how to be a businessman

LegacyUser

I would like to know if thwere is a course I can take to become a businessman. I posted this already but cant find it?

Gordon

You posted "How do I become a businessman?"

I'll move this over to a business forum then..

MagicMarker

first buy a suit.... second, buy an earpiece for your phone, third buy a brief case... then you're well on your way.

Take it handy

wyndham

You'll definitely need a blackberry, or a filofax if you wanna go oldschool.

Dabko

"I would like to know if thwere is a course I can take to become a businessman. I posted this already but cant find it?"


Want to make money, nice username.

Firstly, it doesnt make a difference how many courses you may take to " become a businessman". There is no quick fix for becoming a business man, unless you enter a black market industry!

You must work extremely hard, both physically and mentally for a long time.
You must experience sleepless nights because of money matters.
You must experience many set backs but more importantly, know how to bounce back.
You must be willing to live on the bread line until such a time comes that your business can pay a decent wage.



If you really want to become a "businessman" forget all the lay-de-da bull**** that surrounds the cliche of fine suit wearing, BMW driving, PDA "businessmen". (Some of) These guys have worked hard at their chosen careers through college and university and have become business men by been good in their chosen fields.

I started my business with no real business orientated qualifications (A certificate in professional cookery, to be precise!) 3 years ago. And its been a very interesting 3 years. You learn from everything you do to become a business man.


Here is a summary of some important tips to follow:


*Sit down and decide what you are good at.

*Decide the bare minimum wage you can personally survive on.

*Look closely at your commitments like family, mortages, loans and stuff like that. They dont just go away because you decide to start a business.

*Dont just dive into an idea - research, research, research - competition, costs, market,

*Do a business plan. Dont get put off by the mad, complicated ones you'll find online. Most of those are just there to scare the **** out of you and then offer the solution for only 19 dollars and 99 cents!!! Check out business plan templates on http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/StartBusiness/Advice/BusinessPlan.htm

*Become very closely acquainted with your computer and the internet - The internet has everything anyone needs - you just have to look closely.

*If you are not an accountant, don't pretend to be one. Have a look in local free ads papers, there are plenty of small startup accountants looking for small company work, who dont charge a kidney! This is one of theee most important things you can do.

*Get a business partner you can trust and work with. Before registering your company or any of that legal stuff, work and research your business with your business partner. This will tell you alot about what you are letting yourself in for.

*Have fun. If you are not enjoying what you are doing, dont do it. You'll only have a nervous breakdown!


*Dont listen to the sales pitches of media organisations such as newspapers, magazines, online directories & GAA calender companies! They will offer the sun, moon and holy ghost if you advertise with them. Bull****. They are sales people, making a sale.

*Advertising - Unless you have major startup funds, take advertising slowly. Start with small services section adverts and keep them consistent. You could go out and blow 3000euro on one full colour single page advert in a newspaper or you could avail of 30 weeks advertising in weekly papers at a cost of 100euro an ad?? Budget everything!

*Very important - Get an office away from your home!!! Unless you are a very self-disciplined person, who is a master at time management, running a business from home will drive you mental. You will spend all day trying to work while been distracted by things like clothes you forgot to wash, a dishwasher that needs filling, a spouse/ partner / child that needs feeding, a carpet that needs hoovering...and the list goes on! Go to work and work. Come home and leave work at work!

*Sunday is not a day off - its a day for getting ahead of the up-coming week.

*Holidays are things other people have. You will get yours in time and appreciate them a 100 times more.

*Back up and keep safe eveything you ever put into a computer. It only take a split second to loose everything you have worked hard for. Believe me, a small, external hard drive is a small companies best friend.

*Be nice to everybody, even if you think they are an ass. You will never know when you may need them.

*Start collecting business contacts. Go to network evenings(free ones preferably), contact existing companies you may need, hand out business cards like sweets (without been a dick, of course), keep safe business cards you receive.

