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By Pamela Agboga A common challenge for multi-talented people is deciding what to do first. Obviously it burns one out to do so many things at a time. At a seminar organised by a Life Strategist Steve Harris, I had the opportunity of listening to the owner of the clothing label OUCH. He explained that one had to decide what to do first, and grow, before launching into developing the next ability. The lure of starting big can also make one miss the important things. Many ladies start by selling clothes from friend to friend and bank to bank, then graduate to selling out of their cars, and then comes the major step; getting a shop. Others may have the start-up capital to start with a fully stocked shop in a high brow area. It all depends on how you have decided to run the business. It is important to decide what is needful, what needs to be done and how it should be done. Saying you will work on your culinary skills for the next one year, and then branch out into public speaking is a decision, so is telling yourself you do not have to wait for a bank loan to start your business. After deciding, you need to focus on working the dream and not getting discouraged or talked into doing other things. MAKING THE DECISION You will need to conduct a market research to understand the lay of the land and make important decisions on the way forward. Using questionnaires, interviews and other means of inquiry, try to find out:

What’s hot or not? What are the business opportunities out there?
What unique things do your competitors have or lack?
What can you add to improve your product and make it stand out from the others?
What are the laws, rules and regulations of the business?
Where are your clients?
Do you have the skills to provide what your clients need?
If no, can you develop these skills?

MAINTAINING YOUR FOCUS To help you and your (future?) staff stay on course and remain true to the original reason the business was started, you will need to work on and create the:

Vision
Mission Statement
Values

Working these things out bring you that much closer to your goal and gives you a good feeling about yourself. And by achieving these goals and milestones, your business is steadily taking shape and growing.

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This article was first published on 17th December 2012 and updated on May 8th, 2013 at 10:42 am

pagboga

Chojare Pamela Agboga is a Legal Practitioner, Writer, Editor, Chartered Secretary and Administrator. She is currently working on her first novel 'Weekends are for Loving' as well as a devotional for women.