As an entrepreneur, there are plenty of good things that make you successful. Your creativity, your single-mindedness, and your drive to be successful are three that spring to mind. However, just because you have these traits doesn’t mean you’re infallible. The reality is that wannabe businessmen and women all have character flaws because it’s a way of life. Unfortunately, they often get in the way of a person’s success.
So, if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, it’s time to cut out the bad habits. But, you have to know what they are before you can make any real change. So, below are the seven things to avoid if you want to be successful. To be honest, there is way more than that, but these deserve more of your attention.
#1: Communicating Poorly
Entrepreneurs are lone wolves that roam the industry looking for their next kill. As such, communication isn’t going to be your strong point. Come on – how does anyone expect you to be on point when you spend most of the day alone? Sorry to burst your bubble, but they do expect a certain level of communication. Otherwise, no one will understand you and your views and ideas will get lost in the ether. The trick is not to be lazy. Saying the bare minimum may appear cool and aloof, but it gives off a bad impression. Quite simply, most clients will think you’re either arrogant or stupid, and none of these traits bode well. So, talk slowly, speak up, and make eye contact.
#2: Reacting To Criticism
Some people say that the way a business person responds to criticism is an indicator of their success. The reason is simple: a response is an insight into your mind. It shows them how you think and act, and that is essential in this industry. For example, people who screw up their faces and bite back are too sensitive. In the business world, a thick skin is paramount, so clients will avoid partners that can’t take a bit of a beating. What they want to see is someone who takes it all on board and uses it as a vehicle to succeed. Not only do they have the emotional capacity to achieve great things, but they also understand the industry which bodes well for the future. All you hot heads out there need to cool down.
#3: Inflexible
Stubbornness is another negative of being a hot-head. Because you are certain you’re in the right, there is no need to change. In fact, some entrepreneurs are arrogant enough to believe they are flawless. Of course, a level of confidence is necessary to succeed in any business because you need the courage of your convictions. But, it’s a fine line as you also need to know when to change to suit your needs. Not to generalize, but change scares unsuccessful entrepreneurs and that is one reason they fail. Whether you want to be right or are scared of the unknown, sometimes you have to be flexible enough to take the plunge.
#4: Making Excuses
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the buck stops with one person: you. As the boss, you are responsible for your successes and failures. Of course, that’s okay when everything is going to plan. However, the waters get muddy when the proverbial hits the fan. Far too many people look for excuses instead of accepting the fact that they were wrong. Yes, it isn’t easy to do, and it can knock your self-confidence, but it is possible to turn a weakness into a strong point. As long as you have an analytical brain, failure is the potential foundation of success. What you have to do is examine what went wrong and why. Then, there is no need to remake the same mistake. Remember: fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
#5: Not Planning
Are you a maverick? Do you like to do things on a whim at the spur of a moment? If you answer yes to these two questions, you may need to rethink your strategy. Planning is the key to success because it is hard to keep track otherwise. Okay, there is no reason to write down every detail of every day, but the main ones are important. Indeed, you never know when they will come back to haunt you in a future meeting or business call. Plus, being organized is a good sign. Companies that use Calendar Spots and other online resources appear more professional than the rest. And, that is an area you need to address as an entrepreneur. At the end of the day, you’re a small entity that needs to look bigger, and organization is the way forward in this respect.
#6: Procrastinating
Entrepreneurs have a level of flexibility to their working day which is different from the norm. Simply put, every day changes from one week to the next. So, maintaining output levels is never easy. Still, procrastinating isn’t the answer as all it does is prolong the agony. Sure, working at home has its advantages, but that doesn’t mean you can watch TV all day. And, being the boss isn’t an excuse to start at midday and finish at two o’clock. To be productive, it’s essential to treat the day and your environment like any other. That means waking up at a decent hour and putting in a shift.
#7: Working Too Hard
The flip side of the coin is taking on too much to compensate. Sometimes, a day’s work doesn’t feel productive. For example, sending off emails and talking on the phone isn’t what most people would consider industrious. However, these features are part and parcel of the lifestyle and are incredibly important. As such, you need to focus on these tasks and these tasks alone. Trying to multitask to make up for your guilt only ends up going wrong. Instead, concentrate on one thing at a time and take it step by step.
If you can avoid these habits, there is a better chance of being successful.
