There's a segment of the population that believes the idea that starting a business is the easiest way to make money because it's yours and you're the owner; in other words, you're your own boss and don't have to put up with others telling you what to do, you can make your own decisions and do whatever you want. In part, this is true, but if the decisions aren't the right ones, your project could end sooner than it started, and you'll have to bear all the responsibilities.
In times of unemployment, many enter the business world not by choice or vocation, but because they see it as the only way forward. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report, a result of the partnership between the Brazilian Institute of Quality and Productivity and Sebrae, shows that 88.4% of early-stage entrepreneurs stated that they started a business to earn a living because jobs are scarce.
When someone chooses this path, it's important to know that managing their own business is not the same as being an employee under a CLT (Brazilian labor law) contract; in fact, it's quite different. In the latter case, the employee is usually required to do things and has a guaranteed income at the end of the month, while someone who starts their own business has to "go hunting the lion," they can't just sit idly by waiting for someone to buy their product or hire their services.
In this sense, a tool that helps in business management is OKRs – Objectives and Key Results – because they encourage constant alignment, generate focus and clarity, and greater employee engagement. All of these are crucial factors in increasing the likelihood of achieving extraordinary results, regardless of the company's size or sector, and also for those who venture into their own business out of necessity.
And what should you consider when entering this world? Following what OKRs dictate, comes the objective. Evaluate priorities, define objectives, and plan in detail the actions necessary to achieve them without losing focus. Keep in mind the purpose you wish to achieve. Adjustments are always necessary, and OKRs not only allow them to be made but also understand that they should occur periodically, such as every three months.
Finally, and no less importantly, maintain the engagement of the employees you hire to be part of your team, even if this is done remotely, as is frequently the case today, given hybrid work and home office models. It is essential that everyone is aligned with the company's strategy and knows exactly what they need to do to contribute to the business results.
Nowadays, OKR management is increasingly a sound option in business management, whether due to the natural speed at which things change or the technologies that constantly open up new possibilities in all segments, which imposes constant adjustments to strategic plans. The fact is that starting a business may be easy, but the real challenge is keeping it alive, healthy, and functioning well.
What should we know when starting a business?
