by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor

1. Start with a manageable bite.

I had the idea to launch a program across the Americas. And although we are now launching chapters across the US and Canada, I’m glad I decided to limit our first 18 months to chapters in my home state of North Carolina.

2. Document everything.

I reinvented the wheel early on, but after the first few months, I got wise to the fact that everything I was doing would be replicated tens (and then hundreds) of times. Document everything.

3. Don’t wait until it’s perfect.

Prototype. Launch. Revise. Re-launch. We’ve launched eleven chapters in the past two years and every one of them benefited from the ones before it. If we had waited to launch until everything was perfect, we’d still be waiting.

4. Hire people who are better than you are.

This has long been one of my mantras and its wisdom has proven itself again in the launch of The Woman’s Advantage® Forum. Don’t spend time on things you’re not good at or don’t like to do. Hire or outsource to cover those bases and focus on areas where you’re great. If you’re really lucky, you’ll find people like Gaynor Fries, Lori Dvorak and Myra Ray to join your team.

5. Use Your Clients as Advisors.

I find that people feel honored when asked for their advice and will give it to you readily. Who better to help you fine-tune your new offering than those who will be paying for and using it?