Making the decision to embark on an entrepreneurial journey is the easy part. The hard part is committing to the process and seeing it through. Many entrepreneurs have started businesses and abandoned their dreams due to the obstacles that come with being an entrepreneur. Ross Franklin, Founder & CEO of Pure Green Franchise, has seen many people with great business ideas give up when things started to get tough. Building his dream from the ground-up, Ross hopes to help aspiring entrepreneurs start their journey and persevere against all odds.
To help aspiring entrepreneurs, here are five insights from Franklin that may help you launch your business successfully and build it into a thriving company:
● Turn Your Idea Into a Plan
Every business requires a solid plan to give it direction and lay the foundation. Franklin says that an idea is an excellent starting point, however, it will remain just an idea without a solid plan to execute. Every aspiring entrepreneur should draw a road map and create a business plan for their venture before moving progressing to any other step. This plan helps you iron out parts of your idea that might not be feasible early enough. It is a helpful exercise to carefully think through all the moving part of your business before you execute.
● Follow Your Passion
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t know the first thing about building a business that you’re passionate about. Franklin notes that you can learn and build an empire. If you are interested and have a burning desire, you can make it possible against all odds. Ross mentions that most entrepreneurs who are quick to give up often follow someone else’s dream. Just because someone else is doing great in a business doesn’t mean you’ll thrive in the same industry. Take some time to define your niche and be specific.
● Build a Network
Build connections with your peers and those ahead of you. Interact with people from different industries to learn. Networking is how you establish meaningful relationships for your business even before you start. These connections will come in handy. Ross credits the ability to network and being able to communicate your business as a critical skill set.
● Follow Expert Advice
Franklin emphasizes that even though you should follow the experts, don’t copy their methods. Everyone follows a unique path, and you need to carve your own. Listen to the pros and apply what you learn in your methods.
● Be Mindful of Who You Hire
People are the most important element of any business. Your team can bring your business down if you’re if you don’t have passionate and talented players. Hire slow and hire fast! Hire people who are aligned with your mission.
Even with everything carefully planned out, Ross cautions entrepreneurs from expecting overnight success. It’s good to set ambitious goals but be patient and work towards your goals every day. Please tend to overestimate what they can achieve in a year and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade. Learning and taking to heart the advice from industry titans like Ross can help you scale and take your business to the next level.
Photography by: Ross Franklin
