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Mankato | Amboy | Eagle Lake | Vernon Center | cbfg.net 10 • FEBRUARY 2020 • MN Valley Business
lose focus on the core.” Stading said they also highlight the importance of finding good employees, training them well and allowing them to grow.
Been there, done that
On his way to creating his successful business, Bednar did many things rights, some things wrong and knows what entrepreneurs face when starting a business or, as in his case, taking over an existing business. Bednar said the biggest thing he did right – although he wished he’d had done sooner - was seeking out someone in the industry who was successful and willing to serve as an advisor. For Bednar that was the owner of an auto shop in the Twin Cities who was regarded as one of the best in the industry. “I called him a couple of years after I started the business. I wish I’d of done that from day one,” he said. “It’s someone you can say, ‘I’m planning to do this’ and they can say ‘no don’t go down that road.’ ” Bednar also believes entrepreneurs should spend the money to join a good industry trade group or best practices group within their industry. “I found one a couple of years after I started and it was expensive to join and I didn’t have much money yet. But I learned some terrific practices and procedures that work and made my business much better right away.” But Bednar warned people need to do their homework to find respected trade groups. “There are charlatan ones so you have to be careful.” In his case, the group he joined had he and 20 others visit shops around the country, learning everything about their practices and finances. They came to Bednar’s shop, spending four days auditing his business. “You have to bare your soul and hide nothing.” Bednar said He said the hardest challenge facing most startups is to find successful marketing. “There’s such a gamut of things you can do and how do you know what is going to work and what will get traction? I spent a lot of