Start-up Business Advice from ‘Knocked-Up’

I know. What does ‘Knocked-Up’ have to do with business, right?

The most important thing I learned from this movie: If you don’t plan and launch your business fast, someone with a similar idea will.

That wasn’t the point of the movie. I understand that.

I actually learned many things from that movie, such as:

• If you’re going to sleep with random strangers, always be in charge of contraceptive devices.
• Don’t tell your spouse you’re working when you’re really playing on a fantasy baseball league.
• Small children should NOT use Google unattended.

My Point:

As a small business owner, I was struck by the familiarity of the subplot. One of the main characters, Ben, who is broke and expecting a new baby, plans to launch an online business with his friends (Flesh of the Stars). They are destined for failure because Ben and his business partners didn’t spend any time researching their niche or keeping track of possible competitors. While they were busy, doing nothing, another website with the exact same idea launched earlier, tested and became extremely popular before they could even determine a clear launch date.

And to top it off, Ben didn’t have a back-up plan. Essentially their business idea grew old while they spent too much time gathering information and content to fill their site, and they didn’t plan beyond these stages.

I know it’s a comedy, and their cluelessness was absolutely perfect, but just think of how many times this happens to real Small Business owners. Many of Ben’s business problems did arise from lack of focus, laziness and other hilariously exaggerated factors, but the point is, if you doubt, lose focus, nit-pick and over-think your plan, someone is going to take advantage of your hesitation and become smashingly successful.

Start with a business plan. Research your niche, customers and competition, and always be prepared to launch as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more successful someone else will become.

So, don’t wait until your site or business idea is perfect. It never will be.  Just launch, test, adapt, test again, and adapt.

That’s all we can do.

Just launch.

Pamela Weir is a Marketing Copywriter. If you are looking for a sales writer with experience creating website content, press releases, business plans, and marketing strategies, please visit her Copywriting Services page for more information.