Entrepreneurs, no matter the business they have or the industry that they work in, all have the same general challenges. What separates many successful entrepreneurs from those that don’t succeed is sometimes simply a matter of how said challenges are handled. Many times it’s not that the business owner isn’t up to the task it’s simply that they don’t have the experience necessary to make the right decisions and the correct choices. With that in mind we’ve put together a blog with a number of tips about success from, well, successful entrepreneurs who have faced similar challenges and overcome them. (Who better to ask, yes?) Enjoy!
One of the most important skills that an entrepreneur can have is the gift of good networking skills. Being able to meet new people, exchange ideas and get out there and meet the public is vital to being able to then give the public what they want. Also, surrounding yourself with like-minded people who have the same goals is an excellent idea, especially if those people don’t compete with you and will give you frank and candid answers without sugar coating them. (Hey, we’re just being honest.)
That segues nicely into making sure that you shut the negative voices out, including the people who tell you that you can’t, you won’t, you shouldn’t or you couldn’t. Sometimes these people may come from within your very family or circle of friends and it’s tough to shut them out but you must. An entrepreneur needs positive people around them who have the same goals and the same vision. Even if they don’t understand what you’re doing as long as they are supportive that’s all that matters.
Taking risks is part of being an entrepreneur as well (as long as you don’t bet the family farm on some magic beans). The fact is, many successful companies have gone over the edge or come close to it before they found success. They tried, failed and then tried again, and you should learn to do that also.
Hiring to your weaknesses is something that takes someone with the humility and common sense to know that they can’t know everything. If you’re a great ”big picture” guy but you can’t design a website worth a darn you’d best partner up with someone who can and who will be there when things start to take off.
Finally, don’t try to keep your idea a ‘secret’, especially if it’s a good one. The fact is, unless it’s the nuclear launch codes nobody’s going to be trying to steal your idea and you may just find someone who’s so interested in it that they decide to invest and / or became a partner. Talk about your idea to anyone who might listen and get in front of as many decision makers as you can that may be able to help you. If one can’t he or she might know someone who can so keep trying.
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