Entrepreneurship is one of the hardest yet rewarding experiences. I launched my company, Keys to Abundant Life Inc. seventeen years ago and have learned so much in the process! If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or have just launched your own business, here are 5 tips I hope help and encourage you on your journey.
- Learn from others
One of the most important attributes to have as an entrepreneur is to be a lifelong learner. The more you seek to learn about your industry, your business, your team and yourself, the more successful you will be in the long run because what works in the beginning may not be enough to sustain your business over time. It’s also important to diversify the ways in which you take in information. There are so many conferences, podcasts, YouTube videos and books that are available for you to tap into.
Here are three recommendations I have to get you started:
- Good to Great by Jim Collins
- Ted X Talks for inspiration, new nuggets of knowledge, new perspectives on life, business, personal development
- Follow IGs of experts in your field. For me, I love following wellness- and nutrition- related IGs like @afroveganociety, @mofad, @doctorholistichealth, @anew.acu to name a few.
- Find a mentor
I am sure you have heard this before, but nothing is new. Everything has been done before in some way. This is a good thing for entrepreneurs because it means there are many people who can talk us through how to avoid pitfalls and challenges that could otherwise be major obstacles. It’s important to find a mentor who is successful in whatever area you want to strengthen and one who you trust enough to be honest about your experiences. Having a mentor reminds you that you’re not alone. When you feel like you want to quit (every entrepreneur at some point is going to feel this way) or are not sure how to navigate a situation, you will appreciate having someone to talk to and bounce ideas off.
- Deliver quality
There will be many moments in your journey where you will consider cutting corners to reach success quicker but believe me when I say – it’s not worth it. The shortest way to achieving something, isn’t always the best way because while it may lead to some success, often times it’s short lived. Credibility is the cornerstone of every successful business and to keep it, you have to be willing to pour time and money (lots of money) into whatever you are selling.
- Trust yourself
Nobody knows your business like you do. There are other brands and businesses who can sell the exact same product that you do and there will still be something that differentiates you from them. Lean on that when you’re making tough decisions that cause you to overthink things and doubt yourself.
- Take breaks
Grind culture will have you thinking you should rest once you’ve reached success. The truth is that is not realistic. Breaks help you to avoid frustration and burnout. Something as small as a quick snack break during the workday or something larger like a vacation where you completely unplug from your roles and responsibilities can make a massive difference in your productivity. When you overwork yourself, you run the risk of making more mistakes and losing the passion that led you to start your business in the first place. The sooner you learn to have boundaries between your personal and professional life, the more all areas of your life will flourish.
