Thankfully, we don’t have to guess or wonder what it takes to be successful in business. The answers are in the stories behind every successful businessperson, who has been kind enough to share them.
Here are 4 things I have seen over and over again, in every successful businessperson I have ever studied:
1. Expert advice
Successful businesspeople invest in expert advice. As a result, they make better decisions and take the right actions, for what they need to achieve. Unsuccessful businesspeople do the opposite. They try and do too much themselves and immediately lose ground to their successfully guided competitors. They literally set themselves up to fail, under the misguided belief they are actually saving money.
The stock reply whenever I speak with someone, who refuses to pay for specialist help, is that they can’t afford it. The belief here, is that every small business, other than theirs, has access to a stack of money. The reality is very, very different.
It’s about priorities!
I spoke with a guy recently, who “can’t afford” a professionally designed logo – yet he “can afford” $4 a day (over $1,200 a year) on a “grande” cappuccino.
I’ve discussed this bizarre approach to business with scores of people over the years and the general consensus, is that this is what happens when someone without a business mindset, decides to start a business. These guys focus on loss, so they lose. Successful people focus on achievement, so they achieve.
2. Comfort zones
All business owners will tell you that they work hard, and most of them do (really hard.) However, hard work is not the key to success. If it were, our grandparents would have been millionaires!
Here’s where the difference is: Successful businesspeople work hard doing what needs to be done, whilst their less successful counterparts work hard doing what’s most comfortable. Successful business owners love what they do, but realise that they often need to break out of their comfort zones if they want their business to grow.
Less successful business owners only really leave their comfort zones, when pushed by external factors – Like the loss of a major client or another problem that forces them to s-t-r-e-t-c-h. As a result of this unwillingness to grow, their business reaches a certain point and stays there, spinning it’s wheels; until they retire, go broke or wake up!
3. Association
As human beings, we are all of equal value. However, in business, we each have a value; based on what we bring to the marketplace. This is why some hard working people earn minimum wage and others work the same number of hours and earn 7 figures every year.
Here’s what we know about people who are commercially successful. We know that they associate with other, commercially successful people. This is because they understand the massive power of association. As someone once told me when I was starting out in marketing, almost 24 years ago;
“Jim, hang around with enough people who are going nowhere and one day, everything they have will be yours!”
4. Learning
The most successful businesspeople I know, are lifelong learners. I don’t mean they just read books, buy programs or attend seminars / training events. I mean they learn from life. They know that if they try something and it doesn’t work – That they need to learn from it and move forward. They see a bad result simply as valuable feedback. This attitude means they become better decision makers and action takers, because their “mistakes” are of value to them.
Now, compare that approach, to the approach used by people whose businesses spin their wheels. These guys keep repeating the same errors. It’s why they make so little progress.
Remember: If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got!
A common example I see in my profession, is when business owners waste years, trying to improve their marketing, by doing it themselves. They grab information from the Internet / newsletters etc – NONE of which has been developed for them, their business or their skills / resources. This actually costs them massively more in both time and money, BUT it’s comfortable and as said in the previous section, they love being comfortable above everything else.
So, what would you add to this list?
What keys to business success have made a real difference to you and your business? Let us know!
Jim Connolly can help you grow your business and achieve the breakthrough marketing results your hard work deserves. To find out more, simply click here!
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Jim,
Thanks, as always, well put together.
I fully agree on these points as having applied these to my own business, I have seen the impact and results
This week, on my own blog, I end a 6-part blog feature named “Five Keys to Mastering Your Mindset” and in my own words, this series is very similar to your today’s post:
“Five Keys to Mastering Your Mindset”
1. Make the decision.
2. Set the right price.
3. Over-deliver to your customers.
4. Find mentors.
5. Learn to sell in your own unique way.
Thanks for sharing,
Frederique (@IrishSmiley)
.-= Frederique Murphy´s last blog ..Your Unique Selling Process is the Key to Your Success (Part 6, Key 5) =-.
Top shelf, Jim.