*Present yourself well. I dont mean rush out and buy an Armani suit, just take notice of you appearance, because no matter what people say,when dealing with customers, first impressions ALWAYS last. Razor blades dont cost a fortune and you'll find entire smart outfits in Dunnes stores for under 100euro! Oh, and unless you are involved in highly successful, multi-million euro business, dont show up to meet your customers in a flash ass car, because they will think you are there to rip them off!

*Dont ever bounce a cheque. People will always remember a cheque coming back to them in the post with a big red stamp saying "Refer to Drawer"! If you dont have the funds in your account, bull**** your way around writing the cheque in the first place. Most business bank accounts are now available to view online so you can keep a 24hour watch on your funds.

*Get a website, no excuses. However, dont go near the big companies, they will only make you and your 1 or 2 thousand euros feel like mere pennies. Check out smaller web design guys, you'll be surprised what you can get for your money.

*Haggle the price of everything and expect your customers to do the same. Include this in you pricing. Dont be a pain in the arse though, your not buying and selling gates out of the back of a hi-ace!

*Use your imagination and bull**** everything. Believe me, it works. But, never ever ever say you can do something and not do it. Bull**** in the heat of the moment and go and learn after!

*Write everything down. Keep a year planner / diary hardback A4 book. Keep names, dates, numbers and appointments safer than you would your children!

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL (i read this somewhere) - NEVER MAKE DECISIONS WITH YOUR HEART, YOU'LL ONLY END UP WITH HEART DISEASE.

I hope this may be of use to you. All above are practices I use in everyday work. I now run 4 small companies ranging from catering and home entertainment to web design and printing.

Laters

forbairt

Great post ... Dabko

A lot of common sense there ... but I'm going through it all this year ... and pretty much recognise every one of your points

MB74

Fair play Dabko, obviously committed poster.

Yeah a lot there to go with. There are a certain number of things you just can't learn in a course, the personal desire to make it. This is the reason some people never make it.

Do plenty of research, go to events, franchise events, business events, networking events (BNI, Plato, etc.). Study the opposition and see what makes them their money. Know what will make you different, your selling point!

And most of all, always keep an open mind.

IMHO there is no such thing as the complete business man, but people who are constantly developing and adapting to circumstances and the business environment.

These are just a few pointers, I'm sure there could be loads of pointers people could add.

DJB

Great post Dabko. Some really solid advice there and would agree whole heartily. Would be interested to know what businesses you run?

Couple of things to add...

1. Get a mentor... someone who's been in the game awhile. Bounce ideas off them, ask advice, tap into their networks, etc.

2. Managers are A students, Entrepreneurs are B students... if you are really committed to this, look at putting people in the main areas of your business that need to be run. No need for full employment initially but as you grow your business, you'll need managers (or directors) in these areas: finance, sales, delivery specialist, tech innovation!

3. Delegate, delegate, delegate! Oh, and did I say delegate? You've got to learn to do this if you don't already. Without it, you'll always be working in your business instead of running it. Initially you'll probably have to start by doing nearly everything but as sales (and the business) grows, you can start delegating work.

4. One of the things I was told starting a business was... "prepare to starve". Take this on board! Build up a nest egg. If you're an entrepreneur, you're probably not great with money (it's a trait of an entrepreneur) so get a finance person you trust and have them manage the money for you. They won't let you go mad spending money on stupid things that you just don't need.

5. Read... I suggest "The Beermat Entrepreneur", "The One Minute Millionaire", "The Secrets of Selling", to name a few!


I don't know of any course you can take but I'd love if there was an entrepreneur course that would teach a lot of the basics to people. Maybe the Enterprise board has some things.

Rgds, Dave

antosikova

Hi wanttomakemoney!

Coming back to your initial question - yes, there are courses in Dublin on starting your own business. Take a look at www.dceb.ie (Dublin City Enterprise Board) and here is their page on courses & workshops: http://www.dceb.ie/opencontent/default.asp?id=224&itemId=224&Section=Training%20Courses%20&%20Modules%20New

They are not very expensive and you'll find there plenty of useful advice, brilliant ideas, networking opportunities and even fun.

