5 Keys of Successful Entrepreneurs

The team at Profit Growth Builders helps business owners thrive.  In today's world, there are a plethora of opportunities to grow - both personally and financially. An entrepreneur is tasked with constantly honing their abilities to prove their worth and expertise to potential customers and clients. As an entrepreneur and business owner, here is what I believe are 5 Keys to Successful Entrepreneurs:

1) Successful Entrepreneurs possess curiosity...

Curiosity may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you talk about entrepreneurship but, trust me when I say, it is imperative that owners possess curiosity because this means they are interested in solving problems. A curious person will take every opportunity they have to learn their customers. They are not interested in earning a quick dollar. They have true interest in learning about that client or customer. Successful entrepreneurs curiously ask questions to determine any potential challenges and the wants and needs of every prospective customer or client.  They consider every person with whom they connect with to be worthy of cultivating a meaningful connection. Successful entrepreneurs also understand that the world is more globally intertwined than ever and are curious about how they and their business can fit or fill a void to help serve more people. Curious individuals read to learn and they consider multiple sources because a successful individual understands that there is always perspective to be gained.

2) Successful Entrepreneurs enjoy what they do

"When you enjoy what you do, you will never work a day in your life". I have learned this to be a true statement. It is virtually impossible to put your best foot forward when you don't enjoy the work you do. When you enjoy what you do, you are hungry to expand your knowledge. You, almost effortlessly, become an expert because when you like what you do, it is not an issue to continue developing your knowledge and skill level. Much of life is a mental game and we have to play along. Enjoying what you do will show in your work. It is called passion. And passion, above all else, is a required key if you plan to be successful at anything you do. 

3) Successful Entrepreneurs reframe challenges...

A successful entrepreneur did not get to success without facing challenges along the way. However, during challenging times, successful entrepreneurs find a way to make it happen. It takes sacrifice, determination and discipline to be your own boss. You have to be willing to face one of the first challenges most aspiring entrepreneurs face - leaving the security of a weekly or bi-weekly paycheck to embark on the journey and be your own source of income. Success in business requires an incredible amount of mental fortitude to deal with the ups and downs that are virtually inevitable in the world of entrepreneurship and business. In my many years as a business owner, the most successful entrepreneurs are able to reframe challenges - turning losses into lessons. You have to be able to take every negative situation as an opportunity to learn about how you can turn it into a positive one. You will have to fight the desire to stop or give up and consider how you can change the outcome going forward. It is a constant process of self-evaluation and growth. The successful entrepreneurs get creative and determine how they can implement new business practices or processes. Those that fail wonder "why" and spend all of their time focused on the negative result. This is counterproductive and you allow your emotions to keep you in the same place - physically and mentally. 

4) Successful Entrepreneurs build a community...

Many new entrepreneurs are so excited to work on their own and be their own boss that they end up isolating themselves. Successful entrepreneurs understand that they cannot do it alone and find ways to connect with like-minded individuals who have similar goals. One impactful way to do this is to build your own community. Networking groups are a great way to connect with more people whom you have the potential to learn from or help solve a problem for. There are a bevy of platforms out there to help you set one up. Consider frequenting places like the Chamber of Commerce and make friends with the receptionist. You open up your chances of connecting with individuals who are willing to share what has worked for them and what has not worked. Seeking out organizations within your industry can result in new opportunities to learn, helping you to stay ahead of the game. When times get rough, you need someone to talk to who understands where you're coming from or can offer some words of encouragement. You open to a new world of idea sharing and gaining perspective. Perspective and ideas are a hallmark of the entrepreneurial world. It is impossible to do it alone and successful entrepreneurs value connection over dollars. They jump at any opportunity to increase their connections. After all, your network is your net worth.

5) Successful Entrepreneurs have a plan...

The above 4 items are all essential to becoming successful in any entrepreneurial endeavor. To see true success, you must have a plan because without a plan, how will you execute efficiently. Efficiency is necessary as an entrepreneur because unlike an employee, you are entirely responsible, and it is important to have a plan that acts as a roadmap to help you achieve your entrepreneurial goals. This ties into consistency as a business owner because if you do not have a plan then you are not operating efficiently which means there is no way you are being consistent. To be consistent requires you to plan and a true entrepreneur learns from his past but is always looking ahead to the future.

Entrepreneurship can sound like a daunting path to take to grow both personally and financially but, the success you gain from all your time and effort will make it all worth it, in the end. If you want to live life on your own terms, then entrepreneurship may be just the thing for you!