5 worst advice a novice entrepreneur

You've heard this advice from business consultants and other "knowledgeable" people, but in fact they do not work. Moreover, such advice unhealthy. So says Clate Mask (Clate Mask), founder and CEO of Infusionsoft worth about $ 100 million. Perhaps his opinion is worth considering.

Clate says that the best way to get a lot of unwanted advice - run your business. On the one hand, without being told it would be difficult to make a successful company Infusionsoft. But the problem is that most of the huge number of these tips are not useful Cleito, and some were even harmful. Five of these bad advice and we will represent. Next - the word itself Cleito.

1. Do not get attached emotionally to the staff

It's not about office romances. I was advised not to engage with staff and colleagues friendly relations, Maintain a distance between them and themselves. This has some meaning, but in my case it did not work. Launching and spinning the business, you get to communicate with many amazing people. Work becomes much more pleasant if you spend working time with those you love, with whom you are friends. Assuming that your relationship is not beyond the scope of business, you impoverish yourself.

2. Go beyond the target market

Infusionsoft provides services to small businesses, but a few years ago there was a great temptation to expand the sphere of influence of large enterprises. I was advised to go beyond the target market and gain more customers. But I thought that I can not change what is the essence of the company. All our employees are set to work with a small business, and I do not want to disperse its forces. I refused, relying on inner instinct, and eventually won the most.

3. Automate customer service

In the industry of high mainstream technologies - to reduce the need for human contact with the customer to a minimum. This allows you to save on maintenance departments. Maybe this is good advice for companies serving large companies, but our customers need our help and are willing to pay for it. Be careful. Catching service automation, easy to go too far, and as a result customers will not be happy.

4. Not Involve family and friends in your business

I started Infusionsoft with his brothers. When people learned about this, they expressed negativism. It seems everyone is convinced that the business, which began with his family, never outgrow the boundaries of the "small family business." But I believe that working with friends and family - it's a good idea (I do not mean a crazy Uncle Bill with his time machine project). The trust that exists between friends and family members, will help you in the most difficult times. And this is very important. When you start your business you need any support you can get.

5. Do not take loans

I do not like personal debts, but in business there are reasons to raise funds on the part of that progress. due borrowed money You can accelerate the growth of the company, and it can be very useful. If the use of credit money will benefit your customers, employees, partners and shareholders, you should seriously think about it. I always see entrepreneurs with annual income from 500,000 to 3 million dollars, which has consistently avoided any loans. I think that in most cases this is a mistake, because it reduces the possibilities. If the business is firmly standing on his feet and is developing steadily, then take out loans not scary for further growth.

Clate completes that sort advice on good and bad - is an insidious activity, one can not be all the time right. Bad advice listed above, for someone may be great ideas. Do not take anyone's word for the ultimate truth. Every business is unique, and you should be more likely to trust own judgment and instincts.