Running a business has its share of favorite parts that we can term as easy. It's some of these things that give us the motivation to run our business when we hit a rocky part. We asked entrepreneurs the easiest thing about running a business and here are the responses.
#1- The work itself
Honestly, the easiest thing about running a business is the work itself. It is easy to get caught up in the work that you are passionate about that you formed your business around. However, while the *work* is the easiest thing to do, it can also be a detriment to the business growth as a whole. Being able to step back from the hands-on work and shift your focus to driving growth is probably one of the more difficult things in business–especially when you're so passionate about what you do. Doing the work is easy. Acquiring, training, and delegating the work is where it gets tough!
Thanks to Wes Foster, WESFED!
#2- Performing that actual idea
By far, the easiest thing about running a business is performing that actual idea behind the business itself. Regardless of the industry you are in, you probably started your own business to do that very thing, but soon realised you had to be a hundred other things as well. You have to be a salesperson, marketer, accountant, customer service representative, website designer, CEO… and so much more! The best lesson you can learn as an entrepreneur or business owner is to outsource all the tasks you can, so you can focus on what you love doing!
Thanks to Lesley Notton, Notton House Academy!
#3- Dealing with Customers
The easiest thing about running Drive Research, my market research company, is simply dealing with customers. Understanding their needs, creating solutions, and showing them value in our Voice of Customer (VoC) research. No matter what business you are in, it all boils down to people and how you manage those relationships. As an entrepreneur, there is a lot of additional requirements that come with the territory: payroll, invoicing, legal paperwork, additional tax preparation, expenses, equipment, etc. Dealing with customers is the easy part.
Thanks to George Kuhn, Drive Research!
#4- Changing what you don't like
I started a global branding and marketing firm 16 years ago and the easiest thing about running a business is if you don't like something you can change it. There are no excuses when it is up to you to make things happen and there are no politics to get to the decision maker. All your energy can go into the work not working the system.
Thanks to Paige Arnof-Fenn, Mavens & Moguls!
#5- Tools to facilitate growth
The easiest thing about running a business is having access to so many tools that can help you grow and manage your processes. With the age of technology, there are cloud-based programs that cut your learning curve in half and enable you to focus on servicing your clients instead of getting lost in the back office. What's more, you have so many affordable options that are available to you that will enable you to run things smoothly. If you do your research in advance, you can choose the right tool that works exactly for you.
Thanks to Keisha A Rivers, The KARS Group LTD!
#6- The operations
As a business owner, I find that the easiest thing about running a business is doing the work of the business, the operations. For me, that’s talking to business owners about their businesses, designing webpages, doing competitor research, and discussing technical issues with my co-workers. Time flies for me when I’m doing these things. Conversely, I always find that the hardest things are the administration tasks: creating and sending invoices, accounts, following up to check status on project tasks, time tracking. I try to automate, delegate and outsource as much of this as possible, but a lot of it inevitably has to end up on my desk. But as a business owner, I consider this admin work as the price I pay for the incredible freedom and flexibility of running my own business. I’ll take that choice over working for someone else every time.
Thanks to Alastair McDermott, WebsiteDoctor!
#7- Finding support
The easiest thing about running a business is finding those that will support you and tell you that they know you you will do great things. Your family, your friends, and your loved ones will all give you praise and say they believe in you, but what you need instead are a circle of influencers who challenge your decisions, critique your work, and motivate you to do better than you currently are. It will be a lot harder to build a successful business without these people to help you learn and grow. Thank others for their praise, and then ask them what you could do to be better.
Thanks to Ross Wehner, WehnerEd!
#8- Spending money
The only thing easy about a small business is spending money. This isn't always a good thing though it's definitely a sure thing that needs to be done to keep up in any industry.
Thanks to Chelsea Brown, Chelsea Valentino!
