In Part 1, we discussed what makes some business owners successful and others not. This is a continuation of that post. So what is the answer? Successful business owners have a different set of core beliefs than those who wish for success. Yesterday, I went over six ways you, as a small business owner, need your butt kicked. Here are the final five.
7. Stop making excuses.
If you’re failing in business, guess what? It’s your fault. Plain and simple. There is something you’re not doing. There is something you should be doing. Perhaps you are not doing the things in this blog post. In Boot Camp, we have rules that everyone memorizes. The first one is, “There are no excuses, only choices.”
Don’t blame the economy, don’t blame your husband or wife, don’t blame your competitor or your employees. It’s your business, you are responsible. Accept it and move on (See #8 below). And you know what? When you take full responsibility, something extraordinary happens. You gain freedom! You can’t control the economy, you can’t control your spouse and you can’t control your employees either. But you can control yourself. Freedom comes because you have the power to change your circumstances.
8. Embrace failure.
Note the word “embrace.” That’s different from accepting or tolerating failure.You are going to fail. You are going to fail lots of times. You are going to fail miserably. It’s a fact of life. Embrace it! The difference between the successful people and the wishers are that the successful people move on and make something of themselves anyway. Need some examples? Watch this:
9. Define your own success.
Guess what? What everyone thinks of you is not important. “What? I have to care what customers think of me!” Yes, what your customers think of you is important. The operative word was “everyone.” What everyone thinks of you is just not important.
Want to lose perspective real quick? Care what all your friends and followers in social media think. I’m a huge fan of social media. It’s transformed my business. But social media can be a lot like high school. “He’s tweeting her, why isn’t he tweeting me?” “I better not say that on Facebook because I’ll look like a dork.” “They are having lunch together. Why wasn’t I invited?” Who cares? You get to define what success is for you. So define it. Write it down. Be specific so that in the tough times (see #7) you will be reminded of what is most important to you.
10. Take action.
Do it! Don’t think about. Don’t plan it to death. Don’t create a 5 page flow chart or 8 page to-do list. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity; it will never come. Don’t wait for it to be perfect; that will never happen. Do it!
11. Don’t give up.
You are going to need some damned tough determination if you want to succeed. Surround yourself with supportive people who love you and tell you the truth when you need to hear it. Find people who have been where you are and are on the other side. Find inspiration at conferences, webinars, teleclasses, speeches, You Tube, church, Bible studies. And press on. Always press on.
I will be on the sidelines, cheering for you.
