Don’t you just love these e-mails you get with titles such as “The secret of easy money”. You read the email only to find out that anything requires research, testing, and a lot of hard work. It’s not just in e-mails that advice like this is dished out with the promise of easy money. I’ve watched acquaintances tell someone who has an interest or leaning towards something how they could go into business and open a shop and make money. I listen, but don’t say anything. Behind all of this friendly, sometimes well-meaning advice, lies some faulty thinking. To open a shop, you need money before you can make money. Plus, you’ll have to make yourself available to be in that shop from Monday morning to Saturday afternoon, probably, and your hours will be from 8am, if you’re lucky, to 5pm, again, if you’re fortunate. The hours that you put into a shop are much more. There’s also all the expenses that go with opening a shop. Online is different, but it will also cost you money to set up a website, buy merchandise, and start selling. Then you’ve got to have potential customers, and how do you get those leads?
The point?
If you want to make money from whatever activity or business undertaking you are thinking about, then you need to get advice from a professional, not from someone who hasn’t started their own business.
But this one is tricky.
What sort of person can give you professional advice to start your own business? A business owner may only have experience and expertise in their chosen field. If a business person has started and run more than one business, perhaps this business person might be worth talking to. The ones to be careful of are the so-called professional business advisors who talk on radio shows with radio jocks and read out lists and tips of what to do and what not to do when starting a business. It makes you wonder where they get all these tips and whether they have run the own business according to their pearls of wisdom.
You really have to do your homework on the so-called business advisor to see if they have hands-on experience and expertise in running a business. I don’t really have a solution here except to say that you need to be careful and choose wisely someone who can give you advice on starting a business to make money. I often think that those business advisors or some of the business advisors haven’t ever run a business except the one where they are proffering their service as a business consultant and know very little about the mud and dust of starting a business, the marketing required, the finances, hiring employees, complying with legislation, managing finances and all the other things that go into running a profitable business.
The problem is that most business advisers haven’t run the type of business that they’re advising you to go into and often they haven’t been successful even at their own business. So what does that leave you with? Do you go for people who are really successful in the line of business that you want to go into? Do you talk to them?
It’s understandable to want advice from someone with relevant experience and success in your desired field. Seeking guidance from successful individuals in your industry can offer invaluable insights. Another option is to reach out ?to local entrepreneurs’ networks, small business associations, or mentors who have a track record of success. Networking events, industry conferences, and online forums can also be places to connect with professionals who can provide guidance and support tailored to your specific business venture. Remember to do thorough research and vet potential mentors to ensure their advice aligns with your goals.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as business advice. It is recommended to consult with a professional, such as a registered business advisor, accountant, lawyer, or any other specialist, before making any business decisions or taking any action based on the information provided.
