There are certain characteristics and actions that are common to successful entrepreneurs (entrepreneurs or business owners on the internet). Learning them will also make it easier and more likely for you to succeed than it would be without a knowledge of them. There are many factors indeed that we can attribute their success to. I will cover ten of them here.
They set goals. You have dreams, things you want to achieve. You set a goal when you fix a time for realizing your dream. Setting goals and writing them down will drive you to succeed. A Harvard Business School study revealed that only 3% of the population studied wrote down their goals and that they were earning 10 times as much as the 83% that never set goals. The learning here is that you should write down your goals, breaking them into bits consisting of activities that will lead you to realize your dreams.
They are organized. Being organized is a habit that can be learnt. It would appear that some find this easier than others. A lot of productive time is lost to lack of organization. Are you organized? Answer this question to find out: Are you able to find things when you need them? Keeping proper records and adopting a simple logical filing system will help you a great deal.
They develop themselves. There is no perfect human being. There are often weaknesses, gaps and deficiencies here and there. The successful internet business owners improve themselves by reading and attending seminars. They are perpetual students. They know that leaders are readers.
They pay attention to detail. At a certain stage taking care of little things lead towards perfection. In turning out an e-mail, an ezine or designing a web site effort must be made to ensure that good impression is made on the receiver or visitor. The Japanese principle of "kaizen", continuous improvement, is worth embracing.
They use time well. I don't want to say that they manage time well because the time available is fixed, 24 hours in a day and so on. What you can do is arrange your activities to get the most out the available fixed time. There should be a balance amongst business, family and self. The front runners do this.
They use the right tools. This is the computer age and automation is the word. As your business grows it will be very helpful to take advantage of the various tools now at our disposal to enable you work smarter. The big earners put a large chunk of their business operations on autopilot.
They stay motivated. Motivation comes from within, driving you to continue your work with a high energy level. It helps a great deal if you love what you are doing. This is why it is important to consider your area of interest, apart from monetary issues, in the choice of a business.
They are self-disciplined. It's necessary to be focused and methodical in your approach to work. If you work at home it's doubly so. Set working hours and let all know that you would rather not be distracted. This practice would enhance your productivity.
They have and display positive attitude. The top dogs are not easily discouraged. They don't turn tail when they encounter obstacles. Neither should you. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric bulb, did 1200 experiments before he succeeded.
They are patient. Particularly at the beginning. They do not go after get-rich-quick schemes that do not last but collapse in no time like a house built on sand. They stake out their plot and invest their energy and ingenuity on it until it blossoms. You should take a long-term view as well.
Without sacrificing your individuality and originality, we should model success because, by and large, different attitudes and actions lead to different results.
Matthew Eigbe has over 25 years experience in consumer marketing and now focuses on network marketing using the internet. He is webmaster at http://www.mattlinks.ws, a site that explains how you can gain Financial Freedom by inviting people to have their own domain name.
1.09.2008
10 Credos for Doing Business
Opportunities for doing business can increase if your values match the values which your customer holds. So what are the best ways for doing business through relationships? Here is the list of the ten best ways that I have come across through my own and others personal experience:
Always listen to the other person
Give away information that will help the other person in writing
Dress professionally
Have a business card that is not homemade
Provide many ways to contact you including your web address and email
Have a nice looking website with good content
Always answer your emails and queries promptly
Create touch points that are meaningful
Build the relationship before trying to sell
Be focuses on your expertise and do not try to be everything
Your message must be clear and concise yet it must create an excitement about what you have to say and what services you provide. The next topic will give you a list of the best ways to create that excitement.
The first point is always the most difficult for people as we all have a tendency to want to talk about our own business and what is happening within our own world. I always remember the sales folks I want to avoid because they cannot stop talking about how great their product is. I could not care less about the product, what I want is what can that product do for me and how can it help to solve my problems.
Bette Daoust, Ph.D. is a speaker, author (over 170 books, articles, and publications), and consultant. She has provided marketing, sales, business development and training expertise for companies such as Peet's Coffee & Tea, Varian Medical Systems, Accenture, Avaya, Cisco Systems to name a few. Dr. Daoust has also done extensive work with small businesses in developing their marketing, training, and operational plans. You may contact Dr. Daoust at http://BizMechanix.com You may also view her latest publications at http://BlueprintBooks.com or http://CreditRepairForEveryone.com
Always listen to the other person
Give away information that will help the other person in writing
Dress professionally
Have a business card that is not homemade
Provide many ways to contact you including your web address and email
Have a nice looking website with good content
Always answer your emails and queries promptly
Create touch points that are meaningful
Build the relationship before trying to sell
Be focuses on your expertise and do not try to be everything
Your message must be clear and concise yet it must create an excitement about what you have to say and what services you provide. The next topic will give you a list of the best ways to create that excitement.
The first point is always the most difficult for people as we all have a tendency to want to talk about our own business and what is happening within our own world. I always remember the sales folks I want to avoid because they cannot stop talking about how great their product is. I could not care less about the product, what I want is what can that product do for me and how can it help to solve my problems.
