Small Biz Stories: Enjoy the Entrepreneurial Ride

“Be flexible. Whether you’re the type of person that has a 14-page business plan, or a napkin with an early stage logo and that’s all you want to do, you have to be flexible and ready to take big turns.” That’s the number one piece of advice Simms Jenkins of BrightWave Marketing has for fellow entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs. Being ready to change course can be a challenge for many people, but it is necessary for a successful small business.

Secondly, Simms recommends focus on improving their communication skills. Every entrepreneur must be able to communicate. They have to sell the business to employees and clients (and potential employees and clients). They have to communicate the business’s outlook to family and business partners. Being able to both communicate and listen effectively will help small business owners thrive in a challenging environment.

Finally, remember to enjoy your business. “If you told me today that BrightWave was gone, I would say, ‘Man, I wish I enjoyed it more in that 12 years,’” Simms says. “Joy is not something that’s always easy for an entrepreneur,” because there are always problems and obstacles. “But not everyone gets to be an entrepreneur more than once, so enjoy the ride, because it’s certainly unique.”

Watch Simms Jenkins give his top advice for entrepreneurs in this 2 minute video:

Stay tuned for more Small Biz Stories!