Plan for Action

If you really want to do something, it is going to take action on your part. Therefore, the question becomes, “What are you going to do?” If you’re going to go anywhere or accomplish anything you have to start by putting a proverbial step forward.

How are you going to do it?  Your step forward could be writing for an hour a day, researching ideas, or finding others who share your interests and coming up with plans. However, how you start your trek towards your future self is up to you. It should be something that you can do regularly, something that you like to do, and something that could put you closer to where you would like to be going.

One of the crucial questions is, “Who are you working with?” It might be friends in the neighborhood, or it could be some mentors who are professionals in the area you are looking to excel in. Or, it might be other business people who are helping you to find sound business footing and possibly some funding.

One of the biggest questions you’re probably going to ask yourself and consider carefully is, “Why is this going to work?” Considering the number of businesses that never make it out of the starting gate and the number of companies that failed to last 5 years, what is it that you are doing or others need, which will keep your business going for the long run? If you believe that it will work that is a good start. What you want to add is some data to back up your hunches. What are you going to look at?

So that leaves us with one question. Where do you Market? Is this a brick and mortar store item? Something for eBay or Amazon?  Do they buy from your website, and if so then how do you spread the word and advertise?  Who will buy this, and why? And, How do they even know you are out there?

Today, rather than giving you answers, I gave you questions to think about.  I know this looks hard.  The truth is the more you get into it, the more firm your entrepreneurship becomes.  And, if you work for the right answers during this exercise, the work you do can have positive results.

Thank you for being with me today.  I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof