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The Start-Up To-Do List

by Joe Crosbie
11 replies
Hey Warriors! Hope you are all doing super well!

Over the last couple of days I have come to the decision to finally start working! Might sound stupid right?

But I have never given a project my 110%!
I have given 50%, I would even say I have given 90%! But never the full 110%!

One of the main areas I have not done much in is planning and market research!

So I have put together a mind map of ideas of online business avenues and I want to do it right this time! I have kind of put together a to-do list of sorts, I am now looking for some feedback on it!

If you think I should get rid of delete any of it, feel free to let me know!

Here it goes anyways:

• The Value Proposition - What problem am I solving? What am I adding to the market? Who are aiming it towards?

• Customer Segmentation - Who are my potential customers? Why would they use me? What specific information can I provide about them (i.e demographics..)? What can I say about them?

• Customer Relationships - How will the customers find me? How am I planning on keeping them? How can I grow them (upsell and keep them keen)?

• Revenue sources - How am I going to earn money? Will the customer be paying? If so, what will the customer be getting in terms of value? What other sources of revenue? Will I be allowing adverts on the site?

• Key Elements - What elements/resources are important for the business?

• Product Sources - What are the products going to be? Am I going to be using suppliers? Am I going to need to source other people's products?

• Primary Actions - Are there any actions that I can do to grow my business? What actions do I think will help the business? What shouldn't I do?

• Costs - Are there going to be costs? Is there going to be regular investments or will it rely on revenue?
#list #startup #todo
  • Profile picture of the author innozemec
    you are thinking way too much, just start working and you will start seeing results!
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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Crosbie
      Originally Posted by innozemec View Post

      you are thinking way too much, just start working and you will start seeing results!
      I thought that too! I want to do this because of past experiences! I don't want to create something and then after weeks of work still not know my market very well!
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      I chose entrepreneurship over further education despite being laughed at by my friends and family..

      I recently hit the "RESTART" button on my life, read my personal blog to find out how I did it :)
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      • Profile picture of the author innozemec
        yeah, i see.. but in your first line you say "i am getting to work".. and then i scroll down 2 pages with questions you ask yourself before actually "getting to work"...

        plan in small pieces, otherwise you will just be thinking and thinking and actually doing nothing..

        bad experience always exist.. it is inevitable.. sometimes you win, sometimes you loose..
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        • Profile picture of the author Joe Crosbie
          Originally Posted by innozemec View Post

          yeah, i see.. but in your first line you say "i am getting to work".. and then i scroll down 2 pages with questions you ask yourself before actually "getting to work"...

          plan in small pieces, otherwise you will just be thinking and thinking and actually doing nothing..

          bad experience always exist.. it is inevitable.. sometimes you win, sometimes you loose..
          That's some good advice! I laughed a little when I read that, you are very observant! . My plan was that once I got some advice from talented warrior on here, I would then spend a couple of hours answering the questions and analysing the market so I would have something to work off.

          I am doing some work now so I don't think I'm procrastinating. You're statement at the end is very true!
          Signature
          I chose entrepreneurship over further education despite being laughed at by my friends and family..

          I recently hit the "RESTART" button on my life, read my personal blog to find out how I did it :)
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    • Profile picture of the author shane_k
      Originally Posted by innozemec View Post

      you are thinking way too much, just start working and you will start seeing results!

      Definately do not agree to this!

      I mean seriously who says it's a waste of time to want to find out who your target market is?

      Or to want to find out what their needs and wants are?, or what your value proposition is?

      The real problem is too many people don't do this kind of thinking and waste 6 months to 1 year struggling and then getting no where.

      So I say to Joe, take the time to do this kind of thinking, even if it takes you two weeks, why?

      Well there is a saying in this book "Guide to better decisions"

      It takes longer to correct a bad decision than it does to a good one.

      In other words if you don't do this kind of thinking you have the potential to waste that 6 months to a year, which it looks like you have wasted some time already,

      but if you do this kind of thinking then everything else you do, from ad copy to solo ads, to seo will be more targeted and inline with each other, you will see less struggle than someone who's "systems" are all over the place because they didn't do this thinking.

      I was lucky the second course I bought was called The Promo Dashboard and it goes into some of what you mention.

