HOW TO: START A BUSINESS
“Looking back I can see that I had been preparing for twenty-one years to open the first Chick-fil-A restaurant.”
-Truett Cathy, Founder of Chic-fil-A
Opening a business like Chic-fil-A can be a life-long pursuit. You may have dreams of running a multi-national conglomerate or maybe you simply want to start a side hustle. Either way, starting a business venture gives you great potential to influence employees, customers, and your family. Whether you’re working side by side with someone late into the night or showing appreciation when they make an order, very few endeavors touch lives the way a successful business does.
Obviously, a short email and some resources won’t be enough to get you from idea to market, but we hope there are some nuggets here to get you started.
1. Ask Why
You should ask yourself why you want to start a business. To get rich? To have freedom from the man? To serve people? To solve a problem? Knowing why you want to work hard on building a company of your own is going to help you when you feel discouraged. Write down your "why" in a place you come back to when things get difficult.
2. Research Research Research
Google will become your best friend on your journey to business success. Former Summit staffer Adam Hinkle built his international toy business almost entirely through online learning. Here’s what he has to say about the opportunities for starting a business right now. There are thousands of resources available to get you started. The Small Business Administration’s website isn’t a bad place to start for the general knowledge you need. Podcasts, YouTube, and LinkedIn are fantastic places to access both practical guides and a network of people who’ve been in your shoes.
3. Learn from Others
We asked a couple of Summit alumni who are running small businesses today what they would do if it was “day one” and here’s what they said.
Obviously, a short email and some resources won’t be enough to get you from idea to market, but we hope there are some nuggets here to get you started.
1. Ask Why
You should ask yourself why you want to start a business. To get rich? To have freedom from the man? To serve people? To solve a problem? Knowing why you want to work hard on building a company of your own is going to help you when you feel discouraged. Write down your "why" in a place you come back to when things get difficult.
2. Research Research Research
Google will become your best friend on your journey to business success. Former Summit staffer Adam Hinkle built his international toy business almost entirely through online learning. Here’s what he has to say about the opportunities for starting a business right now. There are thousands of resources available to get you started. The Small Business Administration’s website isn’t a bad place to start for the general knowledge you need. Podcasts, YouTube, and LinkedIn are fantastic places to access both practical guides and a network of people who’ve been in your shoes.
3. Learn from Others
We asked a couple of Summit alumni who are running small businesses today what they would do if it was “day one” and here’s what they said.
4. Start with Christian Principles
Starting early to implement your worldview into the daily work of the company will pay spiritual dividends right away. Watch how Hobby Lobby Founder David Green and his wife Barbara weave their Christian worldview into the workings of the company.
Want to talk about starting your business? Email us at alumni@summit.org and we’ll try to connect you with someone who has experience in your area of interest through our mentoring network.
4. Start with Christian Principles
Starting early to implement your worldview into the daily work of the company will pay spiritual dividends right away. Watch how Hobby Lobby Founder David Green and his wife Barbara weave their Christian worldview into the workings of the company.
Want to talk about starting your business? Email us at alumni@summit.org and we’ll try to connect you with someone who has experience in your area of interest through our mentoring network.
Did you miss our previous "How To" issues? Check them out now:
How To: Be a Confident Public Speaker
How To: Write a Vision Statement
How To: Live a Balanced Life
How To: Read a Book a Month
How To: Study the Bible
How To: Be a Confident Public Speaker
How To: Write a Vision Statement
How To: Live a Balanced Life
How To: Read a Book a Month
How To: Study the Bible
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