May 9th, 2008 09:38am
Stacey Derbinshire
Discover the secrets to being a successful Entrepreneur…
Becoming an entrepreneur is not an easy task! Around 45 percent of all new businesses fail to survive more than two years. There are certain qualities and characteristics that are absolutely necessary if you would like to become successful in your business ventures. Some of these qualities are built-in parts of your inherent personality, and some of them get developed over time. Knowing these characteristics and identifying your weaker ones - those which need strengthening - will, eventually, help you become a successful entrepreneur and ensure that you succeed in your business ventures.
1. Common sense.
Studies show that most successful businesspeople consider common sense as the foundation of their success. Good judgment depends on acquired knowledge and past experience. The combination of these two creates necessary prerequisites in developing common sense in a person. Common sense allows you to understand complex issues in simpler terms and get into the core of a problem.
2. Specialised knowledge of your field and willingness to learn
It is easier to start a successful business if you have deep knowledge of the business field that you decide to pursue. Having said that, studies show that most self-made millionaires have only average intelligence. Nonetheless, these people achieved their financial and personal goals in business because they are willing to learn. To succeed, you must be willing to ask questions, remain curious, interested and open to new knowledge.
3. Self-confidence and the heart of a champion.
Self-confidence is a key entrepreneurial skill for success. A successful entrepreneur believes in his abilities. He/she is not scared to take risks and make difficult decisions. You have to be determined to succe (more…)
May 8th, 2008 09:35am
Stacey Derbinshire
“To know and not to do is not to know.” Proverb
How many of you take a no nonsense, no excuse approach to running your business? How many of you say you know what to do to grow your business, but aren’t doing it?
Well, guess what? If you say you know and are not doing it, then you don’t know it. You might intellectually know it, but do you get it in your bones so to speak. This happened to me for a long time in my business. I knew what to do, but didn’t know how to make that happen until I got support from my coach. She provided valuable lessons which I’m going to share with you on how to ‘talk the walk and walk the talk.’
1. Shift the way you work, manage your priorities. If your number one priority is to double your business this year, then every action you take has to be in alignment with that vision. Take a look at your present commitments. Put a pause button on the things that aren’t in line with your goals especially if they’re not going to make you additional revenue. I know you know this, but are you doing it?
2. Eliminate time wasters. Are you devoting a solid 8 hours a day to your business? Being a solopreneur myself with an office at home, I know how easy it is to take time out to throw a load of laundry in the washing machine, load the dishwasher, water the plants, chit chat with a friend on the phone, or maybe even sit down to watch Oprah. I know the pull to do something else other than work is sometimes strong, but think about this. If you worked for someone else, you wouldn’t be doing those things, would you? If fear is keeping you from doing what you need to do, then get support to address and eliminate it. From here on in do only those things that move you toward achieving your goals.
3. Set boundaries in your business. I have created systems and schedules for business develo (more…)
May 7th, 2008 09:36am
Stacey Derbinshire
Recently down-sized, company closing, early retirement offer, tired of making other people rich. Whatever the scenario, those with an entrepreneur mind-set eventually make the decision to start their own business. Some people are young, while others don’t make the transition until their late 50s or early 60s.
Once the decision is made to become a business owner, entrepreneur or self-employed, how do you decide what to do? Sometimes it’s an easy process. Let’s say you’re in your mid-20s, creating great web pages for an employer and love what you do. The only thing is, you realize you’d rather own your own company. It makes sense to continue in that field, and possibly extending your reach to other marketing areas as well. But what if you work in an auto factory that just closed? I doubt you’d find it a good choice to start your own automobile company. Or how about a retired teacher wanting to start a second career? With all the opportunities waiting, how do you choose?
List at least three key criteria that this new adventure must meet. There are others, but these three are essential: Passion, Financials and Skills/Abilities. Knowing ahead of time what best fits you, you’ll be more focused as you investigate and consider franchises, business opportunities, licenses, independent businesses, home-based businesses or any other form of entrepreneurship.
The first, Passion, will steer you toward doing something that feeds your values, allows you to serve a purpose and give you something more than money to drive you to succeed. When your daily efforts feed a passion, you will enjoy each day and it will not feel like work. For example, when my husband and I worked through this process, we wanted to create a company that, at the end of the day, we could feel good knowing that we provided a service that helps people. Keeping that in mind elimi (more…)
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