While there are many things to consider while starting a business, the first step you take is the important thing that decides whether your new venture will become successful or not. Whether you call it the mass exodus, the Great Resignation, re-evaluating your life, or a midlife crisis, there are scores of people leaving traditional jobs to start their own businesses. However, the question that people always ask is about the important steps while starting a business.

Therefore, first, you need to answer the very important question to yourself – What can you offer that is meaningful to you, leverages your strengths and capabilities, and is marketable?

Know that you don’t have to be perfect always. You need to think of unique ideas to solve people’s problems by your offering. For that, you need to take the first step. Here is a guide for entrepreneurs while starting a business.

First Consider Your Skillset

It is possible you no longer enjoy what you are experienced in. But you need to understand and answer that are there any aspects of it that you love and can imagine doing more of? Or, does what you don’t enjoy help you determine what you would like to do? Usually, the thing that drives us crazy can be an element for innovation – to do something different than the way it has always been done before. Precisely, recognizing what you dislike about the thing that you were doing till now can be just a realization that you need to create unique, disruptive, and marketable. In any case, smearing your skillset can be your marketable idea and an important step while starting a business.

Pay more attention to Compliments

All those points where your customers or clients give you compliments/comments should be considered as important. The way you simplify their problems and provide effective solutions are the points where your target audience and customers feel your importance and offer you compliments. You should always pay attention to those compliments as they are your USP and a step towards your success. There’s a good chance people around you have been pointing out something unique about you that they see value in all along. Think about the pattern of compliments you have heard over the years, in the workplace and out. Pay particularly close attention to the feedback you just want to consider as “no big deal.” It might point towards something you are innately good at and which can be the beginning of a great business idea and an important step while starting a business.

Create a Thread

Creating a thread from your past experience to your future can provide credibility to your new business. Besides, it provides you with an explanation as to what makes you different from others and a compelling story to share with your customers. While we sometimes see our own lives as a series of doors opening and closing, other people often find the thread that creates a through the line more convincing. Try not to become too quick to shut the door behind you, but rather find opportunities to continue and share the story. Again, the important thing to remember here is that you are starting with a hint of an idea, not the final chapter. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get it perfect, or for that matter, even close to right. Far more clarity will come as you progress.

Certainly, there is a lot to do when you consider the first things that need to be done and take important steps while starting a business. But finding your “thing” that sparks an idea that is the combination of your skills, value, and the story is the best place to start.