7 types of people you should avoid when starting your business

Do you know that starting a business is one of the most challenging tasks, if not the most challenging, that any individual can undertake? Why is this the case, you may ask?

First of all, consider that it is about venturing into a world of uncertainty. Now you may have done your feasibility studies, gained the necessary training and experience to run a business, and gathered all the resources to get ahead; but remember that the business world offers no guarantees.

There are no guarantees that there will not be changes in fiscal and monetary policy that will effectively shut down your business operations.

There are no guarantees that your target market will be able to acquire new tastes and needs, thus making your product/service redundant.

There is no guarantee that a competitor will not emerge in the future and reduce your market share and therefore reduce your profits.

In fact, starting a business means that you will need to be entrepreneurial and have a lot of determination and optimism to be successful. Therefore, it becomes imperative that you surround yourself with people who have the same attitude and hunger as you.

Similarly, it is equally important that you avoid certain categories of people when you start your business journey.

These categories of people have the ability to derail your business acumen; they can also affect your views on life in general. These categories of people to avoid include the following:

1. Avoid people who seem to know everything

Companies thrive and flourish when their owners are constantly on the lookout for more knowledge; best ways to offer a product or service to your customers. It’s what has kept companies like Apple and Facebook relevant; posting impressive profits because they continue to research, innovate and seek knowledge. It cannot be performed below this standard.

Therefore, it is important that you get rid of people who feel that they have all the knowledge and do not see the need to improve.

You should avoid these people simply because your business requires you to constantly be on the lookout for new and better ways to solve your customers’ needs and wants.

2. Avoid people who nag and complain a lot

Starting a business will require you to possess a lot of determination and focus. Why is this the case? It is simply because there will be times when you will face challenges and setbacks that will question the very foundation of why you started the business in the first place. It is during those periods that you should be thankful for the small victories you have achieved up to that point.

If you surround yourself with people who are never grateful for what they have achieved, however small, but rather throw tantrums and complain about how things can be better, you may end up assuming that disposition for your business and your life in general.

3. Avoid people who massage your ego

You’ve started your entrepreneurial journey, and the time has come to recruit staff and advisors to help you drive your business forward.

It is pertinent to note the person who always sings your praises, always objects to your every whim, and tells you that you can do no wrong. He runs away from people who caress you this way.

What you and your business need are people who are bold enough to push for what they believe is the way forward in your business, even if their opinion disagrees with yours.

4. Avoid overly pessimistic people

There are certain people who will always imagine the worst possible outcome for any plan or project. If those people had their way, they wouldn’t even get out of bed in the morning.

If you surround yourself with these kinds of people, you run the risk of viewing every potential business move or project through the lens of failure or worse.

You need to realize that starting a business in itself is a risk, but a calculated one when you can plan and prepare properly.

5. Avoid people who always want to get all the credit.

When starting a business, you will deploy human and non-human resources to meet the demands/needs of your target market.

This will mean that you will lead and be part of a team that will implement your business goals.

It is important that you avoid recruiting people who are self-centered and do not work as a team.

They usually want to be in the spotlight and receive praise for accomplishments, whether it’s directly from their efforts or not.

These people have the potential to disrupt team synergy and cohesion and could create an unproductive atmosphere in the business.

6. Avoid people who try to take shortcuts

It will do you and your business a world of good if you avoid people who are in a hurry to make money or close a deal. This is not to be confused with employees going the extra mile to make sales and gain new markets. People who cut corners, on the other hand, will try even illegal ways and means to do something.

Your actions have the potential to not only corrupt other members of your business team, but could also get your operations in trouble with the laws of the land.

7. Avoid people who sow discord

There are people who get excited by fanning the embers of gossip and rumors in places of business, while at the same time tarnishing the reputations of others, in order to further their own causes.

You’ll do well to prevent people looking to get ahead in your organization from resorting to creating conflict and confrontation to unfairly blame others.

This list is by no means exhaustive. The success of his business rests squarely on his shoulders. You should strive to populate yourself with the right people, with the right attitude, to ensure your business runs smoothly.