It is challenging to start as a Hospitality Entrepreneur.
The primary question I started with was “Where Do I Begin?”
Where to begin
I started my business after I lost my mother. It was a rough period where I needed to do some activities that helped me clear my mind.
I already was passionate about starting my own business. My background comes from IT, Customer Service, and Hospitality. I had a blog that I worked on and did provide some Twitter tips at the time.
I and my wife took a cruise with the family. This was a great way to get my mind on something else. During a dinner conversation, my brother-in-law gave some great feedback on my passion for Hospitality.
And that was when I realized my true passion was Hospitality and Social Media.
It is critical to start out scoping out your true passion. Authenticity is a key ingredient today for success.
What you need
- True passion
- Start with the end goal in mind
- Business Idea and Plan
- Pen and Notebook (always carry with you – capturing ideas the old-fashioned way sticks the best)
- Smart Phone & Tablet
- Laptop
- Google Drive (Word Processor / Spreadsheet)
- Seek a Mastermind group or accountability partners
- Don’t be afraid to fail – if you don’t fail you are just not trying hard enough
- Discipline and Focus
- Support
- A dashboard that helps you understand how your business is doing (including QuickBooks® Online)
- Subscribe to relevant newsletters and magazines
- Read relevant books
- Take relevant online courses
Start with Tomorrow and Map Today
Step 1: Entrepreneurship is not easy
And if you have a true passion for it you are in it for the long run. There are no overnight success stories.
You must have a mutual understanding together with your family. Trust me it takes time and a lot of frustration. And there will come times when you together with your closest ones will have to start asking some hard questions.
One of the most important discoveries I made was when I truly understood the value of reverse engineering.
Over the years, I learned to combine my values with innovation.
Step 2: You will need to plot a map for your passion
Start with tomorrow, and then reverse engineer your map for today.
This is like a travel journey. Start with the end goal and then the tools you need to bring with you will show up.
Get a calendar to help you out. I found that working with weekly goals helps me keep the right focus.
And Google Calendar you can also integrate with Google Drive.
Step 3: If you don’t fail you are just not trying hard enough
Failures and disappointments will happen. It is just the nature of the business.
Yes, I am just like you we are humans. And failures and disappointments make you question yourself. I am not sure how many times I have questioned myself if I was doing the right thing.
And when it is not going your way, or even worse when you lose a client it can be rough.
There are times you will be tested. This is where you need to have an accountability partner to talk with. I have been fortunate that my wife has been a person I always can talk with. She is in no way gullible, and she is not afraid to tell me as it is. In the same way, she also knows to support and encourage me.
It has been critical in my process that I have been able to explain my journey to her.
Step 4: Be prepared to record your ideas
Inspirations are always around you if you take the time to look.
Pen and notebook are a great way to jot down ideas that I see or come into my head. Don’t trust that you will remember it later.
Online one of my favorite tools is Pocket. Curating content has become a daily routine for me today.
Step 5: Free tools are like fishing without bait
It might take a while before you catch a fish. And it is not a guarantee that the fish you catch then is what will feed you and your family.
The difference lies in identifying the bait that will help you achieve your goals.
Investing in paid tools is what takes your business to the next level. Over the years, I tried out several tools. There is an abundance of tools that deliver great value for any budget. You don’t have to break the bank to get the job done.
If you are looking for a #RecipeToSucess modeling others is a great way to start. I did not want to reinvent the wheel when I started. So, I asked other entrepreneurs what types the tools they used.
When you have identified your passion, there are plenty of groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google+ that you can join. Asking questions doesn’t cost anything. But you must ask.
I suggest running everything from the cloud (including QuickBooks® Online as your accounting solution) so that you can have the flexibility to work from anywhere, at any time.
Even if you start off small, invest upfront in properly structuring and forming your business, such as the cost of creating an LLC, which is typically between $40-$500.
Step 6. Become a pioneer
Today is not so much about having customers, but more about having fans. Offering unprecedented values that open new doors to value innovation.
Give your fans a unique insight into your community. Provide your fans with free samples that generate curiosity.
And from there you can position your offers.
Business growth today is an interactive process. Fans will provide you with unique information that will help them improve and adapt to trends that are relevant to their needs.
My goal is to take every Hotel on a new journey where new high-value alternatives will excite and bring new and renewing customers. The customer experience will ignite stories fans will share with their communities.
Over to you
The hotel industry is always changing, especially during a time of crisis. Make sure to future-proof your business and continue attracting new guests by investing in these solutions.
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Related article: 5 Cost-effective Steps to Start a New Innovative Digital Transformation Shift for Hotels
We are in this together!
I need to let you all know that we are in on this together. If you need to vent, talk, cry, or have someone to talk with, I am here listening.
Where to reach me
Email: hotelblogger@aremorch.com
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About Are Morch
Are Morch assists hotels in increasing their direct bookings through innovative digital transformation solutions and AI, while avoiding competition with online travel agencies.
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