Develop Traits All Successful Entrepreneurs Share

Have you ever spent any time studying very successful people? Do they seem to have something in common? There seems to be something about them, but it’s somewhat elusive, not easy to define.

Maybe you think it’s all due to lucky breaks….? Or maybe they just knew the right people. But have you ever heard the expression, “I find that the harder I work, the luckier I get.”

Something to think about, and, of course, it’s not just working hard, it’s also about working smart. Successful people don’t depend on luck. They put in the time and effort to drive their dreams to fruition.

The most successful people share certain secrets. Call them ideas or traits, but people with power or success or money seem to have five these things in common:

• Persistence
• Passion    
•  Self-control
• Decisive Action    
• Creativity    

Persistence    

We all know and admire people who have failed and gone on to great success. Before he invented the electric light bulb, Thomas Edison failed more than 1,000 times. He never saw it as a failure; he saw it as one more step towards succeeding.

Henry Ford is another example. He came from a poor background with no education, but he looked at the horse and buggy and saw the amazing cars we drive today. Abraham Lincoln failed in business and in running for government several times, but we all know how he ended up.

Persistence will carry you when intelligence and luck do not. Many of us give up too soon. Winston Churchill, a hero in horrible times, is well known for this phrase,” Never, never, never, never give up.”   

Action Steps To Develop Persistence:

1. Change how you view failure. It’s not a bad thing, just a learning experience.
2. Build a support network. Cheerleaders are good to have in your corner when things don’t go as planned.
3. Find your driving force. It’s easier to push past failure when you know and believe in why you’re trying in the first place.
4. Write it down. Studies have shown that people who write down their goals have a greater chance of success.

  Passion    

You’ve probably heard the expression,” if you can believe it, you can achieve it.” That’s telling us that a good idea alone is not enough. You have to believe in it.

I’ll bet you know people who are very intelligent but have never risen very high in life. And I’ll bet you know other people who haven’t had much going for them but have succeeded in spite of obstacles. It’s very likely due to their determination to achieve their goals in spite of anything that comes against them.

Passion for what you want to accomplish will push you long after your motivation has flamed out. Harnessing that belief that you can accomplish whatever goals you set and using that as fuel can almost certainly guarantee you success when combined when the other traits.

Action Steps To Develop Your Passion:

1. Find out what that idea, business, or activity is that you are passionate about. You have to be clear about what you want to pursue.
2. Practice, practice, practice. Practice makes perfect as they say and it also develops a passion. Become an expert in the thing that moves you. Work at it every day so you can be your best at it.
3. Set achievable goals. setting goals helps to create a clear plan to work from. A road map to help you get to your destination.

 Self-Control    

Entrepreneurs have a lot of power over their jobs, but if it’s used incorrectly, it can lead to failure. The power of self-control in business is really about the way you handle your thoughts and your emotions.  You have to take action instead of procrastinating and manage any drivers that keep you stuck.

It’s making sure all things, both big and small get done even when you would rather be doing something else. Self-control is the core of time management. While everybody has the same 24 hours, what we choose to do with those hours is what separates the successful from everyone else. 

Action Steps To Increase Self Control:

1. Create A Schedule. Then stick to it faithfully. Make adjustments for emergencies, but stick to your schedule for the most. And make sure your schedule reflects what you can actually accomplish in a day.
2. Expect and Prepare For Obstacles. They say nothing worth having comes easy, so part of building self-control is having a plan in place to deal with setbacks. That way when they do arise you are not just reacting with your emotions.
3. Be Accountable. Whenever you commit to doing something, follow through and actually do it. Whether that commitment is to someone else or yourself, follow through. Use your support network to help you stay accountable. Let someone know what you’re doing and check in periodically to update them on your progress.

    Decisive Action

Studies have shown that one of the greatest causes of failure is lack of decision. Along with that, procrastination is the most common thing that holds people back from achieving their full potential. Studies have also shown that millionaires make a habit of making decisions promptly and then only changing them when necessary.

Decision-making is not just about the ability to decide promptly; it’s also about having the correct information on which to base the decision. Then trust yourself enough to be ok with the decision made. You may need to rely on others for help or information, but base your decision on the most accurate facts possible.

Once you feel you have those, take action. Don’t stretch out the process, fretting over the what ifs. Doing so leads to doubt and inaction.

Action Steps For Being More Decisive:

1. Try Using A Timer. Until you are confident in your decision-making skills, try setting a timer for 2 minutes after you have gathered all the pertinent information. When the time is up to make your decision.
2. Write Out Your Pros And Cons. Sometimes seeing things on paper makes them more clear and therefore makes your decision easier to make.
3. Seek Out Different Perspectives. Sometimes part of gathering all the pertinent information means asking for help and getting another view of the problem. They may be able to offer suggestions that didn’t occur to you. Don’t get caught up in asking 75 people for advice, this will add to the indecisiveness. A mentor or trusted colleague can give you input to help you take action.

Creativity

This quality, creativity, is underrated. Creativity does not just apply to write a novel or painting a portrait; it applies to the life you create for yourself and the business you create for yourself in all their aspects.

And so much of your success will depend on how creative your solutions are. Have you noticed?  Almost every great success story in business begins with one good idea. And being able to make something out of nothing or find different uses and solutions for common problems and items.

Creativity doesn’t have to be reinventing the wheel, just finding new uses for it. If you can’t think for yourself and imagine possibilities, you must depend only on what others before you have done. And sometimes that can lead to disastrous results. Always be willing to think outside of the box as they say.

Action Steps To Develop Your Creativity:

1. Try Something New. Trying different things can spark your creativity by exposing you to new experiences.
2. Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone. Do something that you don’t normally do. Read a different genre of books, try different ethnic food. Go dancing if you don’t usually dance. Get out of your normal routines.
3. Find a hobby. Doing an activity you love sparks creativity and builds new skills. Try out different activities like crocheting, woodworking, pottery, or adult coloring to name a few. Before you know it you’ll be creating all types of wonderful projects.

Now is the perfect time to get started cultivating some of these traits. Don’t wait or put it off, dive in so you can be added to the list of successful people you read about!