Years ago when my ex and I first got married we both lost our jobs and our of necessity started our own business. Since the divorce, I have continued to have my own business and going to share reasons to own and operate your own business.
Freedom would be my first reason as being owner and operator you get to be that boss (the person everyone hates). You get to wear many, many hats and if like me learned a lot the hard way but I would not change a thing. You do have to find the balance in work/life and that can be hard sometimes when you are trying to build your business.
As I have gotten older, I have narrowed down my business plan to working with my traffic exchanges, mailers and doing affiliate marketing. It’s funny how in this online world there are still people that think they know how you should run your business and like to make it public or let you know you are doing this wrong and that wrong.
Another reason that I enjoy having my own business, what most don’t realize is that this is “MY” business to run as I see fit – that is what I love about this country that gives us this privilege. There are going to be times that people don’t agree with how I run things but it is still me that pays the bills, put in the hours, and does all the work behind the scenes and bend over backwards to make you all happy.
When others like to give their opinions that is just what it is their opinion and should not be put out there as guidelines or “rules” as to how the business is run because they are not a partner nor do they pay any of the bills that go along with your business.
That is another reason that I love having and running my own business – I am proud of my online business, I work very hard in my online business and believe that I offer great services. Over the years, I have developed many, many friends and customers and I do bend over backwards to help them and would not trade that for anything.
You know it’s funny as the more competition happens in all business these days it sure seems the more some like to try and dictate how things should be. Having been around the small ma and pa businesses for over 30 years now, I have learned that you just can’t beat old-fashion service. You have to learn to keep your emotions under control no matter how pissed you get, how over the coals someone want to rake you, and think about what is best for the business. You are NEVER going to make everyone happy, your are NEVER going to have everyone agree with decisions you make – but you do have that right to make them.
Does it get hard at times yes it does but I sure would not trade it as the rewards out weigh the bad – the satisfaction you get from helping others, the pride you get from seeing what you created work and people that love your business. One of the best thank yous that a business owner can get is seeing someone else promote them and for all the pages that I have seen – I would like to say thank you, thank you, thank you.
And the most important reason would be YOU, I really do appreciate all of you putting up with me as I know I come up with some pretty Zaney ideas sometimes and I do love the feedback – good or bad – we keep growing the business together. AND as always you can Skype me @ nancyradlinger leave me a message in support – I do answer all my messages.
Nancy I do believe you hit some sensitive areas right on the head. Perhaps a DAS BOOT might serve some of these know-it-all rule makers, send the grey cells a worthy message.
One very important point you made is ‘competition’ and how some people tend to bend the wrong way when the going gets tough. Competition is and should be regarded as healthy. It keeps us on our toes.
I hear fear out there when the rule makers try to influence their majority that their way is the only way to clean up the TE Industry. Wonder when they will realize they are the reason it is in such a mess?
You said it best …”You are NEVER going to make everyone happy, your are NEVER going to have everyone agree with decisions you make – but you do have that right to make them.”
May be the message to them should be “Mind YOUR own business.” People who live in glass houses should never throw rocks.
Great post with value message for those who need that extra support, stand up for your rights. The ‘rule makers’ can go blow their smoke and poo somewhere else.
Cheers
Fran Klasinski- warriorlady.
Thanks Fran and you are right about competition keeping a person on their toes as it sure does.
It would be so nice to see any business put as much effort into the positives that there are in owning and running a business vs trying to find the negativity
Thanks for your comment
Nancy — another great blog post.
Customers are important to any business as they are the ones that help pays the bills when they purchase items from the business.
Affiliates are also important to a business as they are the ones that help grow the business and should get compensated for their time and efforts.
Word of mouth is the greatest form of advertising.
Taking care of your customers is the easiest way to keep coming back.
Neglecting your customers is the greatest way to ensure that they tell others about their negative experience.
Traffic Exchanges, Viral Mailers and other business models are no different – customers/members are the life blood of any business – no customers/members – no business.
Listening to your customers opinions lets you know where attention is needed to improve the overall quality of your business. If no one gave their opinions, how can any business owner know what their customers/members are thinking, need or want to buy?
As a TE owner – I deal with many business owner’s who have an account with my business. Even though they are owners of their own businesses – they are still customers for me and their opinions matter to me regardless if it is spoken privately or publicly.
Business philosophy states – Customers are not always correct – but they always get what they want. A happy customer – is a returning customer – An unhappy customer tells the world and deters many customers from even walking through the doors.
They say it’s easier to keep a customer than it is to replace one.
Keep up the great blog posts. I really enjoy reading them Nancy.
Nice comment Randy and you are right about keeping customers happy and like I said in this post you will never make them all happy. I do listen to my members and customers suggestions, ideas, comment and that is why I keep growing. The point I was making is that as a business owner I have that right to still run my business the way I feel it works both me and my customers.
You are right that people do tell about their negative experiences and that was something learn long ago – an upset customer will tell 10 people about a negative experience vs one telling about a good experience – and again you will NEVER make everyone happy.
Expressing your feelings is another freedom that we have in this country and most of the time you tell a few people about your experience (good or bad) and then just move on and not visit that business again. AND kudos to those that do as I bet they can sleep better at nite. After all there is more in life than trying to make others miserable listening to negativity – people should try harder to find more positives sure would make this world lot better
Again thanks for your comment