You’ve nailed it. I would only add that the most commercially successful people I work with are highly focused.
They avoid being all things to all people. They are single-mindedly clear about their ‘niche’ and then do whatever it takes to dominate it.
Focus means having a strong ‘NO’ – something that I see many people struggling with – especially online.
Best, Robin
.-= Robin Dickinson´s last blog ..Share-words: the easiest way for us to recommend you =-.
Sounds weird, but I would put recklessness (or I guess we could call it courage).
Some of the best business owners (in my opinion) are brave enough to try new things even when a lot of people tell them it won’t work.
Or maybe that’s just me?
.-= Corey Freeman – Simple Blog Coach´s last blog ..An Introduction to Interpretpreting Analytics Data =-.
Another post after my own heart – I’m always horrified when a business tries to design it’s own logo and website.
It’s never a good idea to do your own plumbing.
I would add one item to your great list:
5. Act On It: Plan, set goals, then begin. Don’t hesitate; if you get it wrong, course correct and keep going until you achieve your goals.
Ash, you made me smile with your comment that no one should do their own plumbing. Every time I try to do my own plumbing (in a literal sense) I end up wet or something doesn’t work.
I think it takes a mentality shift. For business owners to stop doing things themselves that they aren’t really qualified to do, they need to start thinking like a business owner and not like a DIYer.
.-= Bradford Shimp´s last blog ..Getting Your Personal Finances Right =-.
Thanks Jim, I’m still in the process of getting a business up and running but have already seen clear proof of what you’re saying. Expert advice will save wasting days, weeks, even months of effort and lost earnings. My clear example was not taking advice on affiliate marketing programs, we wasted a lot of time going in the wrong direction. As for learning, association and comfort zones, I totally agree, though I would add that I see them as important lessons for life, not just business.
One thing all successful people do is act on their ideas. Many people have loads of ideas but never act on them.
.-= Mike Roosa´s last blog ..Forum Marketing Ninja Tip #2 – Creating Action Signatures =-.
Wow – When did you interview my father? You are right-on with these principles. I have grown up with these principles all of my life.
The only thing I would add is asking this question and my father still asks this question everyday. “Am I adding value?” | In every action that (my father) takes, “How is this adding value to our clients and our employees?”
When the emphasis is on value, all of the other points in this article are really brought to light.
Thanks again! | One of my favorite posts of all time.
.-= Brent Pohlman´s last blog ..Taurine and Panax Ginseng in Energy Drinks =-.
Having read through the comments, Robin Dickinson has already touched on the point I’d add to the list.
Successful people know what business they are in and what they are not in. They don’t make the mistake of trying to be all things to all people.
When I was taking my first steps in self-employment, I see out a pretty broad stall. It wasn’t attractive. Since I decided to just focus on leadership development (my passion), business has blossomed.
Thanks for your list!
.-= CJ Fitzsimons´s last blog ..Ask the Enneagram Coach, Part 5 =-.
That example of the logo is priceless, Jim. The best of it is (and like you say), the guy probably doesn’t even look at it as you have. But $1,200 can get you a pretty sweet logo – then imagine all the extra coffee he could have with the new clients that are taking more notice?
.-= Danny Brown´s last blog ..Why I Love Bloggers with Balls =-.
You’re totally right that pushing outside your comfort zone is a big part of success.
I’ve always had a theory that pretty much all the things that are most worth doing in life are the things that really scare you, whatever they may be. The things we fear most are the things we want most, and therefore fear failing at most.
.-= Marek´s last blog ..The Top 5 Outrageous Ways to Get More Twitter Followers =-.
[...] at networking events etc to deliberately make you angry. It’s simply that they have no idea what they should be doing or how to do it [...]
I think getting out of comfort zones is really important. People dont get out of their comfort zones and they dont move forward.
Wonderful post. Thanks for sharing.
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[...] key difference between the most and least successful businesspeople, is that the most successful ones do what needs to be done. They do what’s right, rather than doing what’s easiest or most comfortable. They [...]
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