3 Steps to Starting your Business

F*** the Job Hunt!

You have a good idea or a passion and you finally have a chance to follow it… take it! Stop pushing that resume across that desk and make your move! Here are the first 3 steps in turning your passion into a business.

Solidify the Vision

• The first step is to solidify your vision. What’s your passion and how can it benefit others? This is the foundation of your brand and will dictate the shape of your business model. The clearer your vision the better your product will be.

• Will you be providing a deliverable or service – maybe an interaction or entertainment? Once you pinpoint the space you'd like to occupy, it's on to figuring out how you're going to grow income. Having a financial plan can help minimize any costly mistakes in the startup process and protect you against premature graying. 

• Maybe you're a fashion designer creating statement-making pieces with locally sourced textiles and fabrics. The vision is to provide the rule-bending, culture-shaping, statement-making creative with everyday workwear that reflects their community. 

• Perfect. You're selling workwear to creatives. You have now identified that deliverables are how you’ll be growing income and fueling your new business! Of course there are many more layers involved, but having a core vision defined will make future growth and operations much more streamlined.

Brand Identity

• Constructing a strong brand identity is another critical step in developing a cohesive business, and it all starts with a name! Choosing what your business will be called can be challenging, but there are tons of resources to help you lock in the best name for your new brand. After you’ve chosen a name, your brand will need a face! 

• Visual identity is how your customers, clients, or guests see your brand. Logos, icons, colors and graphics can all be used to shape the aesthetic of your business and give your audience an idea of what you offer. Having a strong visual mark can help people connect with your brand before they even know what you're providing. Skipping the visual identity step can leave your business struggling to gain traction and maintain excitement with your target audience. 

• If you're overwhelmed, don't worry, finding the perfect visual identity for your brand doesn't have to be stressful. Working with a graphic designer to set you up with all the assets you'll need can be a breeze! Get set up with a logo, social media headers, icons, merch designs, and more when you work with a COC designer!

Find your Community

• You are nearly on your way to creating a successful business out of your passion and saying “adios” to the soulless 9-5. Your first sale starts with defining your target audience, or what we call your brand’s ‘Community’. Today’s consumer is looking to connect to a brand that identifies with their ideals, and way of life; which means having a solid service isn't good enough anymore, in order to be successful in the market you have to find a community that you can connect with on a personal level. 

• Developing and curating your community requires networking, researching and data tracking, but luckily this all doesn't have to fall on you! As a new business owner, it is important that you keep your energy focused into production and operations; which is why working with a marketing company can be your greatest asset. 

It won't be easy, but once you invest in your vision and in yourself, you'll never look back. So f*** that resume, because there is no better feeling than making progress by passion!