I’m still flying high from my mentor David Neagle’s Manifest Your Marketability event last week in L.A. Not only was I there to learn, but I was also a sponsor and had the chance to share my story on the stage with some amazing entrepreneurs. I’m so grateful for the experience (and for the new business and friendships it brought me)!
One of the things I’m working on in my life is to be proud of myself for my accomplishments. I’m one of those people who sets the bar high, does whatever it takes to achieve it, and then is on to the next goal the minute I achieve what I originally set out to do.
Rarely do I stop to think how far I’ve come or to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and effort I’ve put into something.
In L.A. last week, I realized that self-love and self-acknowledgement need to become a habit in my life—especially as I continue to take bigger risks and grow my business. So, in honor of acknowledging my accomplishments (and doing so publically), I thought I’d share 7 things I’ve learned about running a successful company.
- Follow your desire: Do what you love. If you hate what you do, if you aren’t truly passionate about it, then find something you do love to do. And no matter what happens—no matter how difficult the obstacle—follow your passion.
- Work toward fulfilling your vision: Write it down, and review it regularly. If you don’t know what you want, you’ll never get it. This goes for monthly goals and benchmarks. Keep them posted in plain sight so you stay focused on the bigger picture.
- Trust your gut: I’ve learned that 99% of doing business is about trusting your instincts. Do people think I’m nuts sometimes? Yes. Do I care? Well, I’m working on that! I have learned to trust my gut and have faith that everything will work out. If I overanalyze an opportunity or situation, I end up miserable and worried.
- Listen: I like to talk. A lot. But I’ve learned success comes from listening. Not just listening to prospects, clients, and employees, but also to my own inner voice. When I find myself being busy just to be busy, this is my cue to stop and ask myself, What is it that I’m not wanting to hear? What am I avoiding? Then, I wait for the answer. If you stop to listen, amazing things can happen.
- Hire a mentor: If you think you can do this alone—you can’t. You are not an island. Find someone who has been where you are now, someone who will hold you accountable and help guide you when times get tough. Because I am willing to invest in a mentor, my sales continue to increase, I’m able to hire more people, and I pay myself more.
- Read, read, read: I regularly read biographies of accomplished men and women and study books on improving business systems and mindset. You’d be amazed at how helpful these books are when it comes to making daily business decisions.
- Take time off: I work a lot because I love to work. I’m living my dream, and what I do helps so many people that most of the time it doesn’t feel like work at all. However, down time is absolutely necessary if you want to succeed. If I’m not well rested or if I don’t have time to rejuvenate my creative juices, I might as well not even bother showing up to client meetings or a sales call. Taking time away from work is also the best way to get new ideas and a fresh perspective on daily operations and your overall vision.
What have you learned from running a business?
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