From Corporate Employee To Entrepreneur

Utilizing this seven-step process, Harlan will guide you through each step of the way to becoming a successful business owner.

• MY FUTURE ME The first and one of the most important steps is to be fully committed to be an entrepreneur.  Write a vision of how you see your personal life and how you see your business life as a business owner.
• MY VALUES Identify your five most important values by which you live your life.  Agree to measure your business principles against these values.
• MY SWOTS-STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS (SWOT’s) Determine your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as an individual.  Ask friends and colleagues who you can trust to be completely honest with you to about your individual SWOT’s.  Determine if your business opportunity is in alignment with these SWOT’s.
• MY BUSINESS STRUCTURE AND LEGAL ENTITY Select your advisors including a CPA, banker, legal and business coach.  With their help, determine the legal entity for your business.
• MY MARKETING SYSTEM It is critical to have a marketing plan that clearly identifies your product or service, your target, pricing strategy and how you will promote your business.
• MY SALES PROCESS Nothing starts until a sale is made.  Define a sales process that is consistent for your market and product or service.
• MY BUSINESS PLAN; PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER When you have completed steps I through VI and you add financial projections of expense and revenue, you have the basics of a business plan.  Set short term and long term goals and you have a roadmap to a successful business venture.