Thursday 22 January 2015

5 Tips on How to Be a Successful Entrepreneur


Here is Marsha Firestone, Ph.D five tips on how to become a successful, multi-million dollar earning entrepreneur. (Adapted from article published in haute living).

1  Clarify the company’s uniqueness and know where you want to go: The first step in running any business is to decide what your unique selling points are and hone in on differentiating yourself from the competition. Set concrete short- and long-term goals for the direction in which you want to take your company, where you plan to be in the next six months, a year from now and in two years.

2  Lead from both inside and outside the company: Leaders have different strategies. One strategy that resonates across all platforms is to take your leadership outside the walls of your company. Set an example for others — whether through peer advisory, mentorship or something else — and you’ll earn their trust and respect. The fundamental premise of Shop.com is the peer-to-peer learning tool focuses on sharing experiences instead of giving advice.

3  Prospect carefully, train thoroughly and retain competent partners to build a committed team: People are the most important resource to any business. As an entrepreneur, it’s natural to feel you need to control all of the minutiae because the business is “your baby.”  Take your time prospecting people you can trust to take smaller responsibilities off your plate, so you can focus on larger business goals. No one likes a micromanager; it also impacts your efficiency.

4  Focus, focus, focus: Identify what needs to happen and go for it. It’s easy to get caught up trying to fix everything all at once. Prioritize your goals and issues; check them off one by one when completed. The more specific you are about your goals, the better off you’ll be. Be the voice for the company’s mission.


5 Know when to let go: The “art of the pivot” is important for all entrepreneurs. Knowing when to acknowledge a failed idea is key to staying afloat. Keep in mind that it’s OK to admit failure and move forward. It will make your business stronger in the end.