We believe in finding inspiration anywhere that we can. Often we find it in the most unlikely places. For instance, today’s post is inspired by a recent Taylor Swift interview with Billboard magazine to support the release of her latest album, 1989.
Should you take business advice from Taylor Swift? We’re inclined to say ‘yes’ after reading what Ms. Swift had to say. While she was talking about her own experiences and music career, she touched on several tenets that we think are important for small business owners as well. The pertinent points are: be true to yourself, when you have something to say make a statement, be honest with your fans (or customers), learn from those that came before you, don’t be afraid to take chances, and learn from your mistakes. We certainly learned a ton from inventory management software companies that came before Stockpile and continue to learn from our own mistakes as our online inventory system begins to evolve.
Be True to Yourself. As a business owner, you know that it’s impossible to please everyone all the time. In any given situation there are people on both sides with valid points and persuasive arguments. Whether it’s a matter of which promotion to run, what days to close your business, or which technology to choose. In some instances, compromise is a viable solution, but in other situations a decision has to be made that will be agreeable to some and displease others. In cases such as this, you need to make the decision that you feel is best. By being true to yourself, you are guaranteed that at least one person will be truly happy.
When You Have Something to Say, Make a Statement. There are times when being bold is the best option. If you have made a decision, whether it’s customer facing or back office focused, own that decision. Promote the decision and don’t be shy about saying what you believe in. Confidence can be contagious. When you are positive about a new initiation, others will have regard it more favorably as well. We made waves a couple years back when we introduced our inventory management software to the marketplace. The big reason was the price. Free inventory management software was not exactly a common thing. Especially considering we offer free support as well. So we made a huge deal out of it and haven't looked back. We made a STATEMENT.
Be Honest. Ms. Swift says, “I think that me being honest and unapologetic about it helps people understand that I'm not trying to fool them. I'm not assuming I can paint a wall blue and tell them it's green.” This is great advice. Don’t try to take a difficult, hard to learn new solution and tell your employees that the transition is going to be easy. Telling your customers that something is a bargain, when it clearly isn’t, won’t go over well either. You need to establish a relationship with your employees and customers that is built on trust. Honesty is the only way to do that.
Learn From Those That Came Before You. We’ve touched on this idea before in our post entitled DIY or Buy. You can always learn from the successes and mistakes of others. Why use trial and error and risk your own resources if someone else has already tested the solution. It costs far less in time and money to review the work of others. Garner whatever information you can before you choose a solution for your own business.
Don’t Be Afraid to Take Chances. It’s often tempting to take the easy road. To stay the course and continue on the way that you’ve been going. Change can be very scary and frequently there is risk involved. The only way to grow your business is to take those risks. If you aren’t moving forward, you are stagnating, and stagnation can be the doom of your small business.
Learn From Your Mistakes. Unfortunately, not every chance you take is going to pay off. There will be missteps, initiatives that cost you more than you gain, and decisions that you will regret making. Look at these setbacks as opportunities to grow. Make notes as to why the decision wasn’t good. In any decision there may be elements that were positive, try to glean what you can from those. At least the next time you’ll have a better idea of what to look for and what not to do.
Made mistakes? Shake it off! And try our inventory management software!
Not using Stockpile yet? That is a mistake - but one that's easy to fix. Our free inventory management software is powerful enough for large companies but designed for small businesses like yours. Stockpile can be set up quickly and it’s easy to use once your data is entered. With access to your critical inventory data anytime, from anywhere you’ll be able to make more confident decisions and that is a statement in itself. Take our advice and try Stockpile today!
