Many start-up's fail because they skip all of the important questions and ask instead: "What can I do that will be sure to work?" The problem, of course, is that there is no sure thing. So if you are starting out as a business owner or entrepreneur, knowing the answer to these 16 [big] questions will help position you for success...

1. Get yourself a coffee!
Answering these questions could change your professional life forever...
Get yourself a coffee!
Answering these questions could change your professional life forever...
JeremyWaite.Wordpress.com
The 16 Most Important Questions
That All Start-Up Entrepreneurs
Should Know The Answer To...

2. If you're starting out as an entrepreneur
or a freelancer or a project manager,
the most important choice you'll make
is: what to do?
As in the answer to the question,
"What do YOU do?"
design by jeremywaite.co.uk | words by sethgodin.com | colour by pantone.com

3. Who are you trying
to please?
#1/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

4. Are you trying to make a
living, make a difference,
or leave a legacy?
#2/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

5. How will the world
be different when
you've succeeded?
#3/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

6. Is it more important
to add new customers
or to increase your
interactions with
existing ones?
#4/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

7. Do you want a team?
How big?
(I know, that's two questions).
#5/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

8. Would you rather have an
open-ended project that's
never done, or one where
you hit natural end points?
(How high is high enough?)
#6/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

9. Are you prepared to
actively sell your stuff,
or are you expecting
that buyers will walk in
the door and ask for it?
#7/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

10. Which?
To invent a category
or to be just like
Bob/Sue, but better?
#8/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

11. If you take someone
else's investment, are
you prepared to sell
out to pay it back?
#9/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

12. Are you done personally
growing, or is this project
going to force you to change
and develop yourself?
#10/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

13. Choose:
Teach and lead and
challenge your customers,
or do what they ask...
#11/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

14. How long can you wait
before it feels as though
you're succeeding?
#12/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

15. Is perfect important?
(Do you feel the need to fail
privately, not in public?)
#13/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

16. Do you want your
customers to know each
other (a tribe) or is it
better they be anonymous
and separate?
#14/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

17. How close to failure, wipe
out and humiliation are
you willing to fly?
(And while we're on the topic, how
open to criticism are you willing to be?)
#15/16
The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's

18. The 16 Most Important Business Questions for Start-Up's
What does busy
look like?
#16/16

19. colour trends for spring 2011 | pantone.com

20. Sex, Brands & Rock'n'Roll
Released November 2010
Twitter:
Email:
Blog:
Website:
@punkbranding
JeremyWaite@Me.com
http://JeremyWaite.Wordpress.com
www.JeremyWaite.co.uk
Jeremy Waite
Freelance Brand Consultant, Blogger, Ex-Giraffe Keeper,
Digital Curator and Author of Sex, Brands & Rock'n'Roll.
All the figures in this document were taken from the
Forbes.com Power List 2010 which ranks celebrities
according to their income, exposure in the press, tv
coverage, internet content and endorsements.
www.JeremyWaite.co.uk
Forbes.com Power List