Startup companies are usually drawn out with only a basic idea. When that idea blossoms and plans begin to slowly roll into place, exponential growth and revenue start playing a role. Customers flock by the thousands and leads become somewhat of a bore. You’ve finally made it.
This may all seem like a dream and with the best of the best out there competing against you; the odds don’t work in your favor. But every startup company has to begin somewhere. You need your first customer and that first paycheck. You need the “free” investments where you essentially give away your product for case studies. You need to experience all of these things to be able to make a splash as an entrepreneur.
Javier Loya CEO of OTC Global Holdings says: “Consider working for free as an investment. If you are barely starting as a company, you need to spread word about what your company is about and why you’re qualified to do what you claim you do. Skepticism often occurs when people think about services offered mainly because they don’t really know what to expect. This is where you shine.”
One small “yes” can create the exposure that your company needs to be able to attract the public. While it may be tempting to increase your prices tenfold after getting your first customers, you have to remember that you are still swimming in the shallow end of the pool. “Hard work does pay off, and committing yourself to the nuances of free work in the beginning of your career could potentially be the best decision that you ever made,’ adds Javier Loya of OTC Global Holdings.