Bette Daoust, Ph.D. is a speaker, author (over 170 books, articles, and publications), and consultant. She has provided marketing, sales, business development and training expertise for companies such as Peet's Coffee & Tea, Varian Medical Systems, Accenture, Avaya, Cisco Systems to name a few. Dr. Daoust has also done extensive work with small businesses in developing their marketing, training, and operational plans. You may contact Dr. Daoust at http://BizMechanix.com You may also view her latest publications at http://BlueprintBooks.com or http://CreditRepairForEveryone.com
"Must Haves" for ANY Business - The 2005 List
As a business consultant I get the opportunity meet hundreds of professionals in every imaginable business each year. And time and experience have taught me one thing – there are a few “Must Haves” for any modern business. My clients hire me to ensure their business does well so the first thing I do is provide them with a list of “must haves”. Here it is for 2005…
# 1 Computer and Information Security
Whether for small business, huge corporations or home-based start-ups, this is the place where the most damage can happen in the shortest amount of time. I can’t stress this enough but still most people don’t listen until it’s too late. This year I’ve made it easier than ever. Consider this… Imagine a computer security solution that addresses the root of the problem, costs under $10 and can be implemented in about an hour. Computer Security in the Workplace is a book that does just that. It was written by two IT pros from Harvard but with none of the techno-babble you might expect. It only takes about an hour to read and is becoming THE guide of choice by a lot of savvy companies. You can get it at www.ComputerSecurityBook.com. It goes quickly so don’t miss this one. I bought a copy for each of my clients as a holiday gift and the “thank you” messages continue to roll in each time a disaster is averted, which is more than you might imagine.
# 2 Proof of PR
If your name shows up in the media – intentionally or otherwise – you NEED to know about it. Knowing about this can give you the competitive edge to use fast-breaking positive media coverage for publicity (much better than paid advertising) or help you track who is printing your press releases. More than this however, I began recommending “media clipping” services to clients years ago as a way to make sure competitors are not taking liberties with company or trademarked names or, worse yet, running a slander campaign. There are a lot of services out there today. Many of my clients use www.CyberAlert.com or www.CustomScoop.com, which both offer free trials. If this is not right for you, try entering the term in question in quotes in Google.com and running an Internet search. The “quotes around term” will isolate that phrase and return only exact matches, greatly reducing your investigative efforts.
# 3 A Clear Plan
Times have changed. The “napkin plans” just don’t cut it anymore and neither do the overly complex ones created by executives who belong in a “Dilbert” comic strip. And by “plan” I mean ANY plan, be it a Business Plan, Marketing Plan, Financial Plan or even a Project Plan. If this final tip does not apply to you, count yourself among the lucky. If you feel like you could benefit from a better plan, whether it is to obtain a bank loan, investors or just for your own sanity, there are plenty of reasonably priced software products out there that can do a great job for you. Stop by your local office supply superstore or start online with www.PaloAlto.com or www.PlanMagic.com.
Good luck. I hope this list helps.
# 1 Computer and Information Security
Whether for small business, huge corporations or home-based start-ups, this is the place where the most damage can happen in the shortest amount of time. I can’t stress this enough but still most people don’t listen until it’s too late. This year I’ve made it easier than ever. Consider this… Imagine a computer security solution that addresses the root of the problem, costs under $10 and can be implemented in about an hour. Computer Security in the Workplace is a book that does just that. It was written by two IT pros from Harvard but with none of the techno-babble you might expect. It only takes about an hour to read and is becoming THE guide of choice by a lot of savvy companies. You can get it at www.ComputerSecurityBook.com. It goes quickly so don’t miss this one. I bought a copy for each of my clients as a holiday gift and the “thank you” messages continue to roll in each time a disaster is averted, which is more than you might imagine.
# 2 Proof of PR
If your name shows up in the media – intentionally or otherwise – you NEED to know about it. Knowing about this can give you the competitive edge to use fast-breaking positive media coverage for publicity (much better than paid advertising) or help you track who is printing your press releases. More than this however, I began recommending “media clipping” services to clients years ago as a way to make sure competitors are not taking liberties with company or trademarked names or, worse yet, running a slander campaign. There are a lot of services out there today. Many of my clients use www.CyberAlert.com or www.CustomScoop.com, which both offer free trials. If this is not right for you, try entering the term in question in quotes in Google.com and running an Internet search. The “quotes around term” will isolate that phrase and return only exact matches, greatly reducing your investigative efforts.
# 3 A Clear Plan
Times have changed. The “napkin plans” just don’t cut it anymore and neither do the overly complex ones created by executives who belong in a “Dilbert” comic strip. And by “plan” I mean ANY plan, be it a Business Plan, Marketing Plan, Financial Plan or even a Project Plan. If this final tip does not apply to you, count yourself among the lucky. If you feel like you could benefit from a better plan, whether it is to obtain a bank loan, investors or just for your own sanity, there are plenty of reasonably priced software products out there that can do a great job for you. Stop by your local office supply superstore or start online with www.PaloAlto.com or www.PlanMagic.com.
Good luck. I hope this list helps.
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