Why you shouldn’t wait for an amazing startup idea

Many people mistakenly think they will recognize their startup idea as “amazing” as soon as they find the right one. However, the reality is that most ideas only seem amazing in retrospect after a company has already become successful.

For example, imagine you talked to Mark Zuckerberg back in 2004 when he was building Facebook, and he told you about his idea for a social network for university students.

You might think the idea sounded cool and useful for students, but there’s no way you would have predicted how ingrained in our society Facebook would become.

The point is that startups change over time, and your future product or service might look completely different from your idea right now.

It turns out that just sitting down and trying to brainstorm an award-winning startup idea out of nowhere is not the best option. Instead, you can use frameworks to come up with ideas systematically.

❓ What ways of finding business ideas do you know? What criteria should they be based on? Let’s share your options in the comments, and we will make a post on this topic 👇

9 most common business risks and how to manage them

Starting and running a business involves taking on a certain level of risk. While it’s impossible to completely eliminate risk, there are strategies that businesses can use to manage and mitigate them.

By understanding the risks your business may face and taking steps to address them, you can increase the chances of success for your business. Here are the nine most common business risks:

📎 Financial risk. This refers to the risk of financial loss due to factors such as unexpected expenses, changes in market conditions, or changes in customer demand. To manage financial risk, you can diversify your revenue streams, create a budget and financial plan, and consider getting business insurance.

📎 Legal risk. This refers to the risk of legal action or liability due to non-compliance with laws or regulations, or allegations of wrongdoing. To manage legal risk, you can consult with a lawyer, ensure that you are in compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and have clear contracts and policies in place.

📎 Reputation risk. This refers to the risk of damage to a business’s reputation due to negative publicity or customer dissatisfaction. To manage reputation risk, you can monitor your online presence and address any negative feedback or reviews promptly, have a crisis management plan in place, and be transparent and honest with your customers.

📎 Operational risk. This refers to the risk of disruptions to business operations due to factors such as equipment failure, supply chain disruptions, or natural disasters. To manage operational risk, you can have contingency plans in place, ensure that your systems are reliable and secure, and regularly review and update your processes.

📎 Market risk. This refers to the risk of changes in market conditions that could negatively impact a business. To manage market risk, businesses can diversify their product or service offerings, have a plan in place to adapt to changes in market conditions, and consider entering new markets.

📎 Competitive risk. This is the risk of losing market share to competitors. To manage competitive risk, you can regularly review your competitors, stay up to date with industry trends, focus on providing high-quality products and services, and differentiate your business from competitors.

📎 Technology risk. This is the risk of losing access to or experiencing problems with technology. To manage technology risk, you can have backup systems and processes in place, and regularly update and maintain your technology.

📎 Cybersecurity risk. This refers to the risk of data breaches or cyber-attacks that could compromise a business’s data or systems. To manage cybersecurity risk, businesses can implement strong password policies, use two-factor authentication, and invest in cybersecurity software.

📎 Human resources risk. This is the risk of losing key employees or experiencing problems with employee relations. To manage human resources risk, you can have a strong onboarding process, offer ongoing training and development opportunities, and have clear policies and procedures in place.

❓ What risks do you face in your business? How do you manage them?