Jasmine's Place Issue No. 7 - September/October 2013 | Page 15

Making business simple by starting small is the trendiest method of owning your own business. You don’t have to be a millionaire or have a huge bank balance; all you need is a wonderful idea and the passions to nurture the idea to a level where it becomes a success story. As the business grows, you should start to gain the knowledge and skills you need to move the business to another level of growth. At this stage the drive to want to know more and acquire information about your business would have been born. You might want to gain ideas from various perspectives; it’s up to you as every knowledge gained is not wasted. Have you got some idle money in your account ? That might be all you need to start with. Business ideas are not hard to generate If you don’t already have one. You could consider generating a business idea that will serve as a solution to unemployment and other employment issues the government is facing. Some local councils have limited funding to help finance businesses (business ideas) that address issues they are struggling with. Problems give members of the community a platform to generate a business idea on a business plan that will also give them access to funding or finance. A business plan is an important tool in business development. • It enables you to focus on the way in which you see your business developing. • It is a power tool that makes your company a better place to work at and your business a more successful operation. • It forces you to stop and think about what you’re doing. • It prompts you to figure out what you want your company to become in the future and how you intend to make the future happen. Overwhelming evidence affirms that a business plan can help lead to a successful business. You may need support to reach your goal. Where possible try to gain knowledge from consultants who understand what it means to develop a business idea. It is also important to build up your own capacity, as it is you alone who will develop and run your business. Try to use consultants for activities requiring specialist expertise and not for core development activities. Wishing you success! Julianah is an I T and Business Consultant and co-runs Impact Concept Services Ltd, 24 Brook Court, Harrow Road, London. E11 3PP United Kingdom. Email: [email protected]. JASMINE'S PLACE 15