You have just started in a new business and you want to make your mark, stand out from the crowd and make a good first impression in your industry and with clients. Here are 5 things you can do straight away to set yourself apart:
1. Embrace youth or inexperience
Sometimes we can feel insecure of being new to something, or of not having as much experience as someone else. But this can actually be an asset. Having the advantage of seeing something with fresh eyes can be valuable. Often when you have been in an industry for a long time you can get caught in the trap of believing that something has to be done a certain way. When you are new to that industry you can challenge the status quo more easily. Challenge and question why things are done a certain way and look for different ways to approach the task at hand.
2. Create milestone events as benchmarks
Be clear on what you want and need to achieve. When you achieve a milestone, ensure that it becomes your new benchmark. Strive for continuous improvement and measure your achievements and successes along the way. Attaching this sort of process and procedure to how you operate will keep you on track for continuous improvement. This is particularly important if you find areas of work challenging as it will help you learn new skills.
3. Bring fresh ideas to the table
Running a business without fresh ideas can be similar to running a business without important resources. As an entrepreneur, any idea is a good idea! Bring all ideas to the table and see how you can move mountains and really effect transformational change. If you want to make an impact in a new industry find ways in which your fresh ideas really do stand out. The biggest companies in the world survive because they have fresh ideas that change the landscape of what is imaginable.
4. Don’t ask for permission
You would have heard the old adage, ‘don’t ask for permission, ask for forgiveness’. This is all about getting in there and giving something a go. Be decisive and make decisions, rather than constantly asking for permission and validation. Most clients will be grateful for your initiative. You need to give things a go. Test, review and adjust. Try something, measure the outcome and then adjust your plan based on the outcome and then try again.
5. Be different
You want to stand out. Bring something to the table that your industry or clients haven’t seen before. Challenge the norms of the industry. You need to be respectful of current processes and decisions, but don’t be afraid to step out and offer something different.
Azure Group work with many startup businesses. Speak to us today about how we can help your business grow and be different.