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Archive for Entrepreneurs

The Long Term Entrepreneur

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Tuesday, May 17th, 2016

entrepreneur

Successful entrepreneurs, who have run businesses for many years, tend to have similar qualities. Mostly of boomer age or even older, these traits have been true of them since they were quite young and though they may not have been as successful at a regular job, on their own, they are powerhouses.

Not afraid to work hard

If you were lazy at school, especially in your younger years or didn’t think you needed a part-time job while in high school, the entrepreneurial lifestyle is not for you. Working from a home office puts you in charge of you and possibly others who you may hire. What it comes down to is a lot of work, which means self-reliance, in all aspects of your life.

Motivated and driven – you have ambition
For many years ambition was a dirty word, but how else can you describe someone who has the ability to get ahead on their own?

Organized
Organized is one of the most important traits of someone who works on their own. If you can’t find your work, how will you complete it?

Strong and emotionally stable

We aren’t speaking of weight lifting and physical strength here; we mean the ability to keep going when the going gets tough. The bottom line – not breaking down in tears or frustration over the many tasks that have to be accomplished, especially when it seems they all have to be finished at one time. Overwhelmed is not in your vocabulary and you look down in disdain at those you use it.

Adaptable: independent and not afraid of change

Anyone starting a new business knows that they will have to change with the times. Fear of the future and what it may bring is not an option if you want to be successful. Looking forward to change or at least finding yourself capable of making sense of it, keeps your business successful.

Not easily swayed by the opinions of others; don’t follow the crowd

Having your own ideas and sticking to them will bring you a long way. Don’t believe what everyone tells you, you want your business to stand out, not copy the others.

Confident in the product or service you are selling or providing

Not being a believer in your own business will show to those you are trying to sell to. Having complete confidence in your work and the way you carry it out shows that you can get the job done. Know your products and services inside out.

Able to follow through on your plans and goals

A quitter will get nowhere when it comes to operating on their own. Going the extra mile time and time again will bring your business to the forefront among competition. Have plans in place and don’t be afraid to change them as time goes by so your business is competitive with others.

Interested in a variety of new ideas and love to learn

Stagnation can put an end to your business or your ability to work from home. Keeping up with technology, to a degree and trying out new ideas will give you an idea of which direction you would like to take your business. Read about the topics that you find interesting, it makes you an intriguing person. All of these things create an interest in your business and even more so, an interest in you!

© Chris Draper, 2016

image courtesy of crayond

 

Categories : Entrepreneurs, Productivity, Small Business, Success
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How Much Productivity is Too Much?

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on How Much Productivity is Too Much?
Wednesday, April 27th, 2016

ProductiveStriking items from our to-do lists every day makes us feel good. To see, at the close of the day, that we have completed every task we set out to do causes a feeling of accomplishment and that we won the fight against the almighty “have to get dones” that are knocking at our door every day.

Are we overdoing it? Is productivity the key to happiness or are we so busy that we aren’t even aware of what makes us happy anymore? Most of us seem to justify what we do with our time by labeling it productive and this includes our leisure time. Achievement seems to be the goal, doing things faster than ever and especially better and faster than those around us, for achievement is a very competitive thing. Our answer when asked how we are always includes “busy”. It makes us feel somehow superior to those who aren’t.

The problem arises when we feel that we have to justify everything we do by calling it productive. Efficient use of your time has its place; in your workplace or business, but outside of that, should we really be keeping tabs of each minute and how we spend it? While we all like to think we are getting somewhere through our efforts, either in business or a hobby, is it necessary to always be producing or is this our manufactured way of making ourselves feel important?

Once you start to feel that you have to make the most out of every minute of your day is when leisure and relaxation disappear and you are on a constant treadmill of keeping up with not only your idea but everyone else’s idea of what you should be doing and when you should be doing it. Losing control of your actions in the workplace is one thing but to never really be in charge of what you do in your private life is another.

