As we approach the final quarter of the year, people have started asking me who I think the winners in 2019 will be. Here’s my prediction, along with some tips you can use, to finish the year stronger.
It’s based on one of the many things I learned decades ago, from the late Jim Rohn.
To paraphrase Jim: The business owners who will have thrived this year, will be the same type of people who thrived last year. And they’re the same type of people who will win big next year, too.
Who are these business owners and what do they do differently from the rest of the pack? Here are 3 examples, along with links to longer answers, if you want to dig deeper for ideas.
They’re the business owners who do all the work
I’ve been in business for almost 25 years and helped thousands of business owners succeed. I’ve discovered that whenever a business reaches a plateau, it’s always down to one or more decisions the owner is avoiding. They will tell you they give their business 100%, when what they often mean is they do 100%… of the things they are comfortable with.
My tip to any business owner who’s not getting the results they want, is this. Always start by looking for a decision you’re avoiding.
Then take action. Because 99% isn’t enough. And here’s why, along with what to do.
Remember: when you’re just 1% away from switching a light on… you’re still in the dark!
They’re the business owners who protect their thinking
They avoid the people whose influence is causing them to stumble. We all know that the influence of positive people causes us to improve. That’s because these amazing people bring energy and ideas with them. This is why business leaders join mastermind groups. It’s why they surround themselves with other leaders.
However, pessimistic or negative people do the exact opposite. This is why we have to limit our association with them as much as possible. They leave us worse than they find us. They are a source of problems, stress and confusion. They drain our energy, dent our confidence and cause us to lower our expectations. And as one of my mentors used to say, if you associate with negative people for long enough, one day everything they have will be yours.
Note: There’s more on this extremely important topic here.
They’re the business owners who back themselves
When they believe in something, they take decisive action. These business owners understand that success is not anointed.
This is the mindset behind every leader, not just in business. It’s not that these people are fearless. They get fearful when they need to leave their comfort zone. We all do. What’s different, is that leaders use fear as their compass. As Susan Jeffers said, they “Feel the fear, and do it anyway”.
I hope you find these observations useful. More importantly my friend, I hope you do something with them.