Tag: startup

Building a Business: A Call To Action

Jason A WoodruffLeave a comment

The world today is a lot different than it was a mere 30 years ago. As automation and AI technology revolutionizes business productivity, one thing is steadily being constant: many of these jobs aren’t coming back. While it’s tempting to follow the lead of politicians and industry leaders in promising that high paying manufacturing and industrial jobs are coming back, the reality is that that tactic is a means to placate these individuals and misleading at best. That said, here is a means to change the discussion by providing a more tangible means to improve individuals and the communities that have lost so much.

Building A Business

In many ways, we are seeing a massive change in this country. Massive lay offs due to outsourcing labor to developing countries has given way to automation and AI taking over many positions once filled by Americans. Workers who filled these positions -and those who have considered taking these type of positions- are now left without viable work options. The result is a vast workforce of laborers with skills far removed from their current line of employment.

With this backdrop, it is imperative to understand that the types of jobs gone doesn’t just include manufacturing positions. In the past decade we’ve seen a steady drop in jobs from a wide swath of industries: call centers, customer service, manufacturing, retail, etc. Even industries that were considered safe from outsourcing and automation have even begun to take a hit.

A Possible Solution

With such changes to the way Americans make money, we also should take into the rise of the internet and mobile technology. We now have the ability to work remotely with ease. We also have the ability to communicate and reach across oceans and continents to people in a matter of milliseconds. The world has changed.

For those with skills going unused, it is now possible to freelance or develop small businesses that utilize these skills -while commanding what you are worth in providing these skills. Website costs have plummeted with the rise of cloud based storage, cheaper hosting options, and click and drag web design options. It’s now cheaper to develop and build an online/mobile business then ever before.

Even with Automation, AI, and outsourcing, a growing number of people still value human to human connection and collaboration. Freelancing and working with small businesses allows this type of relationship to continue unabated. If you’re stuck with a skill that is not being used, consider starting your own small business. After all, what have you got to lose?

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5 Myths About Running A Business

Jason A WoodruffLeave a comment

Running a business is an experience that a vast majority of people never get to experience. Yet, somehow, it has become glorified as a better way to enjoy life. While it is true that business owners enjoy the lives they lead, it isn’t in the ways that we’ve glorified. Here are 10 myths about running a business.

  1. More Free Time To Do The Things I Love: Somehow, we fail to realize that running a business requires an investment of our time. In a lot of circumstances, you barely have time to grab a bite to eat or hang out with friends/family. Many times, your free time involves going over analytical reports, evaluating processes, handling payroll, and other tasks that you didn’t have time to complete during the day!
  2. If I Open The Doors, They Will Come: A lot of people think that as soon as you get the product or service ready to sell and the doors to your business open, that customers will magically appear ready to buy. The reality is that you have to market your services and products. People aren’t just going to be browsing the internet or driving down your street to find you. You have to find them first.
  3. Customers Will Appreciate What You Have To Offer: Customers are fickle -they are people after all. When you open your business, you think your product or service will be well appreciated. In some instances, this may be true. For others, you’ll find that you need to ‘sell’ your product/service to meet the problems the customer faces. You already have an idea how it will, you just have to make sure it does what it is intended to do.
  4. Get Rich Quick: The prevailing attitude is that business owners control vast amounts of wealth -and looking at the prices for some products and services, you can see where the idea came from. However, being a business owner is not equal to getting rich quick. Only in rare circumstances do business owners grow their personal wealth rapidly. Be realistic, you may not even get paid from your business within the first year or two.
  5. My Business Runs On My Hours: A lot of business owners laugh at this one. The idea that your business runs only on a few hours a day is completely false -particularly in today’s 24/7 world. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to burn the midnight oil to handle tasks that I didn’t get to during the day -and knowing I had to get them done by the next day. If you’re looking for work that is part time, you might want to consider McDonalds.

Running a business isn’t rocket science, but it’s no walk in the park either. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, do your research, and be prepared to roll up your sleeves and work. Enjoy the ride.

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