Unveiling The Secrets: 3 Underlying Tactics To The Success Of An Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, but what makes each entrepreneur successful is a different story.
Success comes from the grit of people pushing themselves, as well as the stars aligning in just the right way. People are always looking for the secret formula to rocket them to the top, but the truth is there is no formula.
There are, however, some rules to live by if you want to find unique entrepreneurial success. Here are three secrets to get you started:
1. Disregard for Authority
Top entrepreneurs reached such high levels of power because they didn't listen to those in power before them. You can't get ahead if you keep putting others in front of you. A lot of people will say your company is stupid; it will never work and you shouldn't quit your day job.
At the end of the day, a lot of people do listen and never live out those ideas they once had, but if you break the status quo, you will be rewarded. Steve Jobs expressed this best in his 2005 Stanford commencement speech:
Your time is limited; so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.
2. Humbling Honesty
While a healthy amount of self-confidence is needed and you should listen to your own aspirations, there is always room for improvement. As much as number one on this list talked about not listening to people, you can't ignore reality. Don't get bogged down by thinking every idea is gold when it probably isn't.
You have to be agile enough to realize when your company or product is underperforming so you can correct it. Eric Rice, CEO and Founder of 25 Ventures, says:
Being humble keeps you grounded no matter where you are at the current moment. Always remember that you started with nothing and how easy it can be to find yourself right back there if you aren’t careful.
The reason you are successful is because you did something different than someone else, so it should be no surprise that in order to continue that success, you must continue being both innovative and creative moving forward. Think of it this way: Could a farmer continue to get a good yield from his harvest if he didn't change his crops every now and again?
3. Ethics
No matter what, you can't get around the ethics of business. In the long run, success will be lost if your ethics are lost, as well. If you don't respect your customers, they won't respect you, and they will find another company to get products or services from.
It's seen very clearly in the recent movie, "Wolf of Wall Street," that no amount of deceit goes unpunished for too long. Lawrence Turman, a long-time film producer, comments on the values of business in his work "So You Want To Be a Producer":
One can be moral and ethical and still have a very successful career ... in any field. Having integrity is the best business, and the best way to live ... it will not hinder your long-range career.
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