Increased productivity rarely leads to happiness or a sense of satisfaction, as there will always be times when we feel we haven’t done enough, and should have done more. Managing our time in an efficient way can be great, especially when we get more done in less time by focusing on what we are doing. But if we are putting aside the things we really want to do, just to accomplish things we’ve been told we should want to accomplish, then we are being productive for the wrong reasons.

The feeling that we have to be productive is actually cutting into our real productivity, that balance between work, leisure, recreation and family that keeps us happy and fuels our energy so we can accomplish the most important things. Our fear of being left behind has led to a productivity crisis, one where everyone is busy doing but not really getting anything done that will have any major impact on their future, will not lead to a quality life and in the end will leave them frustrated and stressed.

Leaving time for “unproductivity” will allow you the chance to have real ideas, learn more about what you would really like to do that is enjoyable and maybe even get those real things done.

© Chris Draper, 2016

Categories : Entrepreneurs, Productivity, Small Business, Success, Work/Life Balance
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Learn to Say No

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on Learn to Say No
Friday, April 22nd, 2016

no moreCrowded schedules, stressed out lives, a to-do list a mile long and no end in sight. For many business owners, this is so familiar it has become their lifestyle.

Though it may be your present lifestyle, it isn’t one that you have to commit to, continue with or even put up with now. Your business is something that belongs to you and as such, you are the one making the decisions. If your decisions are causing all of the above, then you have far too many commitments and they are usually business based.

How do you change? Which commitments do you give up? How do you say no to more?

First, start with your goals. Goals are not always your friends. Quite often, they can rule your life, instead of your being in charge of them. Besides your own personal goals, you probably have goals that involve other business owners or associates. Though you may have promised them certain things or have deadlines and are committed to reaching them, leaving yourself more leeway and even saying no, will reduce your stress. Very rarely will you find that you accomplish less because of not reaching a certain goal at a certain time.

Unwanted commitments. These are commitments that you were usually talked into against your better judgement and didn’t want to make. Classes, talks, meetings – take your pick. Backing out of an unwanted commitment, though you may feel you are letting others down, will make you feel better immediately. There is no need to give a reason, just state that unfortunately, you are no longer available for such and such a thing and then change the subject. If anyone should ask why not, you can simply tell them that it is personal. Drop the guilt.

Self induced commitments. While you may not think these exist, most of us force commitments on ourselves. We absolutely have to do this, that or the other thing. Not to be confused with goals, self inducted commitments tend to be time wasters or not necessary and we put them in place to justify doing certain things. These could be anything from spending too much time on the computer to over cleaning or organizing our homes. We can all fill in our own blanks here for what would be considered a time waster in our lives that we still feel we have to do.

How to you stop committing yourself to things you really don’t want to do or don’t have the time for?

Besides just saying no, you can always soften the blow a little by adding that at this time, you can’t commit to anything but will have to get back to this person or that person (or yourself!) at a later date as your schedule will not allow for further commitments at the present time. Remind yourself of your convictions, that you will no longer commit to anything just to please others or to make yourself look busy.

Remember, the dictionary defines a commitment as “an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.” Once you start to think of it that way, you will find a way to cut down on anything that complicates your business and life and makes work more of a chore, instead of something you should be enjoying.

© Chris Draper, 2016

image courtesy of web.theabl

 

Categories : Entrepreneurs, Productivity, Small Business, Work/Life Balance
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Taking a Business Break

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on Taking a Business Break
Wednesday, April 20th, 2016

taking a break

The average small business owner spends 70 – 80 hours per week on their business. Therefore it’s no small wonder that they either are unable or don’t know how to take time off. Both scenarios can lead to a downfall, either of your business or your health and many times, both. Though most of us can’t say no to extra hours or opportunities due to financial constraints, at some point, the decisions will be made for us, usually through failing health.

