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What do you need?

diogoatmelo

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I’m curious what other things people thought they “needed” but actually didn’t.

I've hit a roadblock in my eCommerce store because "I need" to solve some legal issues.

To be clear, I think this is required. I'm just posting here to see if I've missed a workaround.

So, I already have a website built, social media pages, some blog posts to generate traffic, samples, and relationships with two manufacturers.
What I don't have is the most important thing, the products up on my store for sale. This is due to two reasons:

1 - In my employee contract, it says that I can't do any other remunerated activity. Which after a few days of deliberation I decided to ignore. If I get fired, I get fired;

2 - I need to declare my activity as a sole trader (I think this is the term) to my country's financial services. However, this is where I'm stuck. I can't figure out how to do it. I found a 300+ page manual, but it's very generic and every situation is different. I contacted governmental institutions. Some provided few answers, others none at all. The worst part of it is, as I'm working 9-5 I can't do it physically and without this issue solved I can't legally invoice my clients.


Any suggestions? Do I put the products for sale anyway?

Thanks!
 
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Nicoknowsbest

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How are people treating you differently?

Don't ask me how this works and it's just my personal perception. But once you make a decision in your head of how you want to be perceived, people change their behaviour towards you. Of course you also have to act it out. If it's only in your head, it won't help. The biggest change I have seen so far is that I have more confidence in how I want to do business.

So what's changed?
  • The "takers" disappear faster and with less strings attached these days.
    For everybody who is wondering what I am referring too when I say taker, read this thread here.
  • People get to the point quicker.
  • People respect my time.
  • People respect my rules of communication.
  • People respect my prices and my offer.
It's also a great filter for future partnerships and clients. Back in the day, I ignored warning signs and things I didn't like during a business relationship, because I was acting from a position of weakness, as @Black_Dragon43 pointed out. Nowadays, I am happy to part ways at any given point if there's something I am having doubts about. Without looking back, no hard feelings.
 

Andy Black

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I've hit a roadblock in my eCommerce store because "I need" to solve some legal issues.

To be clear, I think this is required. I'm just posting here to see if I've missed a workaround.

So, I already have a website built, social media pages, some blog posts to generate traffic, samples, and relationships with two manufacturers.
What I don't have is the most important thing, the products up on my store for sale. This is due to two reasons:

1 - In my employee contract, it says that I can't do any other remunerated activity. Which after a few days of deliberation I decided to ignore. If I get fired, I get fired;

2 - I need to declare my activity as a sole trader (I think this is the term) to my country's financial services. However, this is where I'm stuck. I can't figure out how to do it. I found a 300+ page manual, but it's very generic and every situation is different. I contacted governmental institutions. Some provided few answers, others none at all. The worst part of it is, as I'm working 9-5 I can't do it physically and without this issue solved I can't legally invoice my clients.


Any suggestions? Do I put the products for sale anyway?

Thanks!
Find an accountant who can advise you?
 

Andy Black

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That is correct, you need the SKILLS to make sales and conversions/customers agreed.
I don't believe we need skills to be able to help people:

... and I don't believe we need "sales" or "marketing" skills either. In fact, I'm of the belief that people would do better unlearning sales and marketing and just helping folks.

I do believe many people need to get out of their own way and just go help people.
 

Timmy C

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I don't believe we need skills to be able to help people:

... and I don't believe we need "sales" or "marketing" skills either. In fact, I'm of the belief that people would do better unlearning sales and marketing and just helping folks.

I do believe many people need to get out of their own way and just go help people.

So true Andy.

This week i am getting further than i ever have and it's because i havent been selling at all.

"Here i did this for you hope it helps."

"Wow! you took time out of your day to do this for us?"

"Yeh i had a spare minute!"

"Cool i will give you a shoutout on our social media!"

All the way to

"Thanks for that! So what do you charge for XYZ?"
 
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Andy Black

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So true Andy.

This week i am getting further than i ever have and it's because i havent been selling at all.

"Here i did this for you hope it helps."

"Wow! you took time out of your day to do this for us?"

"Yeh i had a spare minute!"

"Cool i will give you a shoutout on our social media!"

All the way to

"Thanks for that! So what do you charge for XYZ?"
BOOM!

Progress thread?
 

Andy Black

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Please don’t have New Year's resolutions to “learn stuff”. Maybe go get a customer instead? (Aka someone you help who in turn pays you.)
 
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mikecarlooch

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I need a website!

I need more money!

I need to go on a course!

I need a logo!

I need a business partner!

I need a mentor!


Is it possible to run a business without all the things we think we need?

Maybe we're putting all these things in our own way?

To prevent us from starting? (aka procrastination).

To prevent us from shipping? (aka perfectionism).

Because we think we'll fail if we launch?

Because we don't think we're enough?



Whenever I find myself saying "I need ..." I catch myself and wonder:


Do I REALLY need it?

Is it possible someone else has done without it?

Is it possible *I* can do without it?




The only thing we need in business are sales/customers.
Thank you for this.
 

REV5028

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@Andy Black thanks for this thread and your thread on "what if you already know enough" - they really helped me get over some mental hurdles.

After accepting that I know enough to get started and provide value, and after letting go of thinking I need so many things to be successful, I've started to work on the actual product and deciding how to make it the most useful/best it can be for others, how it can stand out from what's already out there.

I had my skills ready to go and a process in mind, all I needed was...

That's when I realized that I already had more than adequate resources at my disposal. That's when I realized that my process was built on a process that I learned 15 years ago and was surely outdated. That's when I realized that I now have a great opportunity to add a new tool to my skillset, an opportunity to learn and grow (how fun and exciting?!).

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that for me personally, the main questions that have led me to grow have been:

1. What if you already know enough?
2. What do you (actually) need?
3.1. What are you underutilizing? / What do you already have?
3.2. What implemented processes/ways of thinking are outdated?

3.1 also made me realize that I'm quite possibly underutilizing my network. While I could successfully do this project on my own, there are definitely some people/friends in my community that would be great to talk to or collaborate with.

Anyway, just thought I'd share where your two questions (and other forum content) have taken me so far.
 

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