Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Tips that Will Inspire You on Your Journey to Success
There is a lot to be said about entrepreneurship, but “easy” isn’t one of them. Being an entrepreneur is often compared to going to a battle. You know there’s an objective on the other side of the trenches, but you never know what’s going to happen in between.
Luckily for us, that’s where the similarity ends. In a battle, you build a strategy, get everything you need, and then hope for the best. With entrepreneurship, things are a little bit different. You can predict and plan for whatever comes ahead, and the way to do that is to learn from those who have already been on the journey.
Success does leave its clues, and it’s high time we heed them for us to succeed. Here are some great tips from successful entrepreneurs that will inspire you on your journey.
Find Your “Why”
This is very close to becoming a cliché in the business community, but there is a good reason for this quote’s ubiquity. It is non-negotiable for entrepreneurs that they should be clear about their purpose and how their business aligns to it.
Daniel Cook, Head of Business Development at Mullen & Mullen, advises entrepreneurs to work on things they truly believe in. “One thing to inspire yourself to journey your business to success is to start by doing what you care about. You will surely encounter some problems along your way to success, but if you truly love what you are doing, you will persevere. You must also never forget to believe in yourself because your words are powerful that could affect how you view your life and your overall business,” he says.
“Make sure to have clear goals and objectives, this will motivate you to focus on the things you must work on and face any challenges along the way,” says Erin Zadoorian, CEO of Budpop. “Success is a process and in order to succeed, you must take the first step towards your journey. It may seem like a long and endless journey, but with each step you make every day you’re one step closer to your goals,” he explains.
Kshitij Nigam of Cheef Botanicals nods his approval. “Make a list of what you want to achieve in your life and start working towards it. Have a clear vision of what success means to you, and how it will make you feel.” he advises.
“Focus on what you really want. Don't get caught up in the day-to-day details—focus on what you want and make sure it's clear to everyone around you,” Ben Price of Heatable UK adds.
Don't just follow the crowd. If someone is doing something great, don't just copy it because they're successful—try to figure out why they're doing what they're doing, and then make sure you're doing it better than them,” Ankit Batra, Marketing Director of Hollyweed, reminds us. “Focus on your strengths instead of trying to be everything for everyone all at once. Focus on what makes you truly unique, so that when others come after you for help or advice or other resources, they'll realize how valuable those things are to you,” he adds.
Finally, Kev Tilley of Mortgageable UK adds, “Have a clear and defined goal. It will motivate you to stay focused throughout your journey. Once you know what you want to achieve, research different ways to get there and make a plan. Set small goals along the way to celebrate your progress. Seeing yourself making progress will help to keep you motivated. Stay positive and never give up on yourself. Remember, success is a journey, not a destination. It is often a matter of perseverance and determination. You will ultimately arrive at your destination if you stay on track. Enjoy the process and learn from your mistakes. With hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
Adopt a Learner’s Mindset
Ego is one of the biggest killers of the entrepreneurial dream. Those who get consumed by it refuse to learn because they think they already know everything there is to know. Most successful entrepreneurs would agree that learning is a never-ending process, even when you think you’ve already had success.
Chris Walker, founder and CEO of Superstar SEO, suggests you find a mentor. “To find success, entrepreneurs must have room to learn and develop. Having a mentor who can expertly guide you on your journey is crucial in your development and in a world filled with competitors. While mentors can help you collect and maintain professional habits, they can also secure you from making hasty and irrational decisions that could hurt you or your company,” he says.
“Be hungry for information and innovation. Do not get stuck in a certain phase and look for ways where you can improve your business in all aspects,” Anton Giuriou, co-founder of Homesthetics, adds.
Juan Dominguez, the CEO of The Dominguez Firm, emphasizes the need to get educated in two key areas: marketing and business law. “In any organization, you should know how to bring your crafts, products, and services to the table in a manner that is rhetorical and eye-catching. Marketing, as a professional field, is a critical component of any business' operation since it investigates client perceptions and itineraries as major sources of profit. It also makes use of many data sources to create sound and informed business judgments,” he says.
