“No one lives long enough to learn everything they need to learn starting from scratch. To be successful, we absolutely, positively have to find people who have already paid the price, to learn the things that we need to learn to achieve our goals.” – Brian Tracey
… what a great quote, and what a concise way to summarize what great leaders and entrepreneurs already know. Time is a precious resource, in many cases it can be even more precious than money with respect to a new business. After all, who would want to be in the perilous position of overcoming all of the hurdles of site selection and construction, actually getting a business open, only to wonder what truly comes next… sounds scary, right?
I remember this feeling vividly, now more than 12 years ago, when I opened my first health club. Although business skills came natural to me, there was so many details that, as a rookie, I didn’t even know to consider…. do I take the small or the large phone book ad? Is tile the right place to save on construction? Which is the best graphics vendor, local or regional? Negotiating techniques with landlords and vendors… marketing techniques… upselling memberships…. it goes on and on! Time (and a great team) has taught me well. Looking back, I could have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars not to mention the headaches!), had I aligned with the right partner…. it is a very common story in business, mine was lucky to end up happier than most. Choosing the right team, and the right partners, is a critical decision which can greatly affect the success of your new business. Don’t ever underestimate the value of having an experienced team by your side, as you build, launch, and grow your business… time is money, and this advice is sage.
Chris Palumbo is a noted business author, speaker, and founder of the popular elements fitness and lifestyle brand.
Tags: elements fitness, entrepreneurs, health club, new business
