Can anyone become a successful entrepreneur?
It's a question I've seen debated in Facebook groups and LinkedIn posts across the internet and not surprisingly, people have many and varied opinions on the subject.
As for me, I honestly believe that anyone CAN be an entrepreneur and that success (or failure) is determined by our choices and attitudes rather than our ability or background. In fact there are five specific choices that I believe ALL successful entrepreneurs have made and it's these choices which set them aside from the many wannabe business owners who never quite make it.
So what exactly are the 5 decisions of successful entrepreneurs?...
Choose to Follow Your Dream
Let's face it, we ALL have a dream of building a better life. We all wish we had more free time to follow our passions, more money to ... well, follow our passions and more freedom to make the kind of impact that we can be proud of when we look back on our lives.
BUT not everyone acts on those thoughts. Many see them as just that - a lovely dream, but not something that could ever really happen.
Successful entrepreneurs BELIEVE. They can almost see their dream, touch it...taste it. All they need to do is juuuuust keep reaching and they'll get there.
Choose to be Brave
If you're not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business."
Ray Kroc
Founder, McDonalds
If you're going to start and grow a successful business, then you'd better believe that you're going to need to be brave!
There are SOOOO many risks!
What if you can't make any money and pay the bills?
What if people don't like what you have to say?
What if you just can't do it?
What if? What if? What if?
SCARY.
Then there's all the new stuff that you'll have to do that feels completely awkward at best and absolutely hands-shakingly-palms-sweatingly terrifying at worst.
Email marketing (I mean just the tech alone is scary, amIright?)...
Whatever it is, if you're going to become a successful entrepreneur then you're going to have step riiiight out of your comfort zone on the regular.
Speaking of being a hero.... do you know what your Business Superpower is?
Discover Your Superpower!
What makes YOU special in the crowded world of business?
Choose to Keep Learning
A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years mere study of books."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Writer
Look, much as you'd like to, you can't Google yourself a successful business.
Building a business isn't the same as building your flatpack wardrobe. You can't just download a set of instructions, follow them and ta-da!
Every business is different
Every business owner is different
Every circumstance is different
Sure, Google can get you part of the way, but it can't make you a successful entrepreneur. Sorry.
You'll need support, whether that be in the form of a mentor or coach or even a community or mastermind. Learn from others who have been there and who have made all the mistakes so you don't have to.
I'm not saying you should succumb to 'shiny object syndrome' and sign up for every course, challenge and coaching package out there, but I am saying you need to recognise your development areas and rely on more than a free 'cheat sheet' to overcome them.
Be humble.
Be curious.
Be open to learning new things - always.
A successful entrepreneur chooses to keep learning and to keep investing in themselves. After all, as an entrepreneur YOU are your greatest asset.
Watch my Facebook Live on these 5 guiding choices:
Choose to Connect
You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Jim Rohn
Author/Motivational Speaker
Being a business owner can get very lonely, very quickly.
It doesn't take long before the novelty of being able to work in your PJ's wears off and you start to long for the chatter and laughter of an office (and this comes from a serial introvert who often felt completely intimidated by the chatter and laughter in the office...)
When it's just you, you only have your thoughts to keep you company and on the days where you're feeling like a failure, like an imposter and like 'this is NEVER going to work!', that isn't necessarily a good thing.
Successful entrepreneurs choose to connect with others: Peers and fellow business owners who get it, who can cheer them on and even give them a boot in the behind if they need it. They surround themselves with the kind of people who will inspire, support and motivate them because they realise the importance of community - even when we're working alone.
Speaking of which.... have you joined my Facebook group yet?
Choose to Keep Going
I'm convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance."
Steve Jobs
Co-founder & CEO, Apple
This last choice is perhaps the most important of all.
It's this one choice that separates the successes from the wannabes.
Every single entrepreneur will fail at something at some point. In fact they'll do it a LOT.
Perhaps their launch will flop
Their Facebook Live will fall on deaf ears
A potential client will say 'no'.. and then another... and another...
These moments when things seem to be going wrong?
THESE are the turning points in our business! You see, you have 2 choices.
You can tell yourself you're a failure and give up
OR
You can learn from it and keep going.
You've got this xx
Wait! Have you taken the quiz yet?
Discover Your Superpower!
What makes YOU special in the crowded world of online business?
