Five Important Things for the New Entrepreneur’s To Do List

The “to do” list of a small business owner is lengthy and full of pressing items that are all marked as priority issues. Therefore it is essential that the new entrepreneur do their best to manage the list efficiently, delegate when possible, and make sure the priority list is actually achievable in the time frame needed. If not, it’s time to start building a freelance team to assist in the tasks at hand. Whether it is a handy man, painter, cleaning crew, a computer expert, bookkeeper, marketing content writer, designer, or assistant, all of these roles can be filled by a freelance expert that can get the job done while you put your valuable resources of time, thought, and energy elsewhere.

The list for many will become overpowering and the thought of reviewing it for what could be missing is pushed back for another day. However, morning and evening review is critical to stay focused and not get sidetracked. How you keep your list and where is less important than if it gets your attention and demands you review it as often as possible for direction throughout your days. Frequently reviewing your list is a good habit to form in the beginning that will keep you on track in the days, months, and years to come.

There are five things that should have made it to your list that are important and could have been overlooked. Look your list over and add these things that you may have missed, for they are all important.

1) Buy the domain address of your name. Surely you have already bought the domain address of your new business name, but as a new business owner planning on becoming quite successful, you need to secure up your own personal branding as you are a part of your business’ reputation. It is inexpensive to buy a domain name and you need not do anything with it in the beginning. However, along the way you need to build a basic site and use it as an online resume of your accomplishments. LinkedIn is fine for resume networking, but you need your own personal branding presence online. Buy your name right away.

2) Secure the accounts on all major social media platforms for your business. You don’t have to use them other than to install your logo on the header and an announcement or two of your business. While social media is a critical part of success in today’s digital world, especially with the rapid growth of mobile business, you don’t have to dive in right away. It’s important though that you secure the accounts and set them up so you have them when you are ready. Make an account in all of the major social media platforms and as more are developed quickly secure your business name account, even if you never use it.

3) Clean up your online presence. Go through your personal social media accounts and clean them up. Delete old posts and comments that are political or push personal agendas, unless of course you only want to do business with people of like minds, which in turn is severely limiting your client base. Go through pictures and ask yourself if you are expressing the essence of your brand or if you are showing off, trying to create envy, or being downright ridiculous and silly. The only pictures you want existing of you online are the ones that express your company’s brand. You, being a new business owner, are your company’s brand, especially in the beginning. If chugging a beer with your old college friends isn’t a part of your intended brand marketing, then delete it.

4) Make an appointment with a lawyer and certified public accountant. If that is an expensive undertaking for you at this point, then take advantage of free services from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and SCORE. Make your appointments as soon as possible to assure you haven’t missed any important details in setting up your business. Score offers mentoring to small business owners from experts in varied professional fields, and that will not only give you advice and guidance, but in many cases it will offer valuable networking opportunities as well.

5) Prioritize personal time for yourself into your list. Doctor’s appointments, lunch with an old friend, an afternoon movie with your child, a massage, exercise, or a dinner date with your significant other. You must prioritize your personal needs in balance with your professional ones. Your business needs you healthy, happy, energetic, and with fresh open thinking to be a success. Being a mother, wife, small business owner, community leader, and expanding entrepreneur in the male dominated field of bail bonding, which also is a 24 hour, seven day a week business, is difficult. I’ve stumbled along the way with my own to do lists in making them an important map to achieving my goals. The moment I started putting myself into the priority section, things began to fit together better, tighter, and easier than ever before — so I highly encourage making this the first important item you put on your own to do list.