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How to Make a Transition from Store Manager to Entrepreneur

Guest post by: Robert Strong

Article Overview: Just like you were as a store manager an entrepreneur must possess a handful of skills. A few of the skills needed would be to have the knowledge on how to maximize profits, increase sales, and how to deliver exceptional support to your team. All of this while providing exceptional customer service.

How to Make a Transition from Store Manager to Entrepreneur

Just like you were as a store manager an entrepreneur must possess a handful of skills. A few of the skills needed would be to have the knowledge on how to maximize profits, increase sales, and how to deliver exceptional support to your team. All of this while providing exceptional customer service. When you make the transition to an entrepreneur from a store manager job the mindset could be your biggest challenge.

Degree Needed or Not?

While a degree really never hurt anyone, many store managers have obtained a business administration degree. While many store managers have found this degree has allowed them to obtain better pay and perks, not all have been so lucky. What I have found though in talking to many entrepreneurs is that many things that they did learn in college or high school have little bearing. Let me explain before I offend anyone; many of the things taught in college need to be relearned once you become an entrepreneur, the mindset is very different. Much of the mindset that is developed in high school and college is on working for the man, working 20+ years to retire, receiving a gold plated watch and then pinching pennies and cutting coupons until you end up in a retirement home.

What Kind of Experience Needed?

What is great about the retail store manager role is that you gain years of experience to become an actual store manager, normally within 10 years. All of the experiences you encounter as a store manager definitely will help you become successful as an entrepreneur. You obtain experiences dealing with customers, other businesses (competitors), employees, and profit and loss statements. Much like the mindset of a store manager, entrepreneurs are not ones to give up easily and always looking for ways to become more profitable with less effort.

Starting From Ground Zero. For real?

I have much concern for people that I talk to that feel that they have an "entitlement" mentality. In any endeavor you are starting I can only recommend you spend time in the trenches. While you may have the desire and the mentality to become an entrepreneur, if you don't have complete knowledge of your business roots then you will struggle. I would recommend if you are thinking of becoming an entrepreneur, start from ground zero in some field and build on that. If you have been a retail store manager it would be very easy for you to make the transition into an entrepreneur. It would be very easy for you to slide into some type of an educational or marketing role because you have been very accustomed to this environment.

A Couple Things to Consider

If you are considering becoming an entrepreneur on the internet, I would strongly recommend brushing up on your internet and computer skills. While this is not a necessity it could only be helpful. If you find it cumbersome or intimidating to start an online business, it really isn't. I was a store manager at one time and I made the transition and I love it, I am using all my previous experiences from building teams, thinking outside the box and the ability to build relationships.

Is There Help?

No matter what you decide to do in life there are always people willing to help you whether it be a mentor or someone to give you ideas on the side. If you are able to obtain a mentor I would definitely emulate them especially if they have been prosperous in the field you are going into. Your mentor has already obtained and maintained the status you are working towards, so why not save yourself the mistakes they learned from already. There are also many resources out there available that will help put you in the right mindset. A few books that I have read that may help you are:

• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• The Travelers Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success by Andy Andrews
• Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Keep and Maintain a Positive Attitude

Just like every experience you have had in your life a positive attitude is something you will need as an entrepreneur. Remember how many times as a store manager you were asked to do things that were not so fun, you always had to keep a positive attitude. As an entrepreneur you may have people that look up to your and rely on you for a positive attitude and guidance. As you provide positive vibes down through your team you not only keep your results moving forward but theirs also.

So in closing I would like to tell you that as a store manager, you do obtain the attributes to become a successful entrepreneur!

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Article Tags: attitude, degree, entrepreneur, help, manager, mindset, positive, store
Referred by: http://www.MeetKarenNewman.com



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