). But, any business reopening must do so responsibly. After all, not providing a safe environment will only backfire and cost them in a number of ways. This means taking a smart, incremental approach and one that can help to get things back on track. What to Know about Post-Pandemic Reopening The first thing any business owner needs to know is exactly what their state and local governments will allow and disallow. If you run afoul of the rules, even those which seem unfair, you’re only setting yourself for a lot of grief and probably a huge amount of regret. For these small businesses to come back after the pandemic abates, and once again serve as an engine of American innovation, they need aid. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (or CARES) Act set aside $349 billion in loans and assistance for small businesses and there may be more to come. But business owners also need to make the best possible decisions to get them through this difficult period. —Harvard Business Review Another thing to know about reopening is how your patrons or clients will respond. Just because there’s a green light to open from the state and local government doesn’t mean the public will respond positively. In other words, you need to understand public sentiment. 3 Big Reopening Mistakes Businesses should Avoid Now, as for reopening, there are many things you should do to get back to full operation. But, there are also things you need to avoid doing, as well. Here are three of the biggest reopening mistakes businesses should avoid: Expecting employees to immediately return to work. Just because you’re ready (and willing), doesn’t mean your team members will feel or act the same way. So, speak with each one individually and listen to their concerns. Plus, encourage them to be open about their circumstances and be supportive, if necessary. Some business owners are expressing challenges with employees who are receiving unemployment which exceeds what they earned as an employee so they are reluctant to return. Business owners need to be prepared by discussing the need to help the business serve its customers. Also, if the employee does not return, there is no guarantee the employer will not have replaced the employee’s position when the previous employee’s unemployment checks end Not having procedures in place to maintain social distancing. At this time, it’s expected there will still be a need for social distancing into the foreseeable future. So, be sure to formulate a realistic plan to maintain those social distances in order to provide a safe and healthy environment. Trying to rush through the reopening process to get things back to normal ASAP. Whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap of trying to reopen to soon or at too fast a pace. While it’s completely understandable you’re ready to resume operations, if you rush, you’re likely to make rash decisions that will cost you in more ways than one. Remember to offer what the Customer wants. Instead of trying to reinvent your service offerings, ask the Customer what they want and most enjoyed or valued about your services and deliver what the Customer wants. What other mistakes would you say businesses that reopen are likely to experience? Please share your thoughts by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.