Starting and running a business can be quite taxing and vexing. Many people want to start a business and be their own boss, but most of them are not equipped to handle the pressures of being a business owner or even an entrepreneur.
Launching a traditional business such as a retail shop or repair shop is hard enough as it is. It’s even harder to go into a niche market and be a UTV dealer or specialty shop. You need to think of many things and make sure all your bases are covered as you set out on your business venture. More than the financial and creative aspects of running a business, you also need the right strategies to make it work.
5 Unconventional Business Ideas that Work
As far as business strategies are concerned, they are mostly pretty similar across the board, even if the company and brand goals are different. You’ll generally hear business owners and entrepreneurs talk about marketing strategies, proper financial management, and employee welfare as part of their recipes for success.
However, some unusual business ideas and strategies defy logic but are quite effective. Here are some business strategies that go against the grain but help make a business successful.
1. Practice generosity
One of the most astounding and inexplicable things in the world is how generosity almost always gets rewarded. In most cases, the most generous people are also wealthy. The amount that they give has nothing to do with how much they’re making. They practice a lifestyle of generosity because they experience first-hand its ROI. Whether you believe in the teachings of the Bible or good karma, you cannot deny how a generous person prospers.
2. Help people
Along with generosity, serving people genuinely is one of the things that will sustain any business. If you notice, the first two ideas listed have nothing to do with the business owner but rather the people and the community they belong to. Going into business is not just about making as much money as you can. It is about providing goods and services people are looking for to improve their living conditions. As a business owner, you are put in a position to be a blessing (or a curse) to those around you. Which one will you choose?
3. Meet people’s needs
When we talk about meeting people’s needs, we’re talking about how to make their lives better. Take a look around you and see what is lacking. What do the people need? What are some things not found in your community that would uplift everyone if you offered them? If you understand that meeting people at the point of their needs is one of the primary reasons to go into business, then you’re on the right track.
4. You are your own competition
In any industry, competition is fierce. It even gets to a point sometimes that it becomes a dog-eat-dog world. Many potential entrepreneurs and business owners never get to realize their dreams out of fear that the competition will swallow them whole.
However, it only takes a paradigm shift when it comes to business and competition. Instead of looking at other establishments and companies as your direct competitors, reframe your mind into thinking that you are your best and worst competition.
5. Minimize meetings as much as you can
Meetings are a valuable part of any organization, whether you’re a government agency, an educational institution, or a business. However, the existence of your business should not revolve around daily, weekly, and monthly meetings. We understand how some companies feel the need to hold more meetings than others, but the frequency of meetings doesn’t always end up with the ideal results.
If you’re going to have a meeting, keep it short and straight-to-the-point. Call for only those who need to be involved and not a town meeting. The less time you spend on long and uneventful meetings, the more time you have to make things happen.
Having your own business is part of the American Dream. Plenty of people work hard to achieve this dream. In most cases, these businesses don’t have to be big. They have to be sufficient for the business owner and the employees to make a decent livelihood. A business’ success will greatly depend on how it is run, and with the right strategies — no matter how odd — it will stand the test of time.
