Startup Basics: How to Master the Fundamentals

If you've ever played sports or done any sort of training, you know how important it is to master the fundamentals. You might have even had a coach or teacher who emphasized the "fun" in "fundamentals" to encourage you to enjoy the preparation and practice needed to succeed.

The same goes for business. But there is so much information these days that it's sometimes hard to focus on the few simple basics you need to make your startup a success.

Some entrepreneurs fall victim to what I call "chasing the new." They're looking for a new angle or magic bullet that will solve all their issues. But in the end, there is no magic bullet. There are just proven principles you need to practice and master to get your business up and growing--and keep it successful.

Here are some of those fundamental principles and ways to master them:

 Know where you want to go with your company--and why you want to get there.
If you know where you're going on an automobile trip and why you want to get there, it's a lot easier to stay motivated and focused on your destination, even if you break down or get a flat.

Similarly, a compelling vision will guide you when times get tough and will help rally your customers to your company. So ask yourself early and often where you want to go with your business--and more important, why?

Once you set the vision for your long entrepreneurial journey, you can establish specific business goals and break them down into plans, actions and tasks. You'll surprise yourself with what you can accomplish by "chunking" down big and seemingly unattainable projects into tasks you can work on every day.