I always get into my own thoughts just before an interview. I like to think about where the company is going, where it's been, what I've done/do/will do.
Basically I like to know what I'm going to say or not say before I say it.
Truthfully I shouldn't worry. Things are running smoothly and when I do make mistakes my team is there to catch it before it becomes something we actually have to worry about.
Before you begin to think that I've always had it together you should know that I have made mistakes. Most of them were little, but a few were big.
There is nothing wrong with this. Mistakes are our best teachers and help us reach a higher level of perfection. The problem comes across when you do not learn from your mistakes, or when you have no one to tell you what you are doing wrong. I don't make the same mistakes I made 5 years ago or even yesterday.
By the way, families are great motivators, but let's be honest, not everything you do is THAT fantastic. So skim my list before you think you have everything under control.
10.
Artsy Fartsy photos. Seriously, no one cares how amazing the corner of your product looks. Keep it simple, take a picture of the entire product on a white background and call it day.
9.
A really crappy artsy website. Same as #10, people don't care. Create a simple easy to use website with clear navigation and supportive information. Customers will get mad that they don't know how to enter your store before they even see your products. Think apple; modern, clean, easy to navigate and pretty.
8.
Not knowing what your company is about. I like to call this the "Gap Identity Crisis". Every time I walk into the Gap I'm not quite sure who they are selling to… Me? My 30' something year old cousin? My mother? My well dressed grandmother? If customers can not tell what you're about and who you're trying to sell to, they're not likely to stick around. I don't go into home depot to buy a bra. Figure out what you're going to sell and make sure your customers can figure it out too.
7.
Not pricing your products correctly. This goes hand in hand with figuring out who you are. Sometimes your price range can really make or break you. If you're too cheap, customers may think you
are cheap. Make sure to research products similar to yours after figuring out your cost and labor.
6.
Thinking you can do it all. You seriously can't. That's why companies have employees, or use freelance services. No man is an island, and no man can successfully navigate all of the working of a business and still have time to maintain product on their own.
5.
Thinking you have something to offer people, thus making them want to help you.
If you are approaching a business/person because they have something you need/want that they can easily get, chances are, you have nothing they want. Let's be super realistic and stick to people (at first), that can give you what you want, and you can give them what they need. This may mean staying local, or finding other small businesses. Whatever it takes. Baby steps.
4.
Not making decisions. Make a plan then act on it. Do not waste time doubting ever step, or weighing things to heavily, you have to have a plan, but you also have to actually follow through.
3.
Crappy cold calls and talking waaaay to much. Research your client. There is nothing worse than "uhm…. can I speak to whoever is in charge of sales and buying stuff?" Research your potential client. Nothing says I didn't try like a stupid cold call, or if they're nice enough to actually talk to you, repaying them by talking their ear off instead of pitching your company in a nice clean two minutes. You are wasting their time and yours.
2.
Feeling insecure. If you don't believe in what you do, how are you going to convince people they should give you their money? Someone sold pet rocks, rubber bands shaped like nonsense for $4 a pack, BOTTLED WATER for crying out loud. Those are some of the dumbest, yet smartest products ever invented, and why? Because they believed in their product and made others believe in it to.
1.
Not having a plan; business, back up or otherwise. I got myself into deep water when I did a major sale with a sample sale company. I thought the situation was great. I'd sell things for a cheaper price near Christmas and make a huge sale. The person helping me set up the sale said to not set my hopes too high, most people don't sell as many vouchers as I asked for. The problem is I DID sell as many vouchers as I hoped. I was only 50 short of completely selling out.
At no point in time did i consider the amount of time it took me to make each product, what would happen if I did sell all my vouchers, who was going to help me, if I was fully stocked, if I was going to offer my entire store for sale, or just a few select products. I didn't put a lot of thought into it and it showed. I didn't fail as miserably as it sounds because I did end up getting help from family, but it still really really sucked and it put my in a position that made me seem unreliable and a poor business woman, meanwhile I already had 2 years under my belt with perfect business standards. Some customers may not take the time to realize that you are human. All they see is a business. A crappy business that screwed up their order and wasted their money, time and energy. Never go into anything without considering ever angle possible. Answer these questions and plan them out or you'll find yourself out of business in less time it took you to start.
