Any entrepreneur can tell you, launching a startup is a learning process. Therefore, one of the best things you can do prior to launching a startup of your own is to learn from those who have blazed the trail. We were fortunate enough to hear some valuable insights during our interview with Dayana Doncheva of EcardForest that will inspire, motivate, and teach aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike.
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
“Set priorities. Look back and be proud of what you achieved, even if that’s your first failed business. Learn from what you’ve done — the good and the bad.”
What is the best method you’ve found to avoid burnout as an entrepreneur?
“It’s amazing to see your business growing, but it’s also crucial to define some time off for the sake of your health.
Making room in the schedule for some of your other ‘projects’ (i.e., hobbies, self-care, or even cleaning the house) is what I found to be quite effective. In my case, I even still have my day job, which I equally love and am excited about. Thus, setting boundaries is what does the trick.”
What is your advice for coming up with a unique startup idea?
“When exploring ideas that you would like to grow into a business, it’s crucial to check the market beforehand. If you are thinking about a better version of an available product, make sure to map the features that you think you could do better. Check that with your friends to get their reactions while asking them to behave as your customers.
If you are trying something new, don’t forget to set clear goals. How long would you try selling the product before you decide if it works or not? You might end up creating a unicorn, but if not, you better know when to proclaim it a failure and continue doing something else.
And the most important part: thinking of ideas that would make you rich usually won’t work. It should come naturally to you, and the more you believe in your idea, the easier it’s going to be.”
What is your advice for overcoming challenges and failure?
“Sometimes, the most important step is the first one. It’s key to stay calm and analyze your way out of a challenge or a failure. How did you end up getting there? What can you do to solve it and prevent it from happening again?”
What is the biggest lesson you learned and what can aspiring entrepreneurs take from it?
“Establish an agile setup. Especially in the beginning, you might need experts from various fields to get your startup up and running. Involve freelancers (e.g., via Fiverr) to help you grow while keeping the full financial flexibility to reduce the headcount when the work is done.”
- Check out EcardForest’s company profile and ways to support them!
- Keep up with more startup companies by following Startup Savant on Google News!
- Start your own startup by reading our How to Start a Startup guide.
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