The Ultimate Shortcut to Entrepreneurial Success
By: David O.
Tags: Life Lessons, Entrepreneurship, Business, Startup, Success

The Ultimate Shortcut to Entrepreneurial Success

How to be certain you won’t fail

Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash

You want to fix your car. There are two places you know where you can get it fixed. One is a new place owned and run by an ex-banker. The other is also a new place but the boss has been fixing cars for over 10 years. All other things are pretty much the same.

Where will you go?

You want to style your hair. You have two options. The first shop is run by someone who also has a full-time job in the pharmaceutical industry. The other one is run by someone you’ve known as a stylist for many years. All other things being pretty much the same.

Which would you choose?

You require a software solution to be created for your company. You meet the boss of the first company you approach and he knows nothing of the technicalities involved. In fact, you corrected his notion on two occasions in your discussion. The second company you went to is lead by a former top employee of one of the big tech firms. Your conversation with him shows that he knows a lot about what he does. With every other thing being the same;

Who will you work with among the two companies?

We can continue to run this illustration in several other industries. We will likely end up in the same place. The leader of an organization determines the fate of that organization to a large extent. While there are businesses that can be started with little or no expertise, a competitor with an expert leader may burst that bubble.

In a product company, leaders can still be novices and have great products that attract customers. However, the different approach of an expert can put the game out of reach for the novice. This is why restaurants that are run by a chef are (usually) somewhat different.

In a service company, there is literally no choice but to be an expert to succeed. There are very few service companies that became successful and retained their success without an expert at the helm. Naturally, the boss at the helm must own the craft. This is an extra edge on every front.

The lesson here is simple:

Become an expert before you become an entrepreneur

Sometimes it makes no sense to look to gather several years of experience to create a simple company. However, you can bypass this by enrolling in a training that will get you up to speed. If possible, learn from the best in the field. Get your hands on a few things and prove to yourself that you are a master of the craft.

What happens if you are not an expert? Well, find one to bring on board! It increases your chances of success. However, do not neglect your own training. A wise man once said:

Whatever is worth doing well is worth training for

This is one of the secrets of success. Don’t start out and launch out like a novice. Invest in yourself and become an expert first. Not an expert in managing a business, but an expert in the craft you are going to be involved in. Business management is good and should be learned. But expertise should be based on the product or service you are involved in.

Be the expert before you launch out. It gives you a real edge

Cheers!