How to take action in business and why mistakes are important

Taking action in your business sounds so simple and obvious.

However, there are times when it feels impossible.

Take launching a new service for example. After you wrestle with all the details that you KNOW will make it so useful for your clients, you then go back to the details. Is it perfect? Will it serve people well? Will it be of value to my clients? Shall I tweak the price again? Will it really work? What if it’s wrong?

And on it goes. I know, I’ve been there.

Here is my hard learned advice.

Launch and learn  

Start-ups in Silicon Valley have changed the way they launch products.  You too can implement this strategy in your business. The launch and learn principle means that instead of spending time perfecting and honing your service or product and then launching it, you launch the service and use your customers’ feedback to perfect it. Why try to predict what your client needs when you can ask them, right?

A great way to do this is to use beta testing. The client gets your service for a reduced fee and in return you get priceless feedback making your product more valuable and profitable.

I use the launch and learn approach when building my online programmes and it has been so helpful in deciding what sticks, what needs to go, and how the product may need to change for the best.

Building in feedback

Listen to your customers’ feedback good AND bad.

In fact, sometimes the bad is the most useful feedback you can have. It allows you to tweak and revise, knowing that what you are doing is wanted and needed by the very people you are doing it for.

This is such an easy action to take to develop your business.

Traditional development is too cumbersome –  these days we’re a whole lot more agile. As entrepreneurs in the digital age, often changes can be made swiftly and easily, something I often do in my business and a key to success.

Seek support

I cannot emphasise this enough. Support  can come in many ways, and it doesn’t have to cost a thing.

If you’re not ready yet to build your team, consider an accountability partner. If you’ve never done it before you’ll be surprised at the results you can get. Knowing that you’re going to check in with someone ensures you to stick to your commitments and it can light a positive competitive flame helping you up your game.

If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, try a business coach. Or, how about a mentor in your field?

Make mistakes

Not purposely, of course! But mistakes are SO important. They are part of the growth process for any business.

Mistakes are how we learn, from a toddler learning to walk, climb and run to Richard Branson learning from his first business failure to creating the multi-million dollar success he has now.

Mistakes are not failures.

They are golden opportunities to develop. In fact, don’t even think of setbacks or poor decisions as mistakes – consider them a chance for growth. Part of the process of taking action and getting success is in making mistakes. Don’t be ashamed of them, don’t hide from them, EMBRACE the mistakes.

Finally 

So remember, every journey starts with a single step. Identify what one thing will move your business forward today and do it. Once you create that first movement the rest will follow – I promise.

Jo Gifford mentors solopreneurs to tell their business story online and to work in smarter, creative ways on www.dexterousdiva.co.uk.

Jo Gifford mentors solopreneurs to tell their business story online and to work in smarter, creative ways on www.dexterousdiva.co.uk.