7 Things to Learn as an Entrepreneur According to Cliff Han
Starting a business is never easy. If it were, more people would be running their own businesses rather than helping others run theirs. There are many things to learn as an entrepreneur, and Cliff Han was gracious enough to provide us with seven things he learned as an entrepreneur that he thought were important for you to understand.
7 Things to Learn as an Entrepreneur — According to Cliff Han
Starting a business is really about looking forward, not backward. And yet, as I prepared to take the next step forward with my business – into new markets and investors in 2022 – I’m naturally prompted to think about all the steps and lessons that led me to this point.
As a scientist, one of the first things I learned is that progress is achieved through shared experience and perspective. In other words, we have to give back by teaching others what we have learned. That’s true even (or especially) when the lessons came from unexpected setbacks.
With that in mind, here are seven things I have learned in my first few years as an entrepreneur.
#1 Anyone Can Take the Plunge
I don’t think anyone would have predicted I would end up starting a business in America. After all, I was born in a rural area of China and studied to be a village doctor. My first job was in a mental hospital. And yet, by pursuing my passions, I found myself on a path that led, step by step, to launching my own product and company.
Related Article: Can You Learn to Become an Entrepreneur?
If I can do it, so can you or anyone else.
#2 There Is Always Room for the Right Solution
Just like I never planned on being an entrepreneur, I didn’t ever intend to launch a product to compete with all the different allergy relief solutions you would find at your local pharmacy. Even as I type those words, it doesn’t seem like a good idea.
Even so, there is always room for something that’s better than what the competition is offering. If you know you have something your market wants, don’t be scared away by the big companies that are already dominating the space.
#3 Having a Great Product Is Only Half the Battle
It took years of study, but I eventually discovered I had something that was safe, inexpensive, and (most importantly) effective in treating allergy symptoms for months and years at a time. You would think that would be enough to launch a successful and profitable enterprise.
What I have since learned is that having the right product is only the beginning. Not only do you have to handle the business side of your business, which involves lawyers, accountants, and fulfillment processes, but you also have to sell your solution. If you can’t market what you have, then no one will ever find out about it.
#4 Almost Any Process Can Be Simplified
Business can seem complicated, especially when you’re new to it like I was. I came to entrepreneurship from a scientific and medical background (originally in another country), so a lot of concepts were literally foreign to me.
In the years since, however, I’ve learned to streamline things as much as possible. I try to make it easy for people to understand what Aller Pops is all about. I made the directions for their use more straightforward. I took unnecessary jargon out of my marketing. The cleaner you can make each step or process, the easier it will be for customers and partners to follow along.
#5 There Is No Substitute for Sweat Equity
It’s difficult to start a business on a shoestring, but I would argue that it’s also a blessing. It forces you to understand every aspect of your company and to prove to yourself that you have the desire to succeed.
For example, when I was just getting started, I built all the furniture in my lab and warehouse by hand. I didn’t want to pay anyone else with money that could go back into my company. I also answered my own phone and fulfilled every order personally. Now I understand each part of this process and have an appreciation for my company’s growth that I couldn’t have gotten if I had hired and outsourced everything from the beginning.
#6 No Victory Is Achieved Without Help
Sweat equity is important, but that doesn’t mean I’m not grateful for the assistance I have received from other people. In addition to the lawyers, accountants, and specialists who helped me get important details right, I’ve gotten fantastic advice from volunteers at SCORE and the SBA. Just as important has been the funding and guidance I’ve gotten from key investors.
You have to be committed to the vision of growing your business, but you don’t have to do it all on your own. To create lasting success, you’re going to need the help of partners, friends, and even loved ones.
#7 Success Is About Helping Others
This is perhaps the most important realization you can come to as an entrepreneur. Although we tend to measure progress in numerical terms like units sold or revenue generated, our real legacy can be found in the impact we have on others.
The best part of being an entrepreneur is seeing my product change the lives of my customers. There are hundreds of people finding lasting relief from their allergies for the first time and doing it without harsh medications or injections. That brings me enormous satisfaction. And the more I pursue those outcomes, the easier it is to meet financial targets.
My Entrepreneurial Journey Is Just Starting
Even though I feel like I’ve learned so much in the past few years, the reality is I’m closer to the beginning of my journey than I am the middle. There is still a huge amount of progress to be made and lots of other lessons to learn.
Related Article: 9 Daily Struggles That Come Along with Being a Solopreneur
If you’re interested in knowing more, Cliff Han mentioned you can visit Amazon to find a sample of his book, Nothing to Sneeze At. You can also learn more about Cliff Han, Aller Pops, and his products at allerpops.com.
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