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Stupid Mistakes and Lessons Learned

By Becky McCray

Two posts came together this week. Steve Pavlina outlines 10 Stupid Mistakes Made by the Newly Self-Employed, and Justin’s Blog shares What I learned from my startup. It’s not enough to make mistakes, we have to learn, too.

Steve’s mistake list is long. He breaks it up with his own perspective and stories. Of course, not all of it applies to any one start up, but some of it is deadly accurate.

This advice is geared towards small business owners, particularly people who are just starting (or about to start) their own business.

1. Selling to the wrong people.

2. Spending too much money.

3. Spending too little money.

4. Putting on a fake front.

5. Assuming a signed contract will be honored.

6. Going against your intuition.

7. Being too formal.

8. Sacrificing your personality quirks.

9. Failing to focus on value creation.

10. Failing to optimize.

Read the whole article, 10 Stupid Mistakes Made by the Newly Self-Employed, for more detail on each item.

Justin is a new entrepreneur, turning a new eye on his startup.

I wish someone had told me these things ten months ago.

  • Don’t hire/co-found-with your friends just because they are your friends.
  • Things take longer than you think. A lot longer.
  • You’d better be able to get along with your co-founders.
  • Start simple, then go complex.
  • Don’t forget to have fun.

Read the whole thing, What I learned from my startup.

small biz rural entrepreneurship mistakes business startup

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Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.

www.beckymccray.com
  • Should I ask competitors before I start a business in a small town?
  • Will trendy axe throwing and escape room businesses last? More experience-based retail: the Hat Bar
  • Create customer experiences online like Open the Shop With Me videos, and in person, like Silent Book Club

April 16, 2006 Filed Under: entrepreneurship

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Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    April 16, 2006 at 9:22 pm

    NICE STUFF AND WEBSITE DESIGN

    I TOO HAVE A SIMILAR BLOG

    adityabiz.blogspot.com

    regards
    Aditya

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  1. Redefining Failure Masterplan says:
    May 12, 2013 at 2:14 pm

    […] blogging started when two posts collided at Stupid Mistakes and Lessons Learned. Then there were More Lessons Learned. I was excited to share what people have learned through […]

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