Starting a business is hard. Maintaining a business over a long period of time can be even harder, although you figure out and overcome the hurdles along the way. Everyone needs a little support at one time or another while establishing their own business, but where can you find it?
From mentors to entrepreneurial support groups, family members to former colleagues, there are a lot of places where you can find the support you’re looking for.
Here are some tips on helping you find the right business support:
Perhaps the No. 1 place to turn when you’re looking for business support is to your employees. They’re there everyday and know what’s going on with you, your business, and how the business is running. And most of them would like to keep their jobs, so talking with them to find out more about what they’re seeing and hearing from customers will be your best source for company reviews. You also want to make sure that you’re providing the same support to your employees that they’re providing to you – and that means giving them a raise when necessary and providing positive feedback on all that they’re doing for you.
Find a networking group that is similar to what you provide through your business. With like-minded people around who are dealing with the same issues and searches for support that you’re looking for, you’ll find it in a networking or entrepreneurial support group. You’ll be able to talk, share information on issues that you’re facing in the workplace, and learn more about how others who are also dealing with similar issues are handling it all.
If you find that your company is slacking in a specific area, but it’s an area that you’re good at when focusing on it alone, consider combining multiple tasks into one creative project. When you take several things that you’re OK at and make them part of a bigger task for yourself, you’ll find that you can bring creative aspects of each problem you’re having and pulling from other areas in which you excel.
