15 key questions to ask before you start a new brand
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish?’ - Luke 14:28
Mapping out the development of your brand is an exciting season to be in. The thirst and desire inside you to succeed is bubbling, almost to overflowing.
However mapping out your desire is not so much about the longing and craving for your brand to come into its full potential. It’s more than that.
It's not about you want, it’s about working out what it will take to get you want.
It’s about counting the cost.
The questions to ask yourself before you set out are:
1. What character do you need within you to go the distance?
2. How badly do you want the success you dream of?
3. How hard are you willing to work for it?
4. What sacrifices are you willing to make?
5. What will you need to get you there?
6. What resources will you need to sustain the journey and destination?
7. What does the end look like? This is an especially powerful and crucial question to ask yourself. When you have the blueprint, the map (complete with destination) and the plan fully laid out, it becomes easier to focus, harder to distract you and difficult to shake loose your energy, hope and drive. Just like any journey, map out your destination before you begin.
Mapping out your desire also means looking realistically at how long it might take to achieve your dream … and perhaps even doubling that time.
You need to also ask:
8. Do I need to reign in my spending and tighten the wallet, costs and budgets?
9. Who are the right people to invest into to help build your brand? Invest in the right people could be priceless – from the right accountants, lawyers, business coaches, creative designers and staff.
10. Will I need up skilling with the right tools to go all the way? i.e. May I need to retrain, pursue a degree, sign up to a seminar, workshop, etc?
11. Will I look for all possible information about my industry, product and offering, and be flexible enough to rethink my business plan and model?
12. Will I need to rework my conviction and commitment to go all the way?
Mapping your desire also involves research and interrogation of your concept. You need to conduct due diligence to establish your brand concept’s feasibility and sustainability:
13. Can you deliver on brand consistency, quality, quantity, price and profitability?
14. What are the standards you need to establish in order to supply your brand / offering in the required quality and quantity so that you strive to meet them? Taking into consideration the market’s demand ebbs, flows, seasons and exceptional cycles etc? This analysis will enable you to map out your offering with regards to the market’s needs.
15. Regardless of whether you’re an entertainer or entrepreneur, can you commit to delivering ongoing and sustainable profitability in the long run?
Add it all up, and you’ll start to get a sense of what the long haul looks like, and the tools, support, motivation and resources you’ll need to take you all the way.
Pssst. You're already part way there with The Artful Brand. Keep going! The best is yet to come!
_________________________