Everyone who starts their own business enterprise begins with the same passion for success as the next person. However, running your business is a different kettle of fish to getting it off the ground and the daily minutiae can distract you from your original aim.
While you might not be interested in global domination, you’re certainly going to want to be successful enough that yours is the brand that people think of when they want a particular product or service and, ultimately, you want to make a profit. So, what is it that successful entrepreneurs have, that unsuccessful ones don’t? Let’s take a look.
1 ) A Positive Attitude.
It might sound a bit nebulous, but there is some science to back up the idea that looking on the brighter side of life can help you go places. An investigation into the phenomenon of luck by Dr Richard Wiseman found that those who are more optimistic tend to spot and discover opportunities more than those who are pessimistic. The reason seems to be that pessimists will focus on one thing, while the perception of an optimist is wider and they will identify advantageous opportunities more quickly. Believe in yourself and believe in your business; it really can help!
2) Love what you do.
There’s no point in establishing yourself in a business that you don’t care about. In caring about your business, product or service, you’ll be more determined to overcome any obstacles that come your way. That determination will tend to manifest itself as creativity. It’s often better to think your way around problems rather than over them, and some of the most tangential ideas can be the best.
3) Get tech-savvy.
Starting a business costs money, but there are ways you can cut costs without compromising on quality. There are plenty of apps and software packages available that will save you both time and money and even maximize your organizational skills. And you don’t have to be a web designer to use them, either. Most apps and software are now designed with technophobes in mind, so throw your fear to the winds and join the 21st Century.
4) Constantly look for ways to spread the word.
While huge marketing campaigns might be out of your financial league, there are plenty of low-cost strategies you can employ, from leafleting to writing articles for your local newspaper. The Internet is full of cost-effective ploys that will get you noticed – just make sure that you play to your strengths and ensure that everything you do will be seen in a positive light.
5) Be Open-minded
. While there’s always something to the idea that ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, there’s a risk that you’ll be cutting yourself off from new development and approaches, if you stick to that dogma too rigidly. In order to present yourself as an expert in your own field, you need to know as much as possible about what it is you do – and that can mean learning new things. Information is power, so be open to finding out as much as you can along the way.