10 things that will make you a better entrepreneur

10 Things That Will Help You Become a Better Entrepreneur

We all want to become more engaged, more productive, and more successful in our endeavors, but what are the ingredients that will propel us to the results we want to achieve?  Follow these tips to achieve your dreams in whatever endeavor you choose.

1. Find your passion  –  Find something that you really love to do, and make it your mission as well as your business.  

Ideally, it should be something that you have found a talent for, but it may be something that because of your drive, will allow you to develop that talent.  If you love what you do, you will not give up on it, even when others might get stressed-out or tired of it. You will always have fuel in your tank for something that inspires you. This has also been called finding your "why". 

2. Get gritty and persevere

There will always be obstacles and difficulties in your way.  If it were easy, then everyone would be doing it, right?  Determine that you will not give up and have the guts to work through problems until you find the solution.  You will be among the top 5% and completely separate yourself from the pack in your field if you have this kind of persistence

3. Think and pray deeply about major decisions and trust yourself to make the right choices.

Pray first before you make any important decision.  Even if you don't consider yourself to be a religious person prayer can mean the difference between success and failure. Trust me on this.  Whether or not you believe in God, you have literally hundreds and even thousands of ancestors in the spiritual world that are aware of your life on earth, because your life is connected to theirs. They are concerned about your happiness and your success.  Most of all they want you to become a good and righteous person, but that doesn't mean they are unconcerned about your financial well-being.  They care about everything in your life.

Like most people living on earth, you may never have thought of this before, but it is a spiritual reality and a fact of our existence here on earth and the afterlife.  In Japan, at baseball games, the spectators bring pictures of their ancestors to assist in their prayers for their favorite team to win. It seems a little "nuts" to us in the West, and indeed it may be an example of something trivial, but your ancestors have been watching you since your birth.  They have seen your actions and they understand your way of thinking.  They know you almost as well as you know yourself.  They are uniquely qualified to give you advice if you pray to God and ask for help from them, as well as from God.  This may be the most important piece of advice I have to give in this post.

4. Overcome the fear of failure.

This can stop entrepreneurs dead in their tracks.  Calculate risk carefully, but don't be afraid of taking risks. Sometimes the greatest reward comes from taking big risks.  Just don't take foolish risks.  Consult with friends, but don't be discouraged if they do not support you.  If they are not successful entrepreneurs themselves they probably will not see the world the way you do.

5. Set concrete goals and work hard to achieve them.

I think most entrepreneurs do not set goals, and just try to deal with the day-to-day. Of course, it is important to adjust goals from time to time, but without short-term and long term goal, you are kind of adrift to whatever circumstance deals you.  It is much better to set concrete achievable goals.

6. Invest substantial time and effort

Don't dream about a lifestyle of working 4 hours and sitting on a beach somewhere sipping Margheritas.  This is a myth. No one who is really successful really lives like that.  Living like that will make you lazy and self-satisfied.  It is just a ploy to trick you into thinking that a product will make you easy money. Any successful entrepreneur has put in the time and the hard work it takes be successful.

7. Listen to your customers.

It is important to ask your customers if they are satisfied with your product or service. It is important to get a good read of how you are doing in meeting their needs.  They may even suggest modifications or additional products or services that you might offer.

8. Promote – Learn the most cost-effective and efficient time-saving methods of promotion.

Don't get stuck in any outmoded promotion method that is not effective.  This is a continuous path of learning and adjusting.  What works well today, will probably not work a few years from now. Always be open to learning new methods and techniques from more experienced and more successful entrepreneurs.
 

9. Ask for advice and Network

You can network with anyone, anytime, under any circumstance. Don't get stuck in isolation in your life where you never reach out to anyone you don't know.  Ask other successful entrepreneurs what they have found to be the keys to their success.  You can learn incredibly valuable information in this way.

10. Pay it forward by helping others to achieve.

This is very important.  Remember the Indian folktale that speaks about the restaurant in the village which was the only place where people were allowed to eat.  There was no menu there.  You just sat down and were served whatever food you deserved.  Good people were served good food, but bad people could only eat bad food., and there was nowhere else to eat.

Not only will you be helping others, but you will actually learn to identify attitudes and actions in others that are counter-productive to success.  By teaching, you also reinforce what you have learned.

 

Best success in all of your endeavors.

John Lombaerde

https://markethive.com/jonlomb/page/ standard

David

What does it take to be an entrepreneur?

What does it really take to be an Entrepreneur?

I think that most people do not fit into the category of Entrepreneur because of their mindset.  A typical person with a typical job is not looking for anything different from what they currently have, so they certainly do not fit into the category of entrepreneur.

If you think along most or even any of the following lines, you may have what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

1) I am looking for something more than what I am doing every day.

2) I am looking for something different than I am currently doing.

3) I would like a new challenge that is more than what I am currently doing.

4) I would like more control over my work life than I currently have.

5) I don't mind working harder than I am currently working, but I would like more freedom to work according to my own schedule.

6) I would like to become more of an owner than I currently am.

7) I would like to profit directly from my efforts instead of sharing my efforts with others in a higher position than myself.

8) I am kind of tired of being just an employee.

9) I don't really see many opportunities for growth in my current job.

10) I want to build something that I could sell for a profit or pass on to a family member when I retire.

If any of these types of thoughts have passed through your mind, you may be someone who would like to become an entrepreneur.

 

Do I have the skills to become an entrepreneur?  If you think you have or are capable of developing these kinds of skills you may have what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur.  Don't worry if you think you may not have all these skills right now.  Some of them are acquired skills that entrepreneurs discover along the way.

1.  Ability to solve problems by using critical thinking.

2. I can lead when necessary and delegate when it is appropriate to do so.

3. I can think creatively when necessary.

4. I have the ability to manage people or groups of people.

5. I can coordinate with people within as well as outside my company.

6.  I can manage my own emotions and help others to control theirs when necessary.

7. I can exercise good judgment and make good decisions on both a short term and long term basis.

8. I realize that in order to succeed, I will have to put the needs of customers first, and set up mechanisms within my company to make sure that this culture is instilled in all employees.

9. I am able to negotiate.  This means I have to be willing to compromise when necessary.

10.  In dealing with critical issues, I will be able to show flexibility and show empathy within and without my company, rather than insist on my way or the highway every time.

If you can see yourself in the top or bottom ten points listed here, then entrepreneurship may be for you.

Best of success in all your endeavors.

 

John Lombaerde

 https://markethive.com/jonlomb/page/standard

 

 

David