Coming up with the perfect biz tip to kick off the BizTipster site for you is like asking for one precious raindrop from an ocean of water. I love business. It’s my life. For as long as I can remember, I have loved work. But operating a business is complicated.
Interesting. Fun. Hard. Starting a new biz is even more challenging. But what better time than a new year?
One minute, everything is exhilarating, like the pop of a champagne cork flying high, all bubbly and fizzy, and the next, you’re a mere puddle hopelessly drowning in a river of your business-induced tears.
The old saying, “A business owner wears many hats,” is true. But, it’s only a tiny part of the tapestry of a remarkable business.
Here’s a tiny bit of the tapestry of my business story. A good start, I hope, for a serious business tip for your business.
This post will share an excerpt from my nonfiction book, which is now in production. The book is filled with serious business tips and tools for running a successful small business, told through a series of true tales of my experiences and lessons learned along the way.
The tip I’m sharing here is a lifesaver for any business, any size.
Table of Contents
My One Phone Call To Kick Off Your New Business
After three decades of doing great business, I feel, maybe for the first time, a certain sense of pride and accomplishment. But, a heck of a lot of moving parts and colorful people fill the story well beyond me.
Owning and operating a business, even a small one, is demanding and sometimes excruciating. And so you need your one phone call.
My one phone call makes my heart sing. Of course, back then, you didn’t know who was calling until you answered the phone. My one call has reached me every single day since day one of business and evolved from landline through caller ID to the cell phone era.
Not always at the same time of day, but every single day in my business life, the phone rings. It reassures me. Constant. And asks me if everything is okay. Do I need anything? What’s going on?
Most especially, again, is everything okay? That is so important for you as you kick off your new business and go through that first year in business.
My one phone call gave me my first best-selling recipe for Chili. That same caller, just to help out, no problem, no charge, has made homemade soups and pies for years.
Questions were posed, problems were solved, parts were delivered, and maintenance guys were found and sent immediately for every purpose.
There are many discussions, arguments, opinions, and advice. Sage advice for new business solutions.
And is everything okay with me? In my one phone call, I posed and answered many business questions, pondered many ideas, and made decisions.
Learn To Laugh In Your New Biz
My one caller is a business friend and a propelling force. We spent much time laughing together, on phone calls, and in person. My one phone call taught me to bring some humor to business. Humor helps.
Plus, my one phone call changed the trajectory of my business, scoring THE turning point client of all time by bugging an engineer at the Port Authority to use my services.
This changed everything, introducing me to the corporate world of catering. From this one single order came years of clients and bigger and bigger events, one after another, directly related to this piece of work.
My Lucky Phone Call
Work the poor engineer was forced into giving me by my biggest fan! My one phone call. Who also disagrees with me, argues, challenges, and makes me think.
And checks in to make sure everything is okay. We love to laugh, but life sometimes includes crying, too, though it’s more complex.
As time marches on, I know how lucky I am to have one precious phone call, and I hope you try to have a person you trust with all your heart in your corner, too, in business.
Be sure to have someone with you to kick off your new business!
While you may think of my one phone call as a source of fun, again something every business needs, my caller represents so much more to my business.
A valuable tool for any business, big or small, is a trusted board that provides a consistent and indispensable resource center that is always available.
Borrow Business Experience
Call it an Advisory Board, Sounding Board, Board of Directors, or anything else you like, but having an opportunity to ask questions or get advice from people who know more than you is priceless.
Even an accountability buddy helps while you help each other.
Having the ability to discuss questions or ideas for business also helps you make decisions quicker and easier. It’s nice to know you have someplace to go for problems so you can handle them. Many times, they can even save you money.
Not everyone has a dad who will be your one phone call daily for business checkups. But you can create a little help for yourself when it comes to business by collecting trusted people as resources.
You can also form your own board. Furthermore, there are groups and communities online if you need to brainstorm ideas for your business.
Look for trustworthy members with more experience than you. Like my dad says, “I may not be smarter, but I’ve been around a lot longer.” When I was younger, I think he just said that so I would listen to him.
Now I know it means it’s wise to borrow experience.
Make Business Friends Helps Kick Off Your New Biz Adventure
I also spent a lot of time asking other local business owners questions to learn from them. Becoming friends with purveyors and gaining their trust allowed me to ask more questions and gather extra information and advice from them.
I partnered with competitors or suppliers, sharing leads, customers, and electronic equipment.
I find that resources spring from asking questions. Who knows what will come of it? I have more business friends than otherwise, but these relationships span many, many years.
They go more in-depth than business-only. And my one phone call is my best friend and the best business buddy of all.
You need someone who is always on your side, even when they disagree with a decision you make or you flub up. Unconditionally available. Just one call away.
Your Turn on How to Kick Off Your New Business
Finally, what struggles are you finding as you start your new business adventure? Please comment below so we may discuss them.