There are certain taboos in the small business world that are age old. They keep being handed down, but they do not necessarily work anymore. A new generation of business owners is taking the reins from the Baby Boomers, but what used to work just isn’t going to cut it anymore. Some habits die hard, but certain taboos are ready to be broken.
Never Break Tradition
In a country where businesses are handed down through families, this one is a hard to avoid. Even if it is entrepreneurship itself that is the tradition, there are likely commonalities among generations that prevail in many situations. Maybe it is tradition for siblings to be given first shot at managing a new shop or even top position like vice president. Maybe it is tradition to stay in the same building no matter how dilapidated it becomes.
It may not be family tradition, but rather community tradition, that is begging to be broken. Perhaps the after-prom crowd traditionally goes one place, but you could offer them something better. What if high school football fans are ready for something new after the game? Whatever the case, it is time to break the taboo of breaking tradition. While traditions definitely have their time and place, there is no doubt that sticking with them no matter what can cause major problems. Maybe your brother Bill is just not store management material. Maybe everyone at the game will love your ice cream cart. Is it worth missing a prime opportunity, just for tradition’s sake?
Ignoring Your Intuition
While being true to yourself is definitely a good thing, and going with your gut is not always bad, blindly following intuition is not the way to get things done. Ignoring your intuition is not the goal, but going with facts over intuition is often considered taboo in entrepreneurial circles, and this is one taboo that needs to hit the highway. Always be certain the facts and information are there to support your choice, despite what your “gut” says.
Networking
Staying single is definitely the norm when it comes to small businesses. Networking and even partnering is often considered getting into bed with the enemy. However, the newer trend is for small businesses to stick together and support each other. Networking is a phenomenal tactic to encourage success not only in your own business, but for the entire small business community. It is time to break the networking taboo.
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