Moreover, I work for a company that provides one-day Customer Value Proposition Workshops. This will help you to target the right audience, to see what value you bring to your customers, what are the next steps you should take in order to grow substantially. We have a lot of happy clients and it's really nice to see them succeed after our workshop.

If you need more info, take a look at http://www.3r.ie/services/marketing_services/customer_value_proposition.htm

or call me at 01 201 7102.

Simona Rusnakova
Enabling Your Business to grow through Value added Sales & Marketing Services. www.3r.ie

Sonnenblumen

A very important aspect is to determine what it is required in order to provide the margin (net) to you after all the other basics have been completed.


Managing a business is pretty much a mechanical but increasingly a routine series of tasks. But running a business to yield enhanced margin demands flair and commitment.

If you don't get the margins you'll only be fooling with time.

Tav

Nice post Dabko!
It's a pleasure to read stuff like this ^^

Mardee

Try the Meath Enterprise Board the have some good courses and advice. Best of look

mick.fr

Looks like the guy was just spamming...

forbairt

mick.fr wrote: »

Looks like the guy was just spamming...

That may be but there was some great advice in the thread all the same

Puteq

mick.fr wrote: »

Looks like the guy was just spamming...

Maybe he was, maybe not. But Dabkos advice is Capital stuff! Thanks Dabko, will come in real handy for my bro who is going through this now.

the only thing i would disagree with in that big post, is rushing out to get a business partner. Partners can cause you a lot of pain if you fall out, and the lesson i learned in business is that you cant trust anyone.
dont be too nice, because people will always try to **** you if they can. some will say its a pessimistic way to look at things but believe me its true. Ive experienced it a number of times.

Three pieces of advice that have stood well for me:
Everyday is a school day - in other words always learn, dont be arrogant enought to think you know it all

Get angry and get ruthless - dont let people walk on you

when man stares into the abyss he finds his character - when its seems nothing could be worse and everythings going wrong, you dig deep and come out the otherside

some other things - i did a four year marketing degree in a good university, and it meant F all in the real world. nobody would give me a job when i finished because they all wanted experience.
The things I have learned in business have come from doing them and not reading about them. So you need to have the balls to back one of your ideas and learn from your own mistakes - that way you wont make them again. And use any doubters to motivate you, because ireland is full of pessimists.

since ive finished college , ive started 4 companies some good some bad, and worked in some crap jobs in between, had highs and lows, worked 6 months straight 14 hours a day without a day off for peanuts...; but ive followed the advice above religiously in the last few years - and now at 27 im CEO of an international company about to launch a $30,000,000 real estate development. without those three pieces of advice above, i wouldnt be where i am now
G

professore

Dabko wrote: »

"I would like to know if thwere is a course I can take to become a businessman. I posted this already but cant find it?"


Want to make money, nice username.

Firstly, it doesnt make a difference how many courses you may take to " become a businessman". There is no quick fix for becoming a business man, unless you enter a black market industry!

You must work extremely hard, both physically and mentally for a long time.
You must experience sleepless nights because of money matters.
You must experience many set backs but more importantly, know how to bounce back.
You must be willing to live on the bread line until such a time comes that your business can pay a decent wage.



If you really want to become a "businessman" forget all the lay-de-da bull**** that surrounds the cliche of fine suit wearing, BMW driving, PDA "businessmen". (Some of) These guys have worked hard at their chosen careers through college and university and have become business men by been good in their chosen fields.

I started my business with no real business orientated qualifications (A certificate in professional cookery, to be precise!) 3 years ago. And its been a very interesting 3 years. You learn from everything you do to become a business man.


Here is a summary of some important tips to follow:


*Sit down and decide what you are good at.

*Decide the bare minimum wage you can personally survive on.

*Look closely at your commitments like family, mortages, loans and stuff like that. They dont just go away because you decide to start a business.

