10 Steps to Success

Success is not an end unto itself, but is instead an ongoing process.

Though some people find it easy to turn everything to gold, most of us have to give our endeavors lots of time and effort before seeing things come to fruition. The simple truth is that the majorities of us are simply not born leaders, but become leaders by who we are and the actions we take. Consequently, whether or not you’re an established entrepreneur or just starting out on your journey, there are particular traits you’ll usually find operating within the exceptional entrepreneur. In fact there are 7 particular traits you’ll generally discover deeply embedded within the exceptional and successful businessperson.

If you’ve already taken the plunge as an entrepreneur, you know that it takes a great deal of planning, development and strategic marketing to succeed. At any given time, there are changes to be considered and new directions to examine. Your journey to success is probably full of trials and tribulations.

To support you in your journey to success, be willing to open your mind and sense of reasoning as you consider whether these traits are part of your driving force. If they are not yet ingrained within you, I recommend that you give them some thought.

THE 10 TRAITS TO SUCCESS

1. Successful Entrepreneurs Gain the Respect of their Peers:

The successful entrepreneur recognizes that no one is above or below them. With an attitude of respect for others, the successful entrepreneur gains the respect from everyone they encounter unless the other simply does not have their own entrepreneur skills. Strategies, attitudes and methods filter down to each person and reflect on all actions and activities. A successful entrepreneur gives everyone space to be great. No matter how effective or beneficial your expertise, becoming a successful entrepreneur requires building up of your character muscles, traits and habits, which correspondingly make your dreams a reality.

Successful Entrepreneurs Believe and Trust in Themselves and have no Fear.

The savvy entrepreneur is good at trusting his or her own ideas and instincts. Starting out as an entrepreneur requires persistence, determination and a high level of self-discipline. Continuing as a successful entrepreneur requires even more persistence, determination and self-discipline. The wise and successful entrepreneur knows this and works hard at developing their level of confidence. If you have a strong code of ethics and believe in yourself, then your ideas can work. Having the desire and passion are the first steps on your journey; getting there requires believing in yourself.

Fear is an enemy of success. Fear Nothing!

Successful Entrepreneurs Follow a Plan

The successful entrepreneur follows a plan. Haphazard or trial and error, or have no place for the triumphant entrepreneur, for no one gets to his or her destination without a map or a guide to follow. That doesn’t mean you won’t go off course if another road seems better, but it’s still more effective to have a plan in place. Most successful entrepreneurs start out by writing a basic business plan that acts as the impetus and guide for their endeavors. It doesn’t have to be fancy or lengthy but it should include marketing strategies, goals, intentions, ideas and why you can do better than your competition. A business plan should be reviewed and updated periodically for each new idea stirs and inspires other ideas.

Successful Entrepreneurs Never Gossip

If you gossip, you are saying to the world, “I de-value myself!” Yes, this is what you are saying because when you say negative things about others, you are only building yourself up. Professionals only have nice things to say about other people.

Successful Entrepreneurs Think Creatively

Successful entrepreneurs are not afraid of thinking creatively. Whether a business idea has already been tried makes no difference to the exceptional entrepreneur. He or she sees better ways of doing things and knows that every idea can be expanded upon, made better, enhanced or broadened. The successful entrepreneur is willing to think outside or the proverbial box, which means using imagination, trying new things and expanding on a vision. The savvy entrepreneur pays careful attention as to whether a particular strategy is working. If after giving it his or her best shot the entrepreneur realizes the particular strategy isn’t working, they know there’s no point in continuing to invest energy, time and effort in the strategy. They move on to another approach and idea.

 Successful Entrepreneurs Explore Their Exceptional Skills

Successful entrepreneurs realize that we each have our strengths and weaknesses as well as a multitude of skills and talents. Successful people ask themselves often what skills they have that no one shares in quite the same way. An exceptional and successful entrepreneur explores their particular skills until they find the ones that match most closely with their ideal. They don’t try to be and do everything. If the successful entrepreneur needs help, they’re willing to find someone who can do it better, and allows in the support. The successful entrepreneur stays open to change for they recognize that as they move forward, doors open in unexpected places that carry them to their next level of success.

 Successful Entrepreneurs Never Blame

People who blame simply do not take responsibility for their actions. Blaming is something that should be outlawed! The tendency for groups/individuals to blame others for their difficulties is so widespread that at times it seems almost universal. As individuals, we tend to want to blame others for our personal problems and as members of groups, we excel in this accusatory trait. It is one of the major neurotic (i.e., skewed) reasons why we join groups.

They often provide refuge for us with like-minded people who will agree with us that our problems are out there instead of within. If there any perceived truth in our blame of a particular target, then we are often quick to place all the blame on that target. This excuses us from looking at ourselves. It’s just easier. Successful Entrepreneurs will need to know how important this inner quality is of never blaming another for something that perhaps they could or should have been doing. With Verbal Bashing, there is a sense of being on the side of justice, and the process of bashing seems to make one feel better (temporarily at least). Unfortunately, this process is no better than making oneself feel better by smoking, by drinking, or by another addictive behavior. Why? Because, bashing just releases steam--- without facing one's real issues beneath the anger.

 Successful Entrepreneurs Envision Their Success

The successful entrepreneur gives time to envisioning how they want their business to look and how they want it to be. Intention is a powerful and dynamic tool. For those who are not inclined towards intention and visualization, talk to a successful athlete and you’ll discover that before each sporting event, the successful athlete envisions exactly how he or she wants things to turn out. Imagine what it will feel like when you’ve reached a particular set of goals. Get in touch with the feelings you would have as a successful entrepreneur. Practice and conceive of the sense of empowerment and the joy of having succeeded. The successful entrepreneur knows they have the power to live life the way they want, but to make it a reality; they know it has to be seen first.

Successful Entrepreneurs Never Give Up

Giving up is never in the vocabulary of the successful entrepreneur. Of course, there may be days when a successful entrepreneur feels discouraged or disappointed, but giving up is not an option. Having faith, trust, confidence and determination are the qualities needed for the successful entrepreneur. To keep their focus on track, they seek out the support of those that know them, encourage them and bring out their natural enthusiasm. The smart and successful entrepreneur realizes that there will be good days and not so good days. Being a successful entrepreneur requires accepting the ebbs and flows of business for it is in fact what separates the exceptional and successful entrepreneur from the one who gives up far too soon.

Successful Entrepreneurs Look for the Good in Everyone

If you are an entrepreneur, you do not want to ever build a bridge with any person, whether this be in your personal or professional life.  This is a small world and it feels good to say and think good things about others. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. Everyone has good; look for it.

Dr. Joyce Knudsen www. drjoyceknudsen.com [email protected]