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Principles for Success - Part 2

Some simple rules for business owners to stay focused and successful

Date: 3 May 2011, Author: Steve Jackson

Following on from part one of these principles, I wrote this list a few years back when I was struggling to find direction and prioritise. After a bit of soul searching I came up with 10 rules which, if you can manage to stick to, should make acheiving your goals much easier. Like all the best advice they are simple and common sense, here are the second 5.

Proactive

When you start a business you will be confronted by many challenges on a daily basis. Some of them will be opportunities but some will be threats. It is very easy to focus only on the opportunities and ignore the threats because they are not as exciting. Burying your head in the sand and not confronting threats to your business in a proactive manner should be avoided at all costs.

Don’t wait for events to affect you, be proactive and keep control of situations. Staying proactive gives you options, being reactive reduces these options and usually costs you money. The sooner you confront it, the sooner it is gone and you can get back to the fun bits.

Proactivity will also help you with sales. Take the lead, guide your customers, expose them to new ideas, products and services. This will very often get them thinking about doing things that they would otherwise have ignored and can generate lots of new opportunities.

Nobody is going to give you success on a plate, you need to get out there and grab it for yourself.

Pride

In the early days you are going to be busy and sometimes it might seem that 'just getting something done' so it is off your desk is the best way forward. Resist this, take pride in everything you do and make sure your work is the best it can be. Always go the extra mile. Your customers will appreciate the quality of what you do and this reputation will ensure that they keep coming back and keep telling their friends and business associates.

Balance

I know ALOT about this one because in the early years of my own business I got the balance totally wrong and paid the price. You will have to work hard to make a success of your business (if it was easy, everyone would do it) but it is absolutely ESSENTIAL ( sorry to shout ;-) ) that you make time to play hard as well.

Make quality time for family, tell them how you are getting on and the challenges you face, don't sugar the pill, if things are tough they need to know so they can help. You need their support and understanding to be successful and they deserve some of your attention. If they are on your side then they can take much of the pressure off and even give some much needed perspective to things.

Finally, take time off. You must make time to recharge and refresh your mind. It is hard to justify when the in-tray is never empty but without it your performance over time will slowly get worse and worse. Burn out is no use to anyone!

Momentum

Don’t allow tasks to stall, even the smallest step forward every day is better than nothing. Delegate where you can...this is important so I will say it again...delegate where you can. You make no money spending a day doing paperwork, bookkeeping and all the other essential task for running a business. Make the most of accountants, employess and colleagues, you are paying for their services.

Demanding

Demand things on your terms in business and personally, if it is not good business it is no business, don’t be afraid to say you are not happy, ask yourself is this good for me and my family?

This doesn't mean you have to be rude, arrogant or screw people to the ground, I have met plenty of people who are only happy when they have won on all points but by far the best strategy is to let everyone win so what you get is a sustainable relationship that is profitable over time, rather than short term profiteering.

If a customer or supplier is demanding too much; be confident, respect yourself, resist and be prepared to walk away from the opportunity.

That's it! The old cliche...it's not rocket-science, but you would be amazed how easy it is to lose sight of these basic principles. I hope they help and good luck with your business.

Source: OSP Group Investments