“Meanwhile, you should have an in-depth analysis of legal research surrounding your company as you should know your rights as an entrepreneur, as well as your company’s. This also helps you with the decision-making process and avoids any lawful disputes that may lead to downturns,” he adds.
While it’s great to always be learning, also remember to do it at your own pace. “Be honest with yourself and others. If you're not sure of something, say so. You'll have more success if you're honest and open with your ambitions. Know your limits. Don't try to do everything at once; pick one thing and make it your top priority at any given time. Then work on that until it's mastered and then move on to another thing. Take action every day! Even if it's small, take steps towards your goal every single day. You'll be surprised at how quickly things change when you take small steps towards your bigger dreams!” suggests Masha Mahdavi, co-founder of SEM Dynamics.
Surround Yourself with the Right People
And this doesn’t just refer to your network of fellow entrepreneurs. This pertains to the team you work with, as well as the mentors you will have along your journey.
As Giuriou says, “The first thing you need to consider is to build a team that reflects your values and goals. It is important as these people will help you reach your business goals and to succeed. You do not want to work with people who are in contrast with you and those who do not support you and your business.”
Stacy Lewis, founder of Eternity Modern, chimes in. “Be in the company of people who have similar visions to your own. Constantly hearing and seeing people do things that are driven by the same passion is likely to motivate you to do the same. Joining a group where you can exchange experiences, gain knowledge from one another, and develop as a unit is a good habit. Although there are competitors in the market, working with reliable partners is also crucial for success.”
“Create a support system comprised of people who believe in you, who want to see you succeed, and who are willing to help out when needed (even if it's just listening!),” Nigam adds.
“Network with other entrepreneurs who are making it happen for themselves and learn from them. You'll be surprised at how much they can share with others who are also trying to achieve their goals! 3. Always surround yourself with people who support your vision and will help push you forward when times get tough. Someone else's motivation is always better than no one's motivation at all,” Price suggests.
Take Care of Your Customers
Customers are the lifeblood of any business. Without them, you simply cannot survive. For this reason, you have to always put them first in everything.
“Customers are a big part of your overall success because they are the ones who drive your sales, so without them, you cannot continue your business. That's why it is important to take feedback from them, listen to their concerns, and always prioritize them for a good business outcome,” Rachel Davis of Soul Factors says.
“It is easier said than done, but your product quality and customer service must be just the same as how you did it before. Because if you provide great service to your customers they will more likely to come again to your business because they know how much you have accommodated them,” Matt Post, co-founder of Attorney Marketing Solutions, adds.
Never Fear Failure
Robert Allen has been quoted to say, “There is no failure. Only feedback.” And our expert entrepreneurs couldn’t agree more.
“Embrace failures and use them as opportunities to grow. True success is only achieved when you go through enough experiences that lead you to the improvement of your skillset and business practices. As part of your business success story, you will also have to experience failures in order to learn from mistakes, improve techniques, and discover new things beyond your initial expertise,” Deepanshu Bedi, Marketing Director of Holista Pet, says.
“If you want to do something well, it's inevitable that at some point, you'll make mistakes and mess up—so don't let that stop you from trying again until you've figured out what went wrong and fixed it for next time!” Batra says.
Sam Browne, CEO of HARO SEO has a sobering reminder for entrepreneurs: “Embody a stoic mindset. Entrepreneurial success is always about having a progressive mindset—never it's a black-and-white view. On most days, you stumble; on others, you bring home the prize. Accept that failure is unavoidable, and utilize it as a springboard to bounce back and paint the silver lining to chart out your path to success. When entering into business, keep in mind that it is a cumulative work that will bloom like a flower in the future, which you cannot grow overnight. It's quite normal to take breaks from time to time, but don't allow them to become permanent. A successful entrepreneur understands the difference between failing and taking a break to look back and see the big picture.”
There you have it! There is never a guarantee that you’d succeed in entrepreneurship, even if you follow these tips to the letter. But it’s always better to brave the jungle with a map than without one. Each entrepreneur’s journey is unique, but there are certain things that bind us all together – that we can all appreciate and learn together. Keep these tips at heart and you might just find the road to success considerably less difficult!