      I was able to focus in and avoid any distractions and avoid even the "shiny object syndrome"
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      • Profile picture of the author depp12
        From my own experience I would forget about making to do lists, and what he will do and what will happen. You could be planning forever and making sure everything is perfect before you do anything. Rememeber, while you are are busy planning other people are doing and making money.Just get working by just picking a method and sticking with it and exploring every possible direction in that method until you make money. Stay off forums, reading stuff, and every other time distraction. Start work and you will build focus.Results will then come to you.
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        • Profile picture of the author Joe Crosbie
          Originally Posted by depp12 View Post

          From my own experience I would forget about making to do lists, and what he will do and what will happen. You could be planning forever and making sure everything is perfect before you do anything. Rememeber, while you are are busy planning other people are doing and making money.Just get working by just picking a method and sticking with it and exploring every possible direction in that method until you make money. Stay off forums, reading stuff, and every other time distraction. Start work and you will build focus.Results will then come to you.
          Thanks man! I do see where you're coming from and I disagree with some of it! I totally agree with not spending too much planning because as you said, others are doing it, enjoying it and making money from it but I would assume they know the market too! However, I don't.

          That's why I would like to have even just one piece of A4 with some information about the market on so I know where abouts I am in it!

          I also disagree with staying of the Forum and reading stuff, I agree with staying off social platforms such as Facebook, Youtube.... unless of course it's too help the business grow.

          I think forums, especially this one are a great place to gain a knowledge, meet great people and learn new concepts. Same as reading, the value inside books in incredible and so many take that for granted!

          Thanks for input though! It's helped make me conscious about how long I spend planning!

          All the best, Joe Crosbie
          Signature
          I chose entrepreneurship over further education despite being laughed at by my friends and family..

          I recently hit the "RESTART" button on my life, read my personal blog to find out how I did it :)
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      • Profile picture of the author Joe Crosbie
        Originally Posted by shane_k View Post

        Definately do not agree to this!

        I mean seriously who says it's a waste of time to want to find out who your target market is?

        Or to want to find out what their needs and wants are?, or what your value proposition is?

        The real problem is too many people don't do this kind of thinking and waste 6 months to 1 year struggling and then getting no where.

        So I say to Joe, take the time to do this kind of thinking, even if it takes you two weeks, why?

        Well there is a saying in this book "Guide to better decisions"

        It takes longer to correct a bad decision than it does to a good one.

        In other words if you don't do this kind of thinking you have the potential to waste that 6 months to a year, which it looks like you have wasted some time already,

        but if you do this kind of thinking then everything else you do, from ad copy to solo ads, to seo will be more targeted and inline with each other, you will see less struggle than someone who's "systems" are all over the place because they didn't do this thinking.

        I was lucky the second course I bought was called The Promo Dashboard and it goes into some of what you mention.

        I was able to focus in and avoid any distractions and avoid even the "shiny object syndrome"
        Thanks for that! It has reassured me that my approach to this is correct! I have wasted some time, about 8 months to be precise and I would like to see a bit more success in the 8 months to come!

        The trouble I was faced with before is that planning and research is super boring! But then again, I never tried it too begin with! I assumed it was boring whereas I actually quite enjoyed writing "The Start-Up To-Do List".

        That saying is very true by the way! Makes a lot of sense and heck, if one quote from a book can motivate me that much, the book must be good! I am really interested in reading it, can you confirm that this is the book (" Yes" or "No": the Guide to Better Decisions: A Story)?

        Anyways, it looks like it is back to planning for me! Thanks for your input and have a great day!
        Signature
        I chose entrepreneurship over further education despite being laughed at by my friends and family..

        I recently hit the "RESTART" button on my life, read my personal blog to find out how I did it :)
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  • Profile picture of the author Shellyannr
    They are all very good criteria of a start up which require intense planning. All I'd add to that is a time frame for each. A "how long will it take to implement a plan of action and accomplish your goals" sort of thing. A clear time frame in my view is great motivation.
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    Shelly-Ann Roper is a Translator and multi-lingual Marketing/PR professional for SMEs. She specializes helping small businesses integrate their products and services into foreign markets. She is CEO/founder of Neue Medien PR/Marketing Inc and the Smart-Up Business Guide.Direct link to her blog here.

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    • Profile picture of the author Joe Crosbie
      Originally Posted by Shellyannr View Post

      They are all very good criteria of a start up which require intense planning. All I'd add to that is a time frame for each. A "how long will it take to implement a plan of action and accomplish your goals" sort of thing. A clear time frame in my view is great motivation.
      Glad to hear that it's a good one! First I had ever done so I am quite pleased I will certainly be adding that now! I agree with deadlines being good motivation!

      I guess that's why goals work so well!
      Signature
      I chose entrepreneurship over further education despite being laughed at by my friends and family..

      I recently hit the "RESTART" button on my life, read my personal blog to find out how I did it :)
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  • Profile picture of the author ymest
    I'd say "planning is good, doing is better"! And, I'll add....this APPLIES TO ME AS WELL BIIIIIGG TIME! LOL! Plan 20% and do 80% or think this way MASSIVE ACTION = MASSIVE RESULTS!

    Good luck!

    Yoan
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