As you’re watching the scene in Ironman 3, where Jarvis, the holographic computer, outfits him with a new and improved version of his ultra-high tech suit of armor, it dawns on you that being an entrepreneur is a great career path.
You may just be an entrepreneur like Tony Stark if you exhibit the following signs:
- You love computers and high-tech stuff.
- You relish the idea of coming up with innovative products.
- You want to be your own superhero and live life on your own terms.
How do you turn your love for technology into a business? What do you need to do to make the business successful?
Like Tony Stark, you need four things: super technology, super protection, super employees (like Pepper Potts), and a super strategy to launch your ideas.
Super Technology
While you may not be able to get your hands on an AI application like Jarvis right away, you can start with a robust platform like cloud computing—because it will enable you to do much more than an on-premise computer.
You can, for example, use it to build a website, rent the best software in your field using SaaS, enjoy almost unlimited storage and outstanding system resources, and collaborate with outsourced teams around the world.
Super Protection
Stark had his suit of armor to protect him from attacks, you need advanced network security to protect your business from hackers whose consuming interest is to take you down.
On a more serious note, cloud security will help you avoid the many threats that could disrupt your business. You also want to protect your customers against data breaches that compromise any personal information, such as credit card numbers, that you have on file.
Super Employees
The age of the company man (or woman) has passed. The Bureau of Labor Statistic reports that the average employee will last about 4.4 years, while Millennials may stay for half that time.
In order to find and hire smart, loyal employees you have to give them a good reason to stay.
Many top companies have figured out how to do this remarkably well. Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos.com and the author of Delivering Happiness, does a number of things to make his employees love working at the e-commerce powerhouse.
Amanda Fayer made a short list of five things that Hsieh does well that you can do too:
- · He is open and honest when he talks to his employees.
- · He likes to make work fun.
- · He holds his employees to a high standard.
- · He promotes the idea of equality in the workplace.
- · He is humble and admits when he has made a mistake.
These are some of the things that you can do as well to make your company one of the best places to work and defy the odds of high turnover rates.
Here are five Cs you can add to your list of ways to create an outstanding corporate culture:
1. Care.
The best way to get your employees to care about you is to care about them. One way of developing a culture that cares is to create a corporate vision that everyone buy into and works to manifest.
2. Communicate.
Unless there is clear communication, there is no organization. Most business disruptions can be traced to a lack of communication between management and workers.
3. Create Camaraderie.
Camaraderie is a feeling of we are all in this together. Tony Hsieh from Zappos creates camaraderie by not using a corner office. Instead of sequestering himself like most bosses, he works at a desk surrounded by cubicles.
4. Coordinate.
When people or departments are working at cross-purposes, disaster is just waiting to happen. For an organization to be organized, it has to coordinate teams and projects to work in harmony with each other.
5. Celebrate.
Just like families who play together, stay together, the same can be said of companies. Celebrate your employee’s most important dates, from birthdays to anniversaries. Also, celebrate company victories.
Super Strategy
Although it would be nice to share some secrets of success, the plain truth is that the best way to monopolize your industry is to develop a great idea and build a business around it.
Here are five steps you need to follow to develop an excellent business:
First, come up with an unmet need in the marketplace that can be built into a business.
Second, collaborate with investors, advisers, and partners to build a great team.
Third, know your numbers before you can flesh out your ideals. How much do you need to start? What revenues can you forecast?
Fourth, build a bulletproof business plan. Fund your business by impressing the heck out of investors. Your initial plans may be riddled with holes, but as you listen to expert advice, you can make it increasingly bulletproof.
Fifth, test the waters. Once you’ve got your business funded and set up, you have to understand your metrics. How is your financial forecast working out? How does your performance compare to your peers? What adjustments do you need to get back on track if you’re failing? Once, you’re back on track, find out what can you do to grow your business faster.
Superhero Tip off
While this blueprint for entrepreneurship may not make you head of Stark Enterprises, it can change your life if you give it a chance.