*Dont just dive into an idea - research, research, research - competition, costs, market,

*Do a business plan. Dont get put off by the mad, complicated ones you'll find online. Most of those are just there to scare the **** out of you and then offer the solution for only 19 dollars and 99 cents!!! Check out business plan templates on http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/StartBusiness/Advice/BusinessPlan.htm

*Become very closely acquainted with your computer and the internet - The internet has everything anyone needs - you just have to look closely.

*If you are not an accountant, don't pretend to be one. Have a look in local free ads papers, there are plenty of small startup accountants looking for small company work, who dont charge a kidney! This is one of theee most important things you can do.

*Get a business partner you can trust and work with. Before registering your company or any of that legal stuff, work and research your business with your business partner. This will tell you alot about what you are letting yourself in for.

*Have fun. If you are not enjoying what you are doing, dont do it. You'll only have a nervous breakdown!


*Dont listen to the sales pitches of media organisations such as newspapers, magazines, online directories & GAA calender companies! They will offer the sun, moon and holy ghost if you advertise with them. Bull****. They are sales people, making a sale.

*Advertising - Unless you have major startup funds, take advertising slowly. Start with small services section adverts and keep them consistent. You could go out and blow 3000euro on one full colour single page advert in a newspaper or you could avail of 30 weeks advertising in weekly papers at a cost of 100euro an ad?? Budget everything!

*Very important - Get an office away from your home!!! Unless you are a very self-disciplined person, who is a master at time management, running a business from home will drive you mental. You will spend all day trying to work while been distracted by things like clothes you forgot to wash, a dishwasher that needs filling, a spouse/ partner / child that needs feeding, a carpet that needs hoovering...and the list goes on! Go to work and work. Come home and leave work at work!

*Sunday is not a day off - its a day for getting ahead of the up-coming week.

*Holidays are things other people have. You will get yours in time and appreciate them a 100 times more.

*Back up and keep safe eveything you ever put into a computer. It only take a split second to loose everything you have worked hard for. Believe me, a small, external hard drive is a small companies best friend.

*Be nice to everybody, even if you think they are an ass. You will never know when you may need them.

*Start collecting business contacts. Go to network evenings(free ones preferably), contact existing companies you may need, hand out business cards like sweets (without been a dick, of course), keep safe business cards you receive.

*Present yourself well. I dont mean rush out and buy an Armani suit, just take notice of you appearance, because no matter what people say,when dealing with customers, first impressions ALWAYS last. Razor blades dont cost a fortune and you'll find entire smart outfits in Dunnes stores for under 100euro! Oh, and unless you are involved in highly successful, multi-million euro business, dont show up to meet your customers in a flash ass car, because they will think you are there to rip them off!

*Dont ever bounce a cheque. People will always remember a cheque coming back to them in the post with a big red stamp saying "Refer to Drawer"! If you dont have the funds in your account, bull**** your way around writing the cheque in the first place. Most business bank accounts are now available to view online so you can keep a 24hour watch on your funds.

*Get a website, no excuses. However, dont go near the big companies, they will only make you and your 1 or 2 thousand euros feel like mere pennies. Check out smaller web design guys, you'll be surprised what you can get for your money.

*Haggle the price of everything and expect your customers to do the same. Include this in you pricing. Dont be a pain in the arse though, your not buying and selling gates out of the back of a hi-ace!

*Use your imagination and bull**** everything. Believe me, it works. But, never ever ever say you can do something and not do it. Bull**** in the heat of the moment and go and learn after!

*Write everything down. Keep a year planner / diary hardback A4 book. Keep names, dates, numbers and appointments safer than you would your children!

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL (i read this somewhere) - NEVER MAKE DECISIONS WITH YOUR HEART, YOU'LL ONLY END UP WITH HEART DISEASE.

I hope this may be of use to you. All above are practices I use in everyday work. I now run 4 small companies ranging from catering and home entertainment to web design and printing.

Laters

Forget the course .... print this off and carry it everywhere with you. Far better than any course.