Everybody has dreams of becoming an entrepreneur and working on their own terms. Of course, this takes courage and determination, and crucially, the ability to not let the fear of failure hold you back.
While the journey into entrepreneurship can be burdensome and somewhat demanding, there are several steps you can take and ideas you can implement to help increase your chances of success. Here are six critical tips that some of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs swear by when it comes to achieving their goals.
1) Positive mental attitude
While talent, knowledge and skills specific to your industry are important, it’s worthwhile remembering that many of your competitors will also have them too. What all successful entrepreneurs have in addition to talent, knowledge and skill is positivity. Positive thinking will help you weather the storm during difficult financial periods and is crucial to the longevity of your business.
2) Don’t take shortcuts
Unfortunately, success doesn’t come with an instruction manual. You’ll face obstacles, and business could be slow, but sticking in for the long-haul will ensure that growth will come steadily. Shortcuts are usually taken by those who want to take the safest route. Take the road less travelled and discover the rewards for yourself.
3) Find your niche
In a soft economy, marketplaces can quickly become overcrowded. When starting a business, you have to have that certain je ne sais quoi that helps you to stand out from what’s already available in the market. Your success will almost certainly be defined by your ability to be unique, sustainable and have more to offer than your competitors. For example, did you know that 50% of the waste produced by businesses is composed of paper? If you’ve gone paperless with your billing and use more eco-friendly products, make sure your customers know this.
4) Don’t work hard, work smart
While success is often the result of hard work, so too is failure. All too often, long hours can account for a lot of blood, sweat, toil and tears, and the concept of working the clock round in the 21st century is overrated. Technological advances allow us to accomplish tasks much more efficiently than ever before.
As an entrepreneur, it’s only natural that you want to do everything on your own – but you need to know your limits. To be successful, you don’t have to be miserable. Finding the right work/life balance will instead actually help you to work with a clearer focus. Don’t be afraid to take breaks or unwind from time-to-time – otherwise you’ll risk burning yourself out.
5) Motivate yourself and others
Motivation is incredibly important when it comes to keeping the momentum of your business going – but what happens after the initial spark of excitement fades away? It’s easy to lose motivation when you’re getting bogged down in the minutiae of daily challenges. Staying motivated requires perseverance – and that’s what separates those who make it and those who fail.
6) Network
Making connections that can help you stand out from the competition will stand you in good stead. This doesn’t mean collecting hundreds of business cards or LinkedIn profiles – quality is more important than quantity when it comes to networking. Yet one in four people don’t network, which is a huge wasted opportunity. Ideas are often quick to get off the ground through networking, so don’t be afraid to work alongside people when you can both mutually benefit.
Ultimately, all entrepreneurs must face significant hurdles. With the highs, there will also be lows – but by following these tips, you should be able to summon up the inner strength to persevere and show the world you’ve got what it takes.
