Computer software free downloads: antivirus, surveys, accounting, database, office, medical

Top 10 Stumbling Blocks that Limit Business Growth

Never in history have more entrepreneurs launched more new businesses! In America, thousands of business open their doors every single day! Unfortunately, most of them (over 90% of them) also close their doors within two years. Businesses are started with high hopes and glorious dreams. It is easy to start a business. It is much more difficult to build it, to make it succeed, to avoid the traps and pitfalls and frustrations, and enjoy the fruits of success over the years. In working with hundreds (probably two to three THOUSAND) entrepreneurs over 25 years, here are the mistakes I see most often. Avoid them!

1. Fear and Confusion. There is either a sense of being over-whelmed by the size of the tasks, or a refusal to master the work of being an entrepreneur and business owner. There are specific skills to owning and running a successful business. Learn them! You can master this! You can focus and succeed! (This is often the time to hire a coach!)

2. Lack of Capital. Capital comes in three forms: Time, money, and energy. Some people have one or two, but not all three, and they fail because they simply can not sustain the growth phase of their business. EVERY business is a commitment of everything you have. You may start "small", but that does not mean casual or part-time!

3. Lack of Courage or Commitment. Building a business is always risky. Some people perceive the risk as frightening, others see it as an exciting challenge, but there is always risk. Manage it. Limit your potential losses. Understand the risks and enjoy the process. You will make mistakes. Learn from them and go on.

4. Refusal to select and target an audience. No one can sell their services to "everyone" – a message that goes to everyone is unlikely to create a sense of urgency in anyone in particular. Attorneys focus on one type of law. Physicians specialize. So should you.

5. Choosing the wrong audience. A market that can not or will not pay or an audience that is too small or dispersed is a recipe for disaster. The "poor" desperately need medical, dental, legal and other services, but who is going to pay you? The same problem exists when trying to reach an audience that is dispersed over a large geographic area and not easily identified.

6. Fuzzy or unfocused message. What exact benefits do you provide? To whom? Under what circumstances and at what cost? How can people contact you? Be precise, be clear, be specific.

7. Lack of planning – too many random efforts. Many entrepreneurs try a little radio, a direct mailing, join a service organization, offer free samples, and then report that they have "tried everything and nothing worked". Pick one, and stay the course! You become identified with your marketing techniques. Choose a logo, a color-scheme, and a marketing technique and stay with it!

8. Too much advertising, too little relationship building. Advertising works best for tangible products because customers can see the results. Intangible services are very difficult to advertise and are almost always purchased based on the quality of the relationship. The more people know you, and the more they know about you and your caring, your professionalism and your quality, the more business you will do. Build networks of relationships!

9. Laziness and/or Greed. Your business ONLY exists to serve the customer! You must make a profit in order to continue serving the customer, but service is the key to success. Everything must be focused on that. The statement, "I want to be my own boss", or "I want a business that supports me" may be true (and be totally honest and reasonable), but they are a dangerous focus for your business. Customers first!

10. Having a product or service that fails to produce adequate benefits, or fails to serve as promised. Some professionals are incompetent. Some don't use current technology, or are sloppy in their delivery. Particularly with services, even ONE mistake will undermine client confidence, loyalty, and trust. Do your best – every time!

© Copyright 2003 by Philip E. Humbert. All Rights Reserved. This article may be copied and used in your own newsletter or on your website as long as you include the following information: "Written by Dr. Philip E. Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. Dr. Humbert has over 300 free articles, tools and resources for your success, including a great newsletter! It's all on his website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com

MORE ARTICLES:

Project Management Training Courses:  So Many Options!
Project management training courses come in many sizes, types, and flavors. As Project Management is very popular topic among professionals today, there are many project management training courses out there to help Project Managers advance their skills and careers. Choosing the right project management courses among the plethora of options, however, can be daunting! This article provides some guidance to help project managers more easily sift through the myriad of options and find the ideal set of project management training courses for their situation.

Project Management Courses: So Many Options!
Project Management Courses exist in my sizes, types, and flavors. As Project Management is very popular topic among professionals today, much project management training is available to help Project Managers to improve their skills and advance their careers. Choosing the right project management courses, however, can become a bit daunting because there are just so many options! This article provides some guidance to help project managers take some first steps in running the gauntlet of options to find the ideal set of project management courses for their situation, and get the most out of them.

