Why are you starting your business?
What skills/expertise do you have?
Who do you know that could help?
Whenever I work with clients that are thinking about starting a business or have just started, I always talk to them about these three important questions that they can ask themselves. These questions are vital because they set the foundation for your entire business.
Knowing the answers to these questions can mean the difference between gaining momentum right out the gate or finding yourself struggling to get started and gain any traction. So let’s dive in!
Why Are You Starting Your Business?
This is the most important question you can answer for yourself, because if you don’t know the answer to this question, then you’re going to struggle and want to quit when things get difficult . . . and trust me, at one point or another, you will experience difficulty in your business.
You also want to make sure that your why is something deeper than just money. Money can be made anywhere, but the businesses that are truly successful are the ones that have a mission and purpose that goes beyond money. The successful start their businesses because they want to make an impact in people’s lives in some way.
So before you start your business, really think about the things that are important to you in your life. Think about the things that you’re passionate about and the change that you’d like to create in the world. This will help you figure out a business that is built on impact and service.
What Skills/Expertise Do You Have?
When starting a business, you want to make sure that you’re starting a business that falls in the area of your expertise. For example, I’m a business coach because I’ve started and run multiple successful businesses. I’ve always been in business, so this is my zone of genius.
If you’re struggling to figure out where your zone of genius lies then think about your past when it comes to things like your education, your job history, or any hobbies that you’ve had. When clients do this, it’s pretty easy for them to hone in on 1-2 things they’re really good at as well as passionate about.
You also want to hone in on your zone of genius because it will let you know the areas you should be focusing on in your business to get the maximum results, as well as the areas you shouldn’t be focusing on. If you’re not good at something, you should hire out for it rather than spend a bunch of time learning how to do a million different things.
Your time is much better spent focusing on the things you excel in so that you become a subject matter expert in these areas rather than being average at a ton of different things.
Who Do You Know That Could Help?
This is something a lot of new business owners fail to ask themselves, which leaves them struggling to figure things out all on their own . . . which can lead to business disaster. So next time you have a minute, sit down and think about the people in your life and ask yourself this question: who might be able to help me?
Help can come in many different forms. It could be someone who would love to buy your product/service. It could also be someone who’s a successful business owner that could mentor you and help guide you on the path to being a business owner.
This is why knowing your zone of genius is so important here because then you have something to offer people as well, which is a win-win scenario. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you have to go on this business journey alone. I bet if you really think about it, you’ll find a list of people in your life that would not only be willing to help but would be happy to.
Conclusion
Even if you’ve been in business for a while, take some time to ask yourself these questions, because knowing the answers will help you not only when it comes to your productivity and time, but it will also help you build valuable relationships with other business owners that will become the backbone of your business!