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Finding diamonds. And 9 other tips

By Jim Connolly | November 21, 2023

small business, business tips, business ideas

Here are 10 characteristics, common to every successful business owner I have ever met or studied. I hope you find them useful.

  1. They look for the diamonds in every downturn. When something goes wrong, either internal to their business, or external to the economy, they focus on the opportunities it brings. And those diamond opportunities are always there.
  2. They make a study of business success. They listen to informed minds and take notes.
  3. They always have enough time to do everything required. That’s because they know the difference between a lack of time and a lack of direction. With direction you can achieve more in a day than others achieve in a week.
  4. They are self-starters. They don’t seek external motivation. They do what needs doing.
  5. They have learned when, and how, to say no.
  6. They are reliable and turn up even when it’s easier not to. This commitment to reliability is both rare and highly valued.
  7. They accept responsibility when they make a mistake. They learn the lessons, then set to work on improving things.
  8. They are good decision makers. Once they have the information required, they make a decision. They know that leaving decisions unmade is extremely counter-productive.
  9. They are eager to lead. They step forward, when others step back.
  10. They never mistake movement for progress. Others are moving, but doing figure eights.

If you found something above that could be useful to you, make a note of it now, while it’s fresh in your mind. Then, get to work on putting it into action. Act while the opportunity is hot, and the motivation is high.

Photo by Jon Tyson 

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Hi! I'm Jim Connolly and I help small business owners to increase sales, boost their profits and build amazing businesses. Read more here.

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