Project Management Training Online Adds ITIL V3 Training
Project Management Training Online - pmtrainingonline.com - announced today that it has added ITIL V3 training to its lineup of ITIL V2 training and project management training courses. Project Management Training Online provides one of the most extensive offerings of online training courses focused on professional project management that can be found on the internet.

Will PRINCE2" Help Me Get a Job?
Project Management as a specialised skill-set and career path is becoming increasingly prominent. Ever more new graduates are considering trainee project management roles, for the clear career progression that they offer, the satisfaction of practical application of learned skills to specific projects, and the opportunity for a varied and rewarding career across a wide variety of organisations.

Easy Way to Choose Project Management Software
In today's business environment everyone needs Project Management tools. And professionals who manage Projects are called Project Managers. Qualities to look for in a project manager are inspired and shared vision, good communication skills, Integrity, enthusiasm, competence, ability to delegate, handle pressure, and team building and problem solving skills.

Software can benefit your own Business
There is no small organization or large corporate network remaining in business for longer without an adequate customer support service for troubleshooting.Customer Support Software and Help Desk Software are useful aids to manage your communications with both actual customers and potential clients. This type of software help you centralize email inquiries live chat sessions and online issues among other activities.A typical Help Desk Software package often includes a convenient way to record issues received by phone as well as those submitted via online support ticket system. Help Desk Software also contributes to enhance interaction between staff and customers providing them with top notch technology that usually comprises knowledge and p ...

Project Management Training Online Adds CAPM® Premium Exam Prep Bundles
Project Management Training Online -- pmtrainingonline.com -- announced today that it has added CAPM® Premium Exam Prep Bundles certification training to its catalog of online project management training courses. Project Management Training Online provides one of the most extensive offerings of online training courses focused on professional project management that can be found on the internet.

Project Management Certification Around the World
Project management certification is proliferating worldwide as organizations around the globe ‘projectize’. This article surveys the various flavors of project management certification out there today.

POS Supply Purchasing Tips For New Restaurant Owners
It is easy to see how a task such as purchasing POS supplies can fall through the cracks when opening a restaurant. Considering the amount of new restaurants that fail, there are many details which are left unresolved. Opening a new restaurant can go wrong in so many ways, it is crucial to get the basics right. Addressing logistical issues such as parking, staff, insurance, and purchasing a POS system are areas which must be handled correctly if the restaurant is to succeed.

pmtrainingonline.com to Offer SkillSoft Courses Enhancing PMP Prep Training
Project Management Training Online - pmtrainingonline.com - announced today that it has become a direct partner and reseller of SkillSoft, (NASDAQ: SKIL) a leading SaaS provider of e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises, government, education and small to medium-sized businesses, expanding its range of potential offerings. Pmtrainingonline.com has immediately enhanced its Project Management Professionals (PMP) Prep offering with the inclusion of some newly available content from SkillSoft. Project Management Training Online - pmtrainingonline.com - provides one of the most extensive offerings of online training courses focused on professional project management that can be found on the internet. SkillSoft is ...

Wiley Releases the 10th Edition of Harold Kerzner's "Bible" on Project Management
If you're looking for the latest information on Project Management, look no further! Harold Kerzner has written the latest edition of Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling.

Project Management Training
Introduction Courses

Does The Help Desk Really Work
Help desk usually refers to a person sitting at a desk with a telephone in hand, explaining an answer to the person on the other end. Most of the time the help desk applies to technical issues with computers and networks. How can a individual have this much knowledge that would satisfy the doubtfulness from a client. Let us take a look at some of the ways we can a help desk can work.

Project Management Career Guide Launched on All Business Schools
Leading business and education directory creates the definitive guide to a career in project management.

Project Management Training: Your Key to Getting PMP Certified!
The PMI exam is established by the Project Management Institute or PMI in order to give proper certification to those who pass the PMP exam that legitimizes them as a professional in this field This certification is proof that you not only have the knowledge but also the expertise to handle jobs that require project management skills