Having any kind of business means setting at least some expectations. Expectations regarding time, money, product launches, etc. But, to set these expectations you need to have a plan.
Very often people will find themselves in a situation where they have carried out every part of their plan, but the results they were expecting aren’t showing. Even if you are present online and in the process of creating a network of people, the outcome you get might be different from what you expected. It’s true that having a presence online and using internet as a tool can make some things a lot easier and even influence the speed in which everything is unfolding for you (spreading your word, better sales…). But, not even internet will help you become rich and famous over night.
There are no instant solutions or instant successes. If you find yourself in a situation like the one mentioned above, you didn’t necessarily do something wrong, it just usually takes more effort or a different strategy. You will know by the results you are getting whether what is “wrong” with your idea is your strategy or you need more time. Often times the latter will be true.
I’ve heard someone say that you should always double the time you give your business to establish itself or achieve some significant result. Doubling the time isn’t always the case, but it’s good to remember it.
So, when you open a business and after a few months you don’t witness the growth you wanted to achieve, don’t dispair, don’t loose the initial excitement, don’t give up on it. It was only a wrong estimate. Continue working on it, think about what you could do better and keep doing what is already working.
Every business has an incubation period, like plants. They take time to get strong enough to survive on their own. Same goes for your micro business. You need to build strong foundations on which you will create a successful micro business that will yeild you the results you want.
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photo couresy Nick Saltmarsh