#9- Actually doing the work
By far the easiest thing about running a business is actually doing the work. I have been accused of being a workaholic, but when you're running your own business it's hard to think about anything else. It also never really feels like work. Sure, I may get a little burned out or tired from time to time, but honestly, I'd rather be working than doing most things. I am building my dream, my future, my company. Finding the passion to work long nights, late hours, and weekends is very easy. When you start a new business it's your baby and you'll do anything to see it grow. After over four years, a lot has changed, but that is one thing that has remained the same.
Thanks to Dustin Brackett, HIVE Digital Strategy!
#10- Loving what you do
The easiest part of running our business is getting up every day knowing that we love teaching kids on the autism spectrum how to swim. We also this helps them fight back against the dangers of wandering. Loving what you do makes everything else so much sweeter.
Thanks to Andrew & Mary Ross, Sensory Swim®!
#11- Fostering relationships with your employees
The easiest thing about running a business – and there aren't many easy aspects of it – is fostering relationships with your employees. Not only do your employees help you accomplish tasks, build different elements of your business and grow, they work with you on a day-to-day basis to help make your business dream come true. Establishing and fostering relationships with people who are helping you with such an important part of your life is easy and should come naturally – otherwise, your heart isn't in the right place.
Thanks to Nate Masterson, Maple Holistics!
#12- Empowering young scholars
The easiest part of what we do is doing what we do. Facilitating business and finance programming to young scholars in urban areas. Once we get through all the meetings, phone conferences, paperwork, etc. – the easiest thing is empowering young minds with real and relevant information that will help them do more with whatever they have. We love what we do!
Thanks to Chike Uzoka, Valentine Global, LLC!
#13- Getting up in the morning
In my previous life, I worked in many different jobs, some of which I liked and some I did not. Regardless of whether I was excited to come into work, I found it nearly impossible to get out of bed in the morning. My alarm would go off and there is no part of me that would want to move. Now, I don’t dread my alarm. In fact, I often wake up before its scheduled time. Even though there are definitely days where I am not excited to tackle the tasks at hand, I’m still able to easily get out of bed, knowing that whatever I do for the day has a direct impact on my financial well-being.
Thanks to Zack Gallinger, Talent Hero Media!
#14- Speaking about my business
Running a business is greatly rewarding, but it is also very challenging in many aspects, so pinpointing the easiest thing about doing so is very difficult. On reflection, I think speaking and communicating to stakeholders about the company is probably the thing I find easiest about running my business. Whether it be pitching to clients, speaking at networking events or talking to the media, speaking about my business is easy because it’s something that I’m passionate about and have put so much work into. All my work has given me so much to talk about when speaking to stakeholders, so everything I say all comes so naturally. I’m able to speak enthusiastically easily too because I’m speaking about something that belongs to me which I genuinely believe in. People notice this natural enthusiasm and passion, and it makes what I say seem more convincing as a result. Speaking to key stakeholders always comes with a degree of pressure which is challenging to handle, but I’m never lost for words, so I don’t get too worried about speaking. Therefore, I think that it’s probably the easiest part of running the business.
Thanks to Grant van der Harst, Anglo Liners!
#15- The drive to want to
The easiest thing about running a business is the drive to want to. It's not your 9 to 5 where you may not like your boss, your working environment, or the routine. It's a legacy that you're building for your own brand. The drive is natural and it comes from needing the business to succeed. Running a business isn't easy because of all the moving parts, but having the drive to propel the brand forward is easy
because it's natural.
Thanks to Vincent Lefton, Bulldog Adjusters!
#16- Setting my own schedule
I don’t know that I would say anything about running a business is ‘easy.’ However, one of the aspects of entrepreneurship that makes my life simpler is the ability to set my own schedule. As a parent, the added control makes balancing these two worlds much easier. It doesn’t mean working less, but rather working flexibly. There are other ways that having control can make running a business easier as well. For instance, making changes when you see your company isn’t on the right track is much easier when you’re the owner Sure, it’s more responsibility, but that control is one of the things I love most about being an entrepreneur.
Thanks to Laura Ure, Keenability!