Entrepreneur Success Stories

Sometimes I wonder what are more prevalent, Entrepreneur Success Stories or Entrepreneur War Stories. I know that for me it’s about a 50/50 split. However without one it’s pretty hard to have the other. I’ve hired, and unfortunately fired, my share of people throughout the years and there are always a few key things to keep in mind when trying to weigh the scale to the Entrepreneur Success Stories side.

• EVERYTHING is a victory: This is something that can’t be said enough. I remember when I would get ecstatic when my phone would ring from some of my Marketing. As time goes on you begin to narrow your target and have fewer and fewer “Tire Kickers” but in the beginning that’s a sign that your work is working. Even if you lose BIG you’ve still got to be grateful that you were even in the game to begin with. Most people sit on the sidelines and never play.

• Enthusiasm: Without it you might as well go wait in line for Day Labor. It’s contagious. When your energy is high people around you feed on it and want more of it. This is an element to Entrepreneur Success Stories that requires no money, time or effort. Remember, you’re an entrepreneur by CHOICE so be happy about it and DECIDE to be successful

• Accountability: Remember, there is no more boss. The person to keep you on track now is YOU. If you have a habit of always looking for other reasons for your failures, you’re in the wrong field! There is nowhere to turn and nowhere to point that finger. EVERYTHING that happens in your business is a DIRECT reflection of YOU. Now look at the bright side, when something great happens you can say, “Hey, I did that!”

• Repetition: Now this is a two way street. If you are not producing the results you like, stop repeating the same behavior and actions. However, if you’re beginning to see some successes, keep doing what you’re doing. The book The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell has a terrific chapter in it about becoming a Master. In the book it says you must have 10,000 hours logged. Think about it, 10,000 hours of repeated success is in itself is an Entrepreneur Success Story.

• Complacence: I almost threw up as I wrote that word. The second you begin to rest on your laurels and pat yourself on the back you have allowed laziness to creep into your head. I don’t know what your goals are, but complacence is the death of all unachieved goals. ALWAYS be striving. It’s like a video game. OK, you beat level one now it’s time to continue to the next level.

Remember, this isn’t life or death, this is Business Building. So take the added pressure off and remember to celebrate your victories, bleed enthusiasm, hold yourself accountable, start your 10,000 hours and never stop striving for more success. Keeping these things in mind may help you write some of your own Entrepreneur Success Stories.