Article Contributor: Sarah Cook.
4 Essential Tips for Being a Successful Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart. If you’re not willing to get your hands dirty and plow through failure, then you’re in the wrong field.
In a nutshell, entrepreneurship is the willingness to dream up a business and — with endless grit and tenacity — see that dream become a profitable reality. And while there’s no fool-proof path to achieving your entrepreneurial dreams, there are a few key tips that can help you get there. After hearing a handful of success stories and doing some research, here are our 4 essential tips for launching your business dream and seeing it thrive.
TIP #1: HAVE AN OPEN MINDSET.
All entrepreneurs have one common trait. They have a ceaseless fire burning within them. Learning how to harness that energy and focus it is key to being a successful entrepreneur. When you have a setback — and you will — learn to keep that fire burning. Channel your thoughts in a positive, open direction that can fuel your dreams.
Marketing madman Gary Vaynerchuck once wisely said, “There is no such thing as perfect. Chasing ‘Perfect’ is the shortest road to not achieving it.”
So, when the cards are stacked against you, learn to harness that initial fire and stay positive. Stay open.
TIP #2: BE THE LEADER AND NOT THE BOSS.
You may be the one with the vision, but the people on your team are the ones who are going to help you see that vision to fruition. Don’t take that lightly.
As a leader, you must be the mentor and the person your team looks to for direction. Almost every successful entrepreneur has a solid team behind them that shares their passion. Work to create an environment where collaboration and teamwork is championed.
Business tycoon Andrew Carnegie famously said, “No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.”
The message here is salient. Lead your team. Nurture your team. Celebrate your team.
TIP #3: MAXIMIZE YOUR RESOURCES. GET THE BEST OUT OF EVERYONE.
Once you’ve assembled a top-notch team to fuel your dream, the next step is creating an environment where productivity and creativity can freely flow. Tap into each team members’ strengths and maximize them to their fullest potential.
“There is no such thing as a self-made man,” George Shinn once said. “You will reach your goals only with the help of others.”
A business venture is better served by people who work out of passion as opposed to those who work for a paycheck. When passion and skill combine, expect a masterpiece. Let your employees see this drive in you, as they will always be watching and emulating your every move (and mood).
TIP #4: BE FLEXIBLE.
Most people expect “success” to look like a straight line going up. In reality, it looks more like a zig-zag line with dips and spikes. The market is every-changing, and it’s possible to wake up tomorrow and find your fool-proof business plan completely awry — and that’s ok. Absorb your failures with a flexible spirit that is willing to adapt. Stay on top of trends and know that success can take many different forms — and it can happen when you least expect it.
Paul Kagame once said, “Let no one think that flexibility and a predisposition to compromise is a sign of weakness or a sell-out.”
Stay diligent. Stay flexible.
Success in entrepreneurship can’t be found overnight. It takes time and consistency. What matters most is your attitude and how you deal with business matters day in and day out.