How to Scale Your Startup or Small Business for Uber Success with iCracked CEO & Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur AJ Forsythe
Summary: We live in a world of technology, and start-ups are so prominent. There are many different challenges, and things can scale very fast. Start-ups are very serious business. Here’s how you can learn from one of the tech industry’s brightest ventures and scale your business quickly, effectively and for longevity.<br> Most of us have the notion that start-ups are wildly successful and make people millionaires. However, AJ says that is nothing farther from the truth. Instead, if you plan to create or participate in a start-up business, you will be working long hours, not making much money, and be stressed out.<br> It is a wild ride with a tough learning curve. Yet, AJ finds it fulfilling. People involved with start-ups need to take risks, be prepared to absorb as much information as possible, be a part of everything, and have a willingness to learn. Go with your eyes wide open!<br> AJ never envisioned the fast growth of his company. It took a lot of hard work and dedication. Also, there was a lot of fear of the unknown, in trepidation, and concern. What lies ahead? Are we making the right decision?<br> But you can’t slow down and take time off if you want grow your business fast and be successful!<br> About AJ:<br> In 2010, AJ founded iCracked in his college dorm room out of necessity. He kept breaking and cracking his cell phones, so he would take them apart and fix them.<br> iCracked offers on-demand repair and trade-in network services for iOS devices. Now, his company features more than 1,885 certified iTechs across the United States (and 11 other countries).<br> Challenged Issue:<br> We challenged the issue of how to grow a young business extremely fast and more importantly, how to do it properly.<br> AJ’s Actionable Tips: How to grow your business fast!<br> <br> * Hiring Employees: Is this the best person in the world for this job right now? Wait for the right person! And remove existing employees who are not right for the company.<br> * Capital: Every company goes out of the business the same way. Scale each department according to revenue.<br> * International/New Markets: What may work in one market wildly fails in another market. Make sure to change your business plan as needed.<br> <br> Top Quotes:<br> <br> * “I think one of the important things of being a founder is really putting yourself in the shoes (of your customers).”<br> * “We’re servicing hundreds of thousands of customers a year, which was not even in our wildest dreams three years ago.”<br> * “We’re kind of going down that dark, winding path of starting a company where we know 90 percent of the start-ups that we’re involved with will probably not be around in five years.”<br> * “You are probably going to work harder than you ever have in your life.”<br> * “You have incredibly high highs, but even lower lows where you start doubting yourself.”<br> * “If you’re going to take money from people, make sure you research and know exactly who they are and what their expectations are.”<br> * “Fail fast, move fast, and make sure your company doesn’t die while iterating and trying new things.”<br> * “It’s just been a wild ride. I don’t think I’ve slept very much over the last three years.”<br> * “You have to diversify quickly and you have to stop doing things that aren’t making sense very, very quickly.”<br> <br> Guest Links:<br> <br> * iCracked (<a href="http://www.icracked.com">icracked.com</a>)<br> <br> Resources:<br> <br> * WhatsApp (<a href="http://www.whatsapp.com/">http://www.whatsapp.com/</a>)<br> * Uber (<a href="https://www.uber.com/">https://www.uber.com/</a>)<br> * Instagram (<a href="http://www.instagram.com">instagram.com</a>)<br> * Facebook (<a href="http://www.facebook.com">facebook.com</a>)<br> * Y Combinator (<a href="http://www.ycombinator.com/">http://www.ycombinator.com/</a>)<br> * iTunes (<a href="http://www.itunes.com">itunes.com</a>) <br> <br>
