1) Starting a small business is like riding an intense roller coaster. There are tons of twists, turns, loops, ups, and downs. Sometimes you manage the business thinking about the next quarter, and sometimes it's just managing hour by hour. The key is to stay focused and enjoy the thrill of the ride."
2) Trust your idea enough to know that it can challenge the status quo -- our greatest returns have come from taking unconventional paths and tackling real problems on behalf of our potential customers and partners."
3) Network to find like-minded business people who you can talk to about your day-to-day activities. Decompressing, venting, sounding bored -- whatever you want to call it -- they will see solutions that are hidden in plain sight. Maybe you’ll answer your own questions once you hear yourself out loud. You’ll do them the same favour in return. And don't limit it to just a few people -- make it a larger circle, and make it social. Like a temporary, rotating, casual advisory board. Refreshments wouldn’t hurt.”
4) “You demonstrate your best-in-the-world status by using your brain to create best-in-the-world content for your business. The small businesses that do this won’t need a big marketing budget to get traction and disrupt -- and eventually displace -- legacy companies. It takes hard work and brainpower, sure, but those aren’t things most SMB marketers I know are afraid of.”
5) “Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake once said, ‘So often people are working hard at the wrong thing. Working on the right thing is probably more important than working hard.’ After working hard for 13 years as a small business owner, these words ring true with me more than ever.”
6) “Unlike huge corporations, as a small business owner you have a chance to interact with your customers face-to-face on a daily basis. By treating each and every touch point as an opportunity to gain a better understanding of your customers, you’re ensuring your small business will continue to grow and evolve to meet their unique needs and expectations.”
7) “Take at least one family vacation a year. It's easy for small business owners to be completely consumed by their business, and it's imperative to let your family know they are your number one customer on a regular basis."
8) “Being a small business owner is the best. It's incredibly hard but it's been totally worth it. I love creating -- and I love being a part of a team that cares about people and cares about telling stories. I doubt I could have a tougher job -- and I'm sure I couldn't have one that is more rewarding.”
9) “People say that small businesses are hard work, but the reality is that it's hard work like you've never known -- you eat, sleep, live, and breathe your business. There's nothing harder, but there's also nothing better -- small business owners are some of the the world's most wonderful, dedicated, and intelligent innovators."
10) “In my opinion, the greatest key to small business success is to not hold your cards too close to your chest. Tell people about your great idea. Tell anyone who will listen. Actively seek feedback from the larger community as a whole, with a particular emphasis on potential customers. You'll be surprised at how many people will be both willing and able to contribute."
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