How to Go from Employee to Employer

Whether you’re thinking of making the leap and becoming your own boss, or you already own a small or medium sized business, these tips are sure to be of use.

Believe in yourself…

It might seem self-evident, but confidence is crucial when it comes to creating your own business. Infuse all areas of your business with it – from marketing materials to prospective investors and clients, communicate clearly, directly and with genuine, friendly conviction. Being authentic will engage others and help you gather the resources you need (investment, employees, partners, etc.) to make your company successful.

… but also get acquainted with ‘no’

Not everyone will be persuaded by your ideas and your confidence – that’s ok. When confronted with negativity, it’s simply time to address, adapt and adjust. Listen openly to criticism and take it seriously, trying your best to understand the new perspective. If you decide to endorse it; you agree with the point being made, then you have the opportunity to adapt and adjust your business model –or perhaps, you need only make a small change. Regardless of the scale, constructive criticism is a valuable tool for improvement.

Make a schedule

As an entrepreneur, you’ll find yourself filling many different roles and taking on many different tasks – it’s inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be exhausting. Prioritize your tasks and learn to say ‘no’ when it’s right. Furthermore, not every opportunity is a good one; don’t get sidetracked by the choices available to you and don’t get stuck in the decision making process itself. Choose what’s right for you and your business and move forward with it.

Additionally, there are many tools available to help you stay organized. Google Sheets or Docs are wonderful tools for creating a business calendar, offering you the flexibility to update it daily as well as share it with your partners, clients or employees.

Reinvest in your business

When all your efforts begin to pay it, it might be tempting to feel satisfied and stop the momentum. But, this might actually be a great opportunity to re-assess your needs and make additions to your company in the form of: new talent (employees) who share your values and your vision, iterations on your products – or entirely new products – and ancillary services. Eventually, you may even decide to expand by opening a new location, for example.