Though all work and no play can make you dull, there are worse things in the world than being boring and one of those is being ill. Taking time off is a necessity and one that should be made a habit of, not something that just happens at vacation time, for how many of us out there spend some time also working on the weekends? Signs of needing a break include low tolerance for things that normally wouldn’t bother you; fuzzy thinking where you were once on the ball. You no longer enjoy what you are doing and make more mistakes; you are twice as exhausted doing half the things you used to do, yet you can’t sleep.

For those of us with our own businesses or who work remotely, the percentage working more than 5 days a week is astronomical. Unlike our friends, who may work the typical nine to five job, we are working a variety of hours around the clock, 7 days a week and though we may not always work straight 8 hour shifts, the ongoing schedule of working every day of the week leads to more stress and worsening health.

When a break is what you need you have to figure out how you are going to make it happen and not just this week, but every week so your body has time to relax and not think about work or other worries. If you are in charge of a business, it’s time to call in that virtual team. Though you may not think you can afford it, can you really afford not to? If you also have employees that work for you, this will involve more planning as they need to know who is in charge and what their extra duties may entail while you are away – calling you is out of the question.

Explain to your employees and your customers if you must, that you are more effective when you’re rested and that you will return, better than ever. Once everyone gets used to your taking regular time off from your business, the easier they will accept it and the smoother the transition will be each time. Once you are back, start moving forward at a pace that is more comfortable for you. Not all steps have to be large steps. Understand what it is about yourself that makes you push forward when it’s actually to your detriment.

Be easy on yourself. Everyone needs a break, even you. You don’t have to wear a flag that says you are a martyr to your business. With regular breaks, everyone will know better. They’ll realize you are a successful business person and a smart one, who knows when to take time off.

© Chris Draper, 2016

image courtesy of teamgantt

 

Categories : Entrepreneurs, Productivity, Small Business, Time Management, Work/Life Balance
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How Successful People Succeed

Posted by: admin | Comments Comments Off on How Successful People Succeed
Tuesday, April 5th, 2016

succeedSuccessful people just seem to have that something extra. We look at them, wonder what is it they have that we don’t and they come up in our conversations frequently. What is it that they do differently?

They have the ability to keep their emotions under control and stay calm. The most successful people in all professions, including business owners, rate high in emotional intelligence. Their self worth comes from what they think of themselves. They refuse to react in a negative way when hearing of what other people think of their actions. They are able to filter out the judgements of those who may be envious of their success and rely on their own business sense and push toward accomplishing their goals.

They don’t let frustration take over. Successful people know that not every day will be perfect. They’ve been in business long enough to know that “this too shall pass” and are able to keep going even when it gets tough. They aren’t bothered by the minute details and tiny risks that are part of running their business each day and keeping it on a steady path. Planning is a huge part of their life but they don’t let their to-do list run every minute of their day. Sometimes it’s best to step away from the essentials and take a chance.

They don’t allow themselves be controlled by the uncontrollable. Outside circumstances may not be perfect but successful people know that not only is perfection a facade but it is boring. Allowing your imperfections to show as a business owner but not in your business practices makes you more human and approachable to your customers and they appreciate being able to meet the person behind the business.

They have learned to say no. As difficult as it is, you can’t say yes to everyone and everything. Prioritize your business commitments and say yes to only the most important. Those who are successful know how important relaxation and time away from their business is to their general welfare. It’s what makes them succeed in their business and also enjoy their personal time.

They don’t make excuses and always take responsibility for their actions. Successful people know that you have to be mature and take ownership for the outcome of your business. Making excuses is not an option. Sometimes failing is part of any business venture and opportunities don’t always work out the way we wish they would.

Those who succeed realize that the most important things in life are a combination of work and play, business and family, knowledge and learning. Their lives and their businesses reflect this and they’ve learned that the road to success has to be enjoyed to be worth it.

Chris Draper © Copyright 2016 All rights reserved.

 

Categories : Entrepreneurs, Small Business, Success
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  • How Much Productivity is Too Much?
  • Learn to Say No
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