Important Researching Tips
1. Stay focused…Keep a proper perspective.
Start off with 1 or 2 [at
the most] clearly defined and relevant goal and objective. Once you get them established write them down
and commit to keeping them locked in as the goal and or objective until the final resolution is reached. If
you try to solve too many problems at once you will tend to feel overwhelmed. Keep in mind that, your research
effort is meant to SOLVE problems and not to create them. You will have enough problems during the ordinary course
of business. You don’t need to create more.
The bull’s-eye on a target always has ONE small circle in the core, or its middle.
Imagine how difficult it would be for the archer if there were 5 or 6 smaller circles or dots instead of just one.
STAY FOCUSED.
***
2. Make efficient, and, effective
use of ALL of your allotted time.
If you have only 15 minutes of time to invest in researching a given subject for example securing a
line of credit for working capital for our business invest ALL 15 minutes of that time into that task ONLY.
Don’t
get sidetracked. That of course is almost always easier said than done, but, consider this:
You are on the internet researching information about that line of credit and all of a sudden you wonder on to a site
which has some information about your favorite sports team. You are proud of yourself because you only spent 2 minutes on
that sports team’s site. Well that is only 2 minutes, BUT those 2 minutes represents a waste of 13%
of a precious resource: TIME. In business TIME is MONEY. Contrast
that 2 minute waste with a 13% loss of sales or production for your business or what if you found out that you are going to
lose 13% of your income. Would that seemingly minor loss make a substantial impact to your business? Just
as success tends to breed success, waste and inefficiency tends to breed more waste and inefficiency.
The biggest enemy of small businesses
is not limited resources, but, wasted resources.
***
3
The World Wide Web is JUST ONE TOOL that is in a large tool box.
Use other resources. The local library or, a bookstore can be a strong source of helpful information
that will help your business immeasurably. A business club, chamber of commerce, or, a local college or
university may have enrichment (certification programs), and relevant non- credited refresher courses that may offer you an
opportunity to grow and expand your knowledge base and business skills. There are, of course many online
credited and non-credited courses available to interested business people to enroll in. Get out and
network with others in your industry. Competition is great for the consumer, BUT, teamwork ( B -to-B networking)
among business is even better for the entrepreneur.
Don’t be afraid to get out of the box.
***
4.
Stay positive, and, always be persistent. Even when things look bleak for your company.
Normally the greatest breakthrough comes right
after the largest obstacle is faced. The largest ray of light is often behind the largest cloud. Keep a
positive confession and surround yourself with people who have an encouraging positive helpful attitude. Generally,
If you go into the research effort expecting nothing. Nothing is generally what you will find.
If you go in with expectancy and with a since of a purpose and anticipation of a productive resolution for your business;
those are the times when you will find the little nuggets which will yield a great harvest for your company, and yourself
personally. Operate in faith and positive expectancy and not in fear.
[It’s Worth Repeating]…DON’T JUST STOP AT ONE
SOURCE…DIG DEEPER. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AT WHAT KIND OF HELP YOU MAY FIND.
***
5. Follow-through
on your findings
Many business
entrepreneurs smother themselves to death in procrastination, and, doubt cycles that always spiral them down against them.
When you go to a website or an information source that may provide help or increase to your business, it is important
to act on your findings or ask the vital questions in a timely manner and while pertinent concerns are fresh on your mind.
An example of this is when one downloads a form off of an agencies website. The person puts the
form away with intent to complete it that next day or maybe even that next week. In the mean time,
Urgent (or, seemingly urgent) business issues arise and that form is misplaced or perhaps lost when
the business person finally gets time to address it one month later that he or she had anticipated. Many
times that person forgets the follow-up questions which she or he had concerning the form. These questions could have been
immediately asked by sending a simple email or making a quick call. The entrepreneur realizes that he or she is essentially
back at step one in the research process. Out of frustration that person abandons that research project
under the pretense of putting it aside for later when ‘there is more time’. It basically amounts
to a lost and wasted opportunity.
In today’s business climate you can afford to have very
few lost and wasted opportunities and that entrepreneur forfeits all of the time which was invested in
that abandoned effort. They also unwittingly set themselves up for a similar result on their next research
project. Essentially on the front the entrepreneur has made effective use of their 15 minutes as
mentioned in step one, but, on the back end the entrepreneur has provided an unnecessary burden upon himself or herself
by not following through on valuable information which could have an immediate impact on the company’s bottom line.
Its Like any good golfer will tell you, the most important part of their swing is in their follow-through after
the club hit’s the ball. The same is true for the business researcher when they arrive at valuable
data points. How are the findings and questions regarding the findings handled?
That’s the big question.
The smaller the company, the larger the need for its stakeholders to exercise timely follow-through particularly
in non-direct revenue producing functions such as business research, and administrative work.
The best days for your
business are ahead. Walk in FAITH and not in fear. A person with a spirit
of faith sees the answers coming closer, and they concentrates on receiving them, even, and perhaps especially when
things are looking at their worst. Like the weather, business conditions run in seasons and cycles.
A person who has a spirit of fear and is ruled by it, tends to see the problems stacking up bigger,
and, bigger and the solutions as being more distant by the hour. This negative spirit can prevail even
when things are looking at its best for the business person. Fear and apprehension leads
to ultimate destruction for any business. Investigate fresh new opportunities and don’t be afraid
to miss the mark. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO WALK IN FAITH, and, just
watch how your business GROWS.
A
Helpful Scripture Reference
James 1: 5-7
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts
is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person
must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.
Ó 2009 Copyright Mustard Seed Ventures, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
