When it comes to business, there are certain rules or concepts that are tried and true.

However, as entrepreneurs, we need to be careful of taking things too literally.

Sometimes, we have to read in between the lines – maybe even break the rules a little.

After all, bending and breaking rules is what business owners do best 😉

Here are 3 business rules that should be bent from time to time…

1.   If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

I get it. You’re a planner.

And you should be — especially when it comes to business.

The most successful businesses start with a plan. Goals that are written down and scheduled in a calendar are goals that get met.

But what happens when you can’t STOP planning?

What if you over-plan and overthink?

Every. Single. Step.

You see, a plan without action is just procrastination.

Don’t be afraid to get started. Take that first step even if you aren’t sure what step 10 or step 5 or even step 3 is quite just yet.

Because chances are, things aren’t going to work out exactly as you envisioned and you’ll have to rethink your steps in any case.

Things will go wrong, or take longer than you expected, or not yield the results you wanted.

Or, maybe a global pandemic will hit the planet and change the way we all do business (I mean, who saw that one coming, right?).

Get started, don’t be afraid of failing, don’t worry if things aren’t perfect, and use the lessons you learn along the way to propel your business forward.

2.   It takes money to make money.

How many times have you heard the phrase, “it takes money to make money”?

I’m going to guess about a million times.

It’s become such a cliché. And, worse than that, it’s woefully inaccurate. This terrible concept puts fledgling entrepreneurs on the wrong path or stops them in their tracks.

They borrow money. The throw everything they’ve got into production of a product they don’t even know if they can sell. They hire people, rent office space, and invest in equipment they can do without, at least for the time being.

Listen, all you need is a great idea and to identify who your target audience is. Then you have to figure out how to reach that audience.

Don’t be afraid to start small.

We live in a time where it is possible to launch a business with very little financial investment at the start.

With as little as a box of business cards and a website, you can launch your brand. Networking can cost as much as the price of a coffee or lunch.

Instead of throwing money at your new business, put energy into blogging and creating content for social media as a means of marketing – these things are practically free! They just need creativity and work ethic to grow.

Operate online before investing in a storefront or brick and mortar base of operations – guess what, in a post-COVID world, that’s where many businesses are headed anyways.

Remember, you can always go back and redesign your business cards later, or reimagine your website another time – these things will change and adjust as you hone and finesse your business and brand anyway.

3.   Fake it until you make it.

When you’re first starting out as an entrepreneur, the pressure can be unbearable.

Especially when it seems like everyone knows what they are doing, and you feel like you just hatched out of an egg with no experience under your belt.

So, what do you do?

You can take all the business courses in the world and you still won’t have “enough experience”.

That’s because business is learned in the battle field.

Sure, books and coaches are helpful. In fact, I recommend getting a good business mentor.

But sometimes, you still might feel like you’re not enough.

So maybe you’ll be tempted to fake it.

Confidence is everything, after all.

No one is going to want to do business with you if you don’t exude confidence in yourself and your skills, product, and service.

And while there is truth in that, you need to be aware of Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter Syndrome is that nagging little inner voice that tells you that you’re no good and everyone else is better than you. It convinces you that you don’t belong in the same room with all these other business owners who know what they are doing.

The problem with feeling like a phony is that it feeds your deepest insecurities, and when you least expect it, those dark shadows are going to catch up with you.

Then you’ll know what real insecurity feels like.

If you allow Imposter Syndrome to get a grip on you, it can be debilitating. It is next to impossible to run a successful business when you don’t feel worthy.

By all means, be super confident when it comes to your strengths.

But when it comes to your weaknesses and shortcomings – and remember, we ALL have them – be honest with yourself.

It is only when you are honest that you will be able to take stock on where you need to improve. Then, and only then, will you be able to grow, pivot, and do what is necessary to get you and your business to the next level.

You are enough, even if you don’t “know it all”.

The truth is that no one knows everything. Entrepreneurship is an ongoing journey, it’s not a destination whereby you “arrive” and that’s the end of your story. You will always be growing and adapting. That’s part of the fun and experience of being a business owner.

Not everything is clear-cut or black and white in business. Know when to step back and bend (or break) the rules. When someone tells you “if you fail to plan, you fail to plan, understand that taking action is as important as planning. When they say, “it takes money to make money”, remember that it is okay to start small and build from there without breaking the bank. And when they tell you to “fake it till you make it”, recall that you are enough and everyone is learning as they go along.