Okay, so I stole the blog title from Foo Fighters' recently released single, however I find it relates perfectly to the following. Buddy Guy, a Chicago based blues musician, began his career by making his first guitar with wires and nails in his porch with no money and no experience yet today he is the legend that influenced the Rolling Stones and Hendrix, he inspired the single and has inspired me to write this blog.
To be a successful entrepreneur you do not need a degree, you do not need money, and you do not even need friends (although it helps). This blog will cover 5 things that will help you succeed in business. 1. A problem - Turning something negative in to a positive. ‘Spittal’ is a small village, dominated by the elderly and littered with the wealthy – it is also the place in which I live. I noticed a great deal of unrest at the rates of handy men and maintenance companies who would exploit elderly people’s incapability to do it on their own, charging over £15 an hour to cut down a hedge. So I teamed up with my brother and opened “Need a hand” fair and honest garden maintenance. With no training and no financial input we found some tools and charged minimum wage to carry out garden maintenance which raised hundreds. If you are looking to start in business, look for a problem, create and sell a solution and you’ll be rolling in it.
2. Have genuine interest – Since when have you ever heard of a trained engineer opening a bakery? Make sure your business idea genuinely interests you. It helps to have experience and knowledge in the field in which you would like to operate and you may well find it a great motivator.
3. Learn to do the numbers – Learning business academically is fantastic. Business studies was my favourite subject at school however I was shocked to find out how much I didn’t know when starting my newest venture after finishing school. Tax – every business has to pays it, yet we are never made aware of it, sign up with HM Revenue so you are completely legally ready to make thousands! After all, they don’t start charging you until you start earning over £10,000 – so what is there to lose?
4. Networking (It’s the people you know) – Since starting my Music Promotions Venture I have realised how important it is to know the right people. Mentors, promoters and venue owners are just a few types of people that have made my dream a reality – meet people, secure deals and negotiate with everyone. It takes minutes but can help raise thousands for your company. My best advice would be to create business cards. They are a super cheap way of looking serious and promoting yourself and your brand.
5. Be old fashioned – Sure, create a Facebook page, create a website and email potential customers but do not forget where promotion began. In events management I have realised ticket sales are everything - it’s the make or break variable. There’s no better way to grab people’s attention and promote yourself than speaking to people face to face and making sure they see your company everywhere – put leaflets through doors, print posters and talk to people: you’ll be surprised how many people pay more attention to these methods than they do to a Facebook status.
Above all these tips I believe the most important ingredient in success is having fun. Stay positive and smile – if what you are pursuing does not make you happy then stop, think and come up with the best idea known to man.
Thanks for reading.
Aled W P Nelmes – Owner of Alter Beat Music Services (http://www.alterbeatmusicservices.co.uk/)
To be a successful entrepreneur you do not need a degree, you do not need money, and you do not even need friends (although it helps). This blog will cover 5 things that will help you succeed in business. 1. A problem - Turning something negative in to a positive. ‘Spittal’ is a small village, dominated by the elderly and littered with the wealthy – it is also the place in which I live. I noticed a great deal of unrest at the rates of handy men and maintenance companies who would exploit elderly people’s incapability to do it on their own, charging over £15 an hour to cut down a hedge. So I teamed up with my brother and opened “Need a hand” fair and honest garden maintenance. With no training and no financial input we found some tools and charged minimum wage to carry out garden maintenance which raised hundreds. If you are looking to start in business, look for a problem, create and sell a solution and you’ll be rolling in it.
2. Have genuine interest – Since when have you ever heard of a trained engineer opening a bakery? Make sure your business idea genuinely interests you. It helps to have experience and knowledge in the field in which you would like to operate and you may well find it a great motivator.
3. Learn to do the numbers – Learning business academically is fantastic. Business studies was my favourite subject at school however I was shocked to find out how much I didn’t know when starting my newest venture after finishing school. Tax – every business has to pays it, yet we are never made aware of it, sign up with HM Revenue so you are completely legally ready to make thousands! After all, they don’t start charging you until you start earning over £10,000 – so what is there to lose?
4. Networking (It’s the people you know) – Since starting my Music Promotions Venture I have realised how important it is to know the right people. Mentors, promoters and venue owners are just a few types of people that have made my dream a reality – meet people, secure deals and negotiate with everyone. It takes minutes but can help raise thousands for your company. My best advice would be to create business cards. They are a super cheap way of looking serious and promoting yourself and your brand.
5. Be old fashioned – Sure, create a Facebook page, create a website and email potential customers but do not forget where promotion began. In events management I have realised ticket sales are everything - it’s the make or break variable. There’s no better way to grab people’s attention and promote yourself than speaking to people face to face and making sure they see your company everywhere – put leaflets through doors, print posters and talk to people: you’ll be surprised how many people pay more attention to these methods than they do to a Facebook status.
Above all these tips I believe the most important ingredient in success is having fun. Stay positive and smile – if what you are pursuing does not make you happy then stop, think and come up with the best idea known to man.
Thanks for reading.
Aled W P Nelmes – Owner of Alter Beat Music Services (http://www.alterbeatmusicservices.co.uk/)