Increase Your Success

by Caterina Rando, MCC

As an entrepreneurial coach, I see businesses thrive and I see businesses barely survive.  What does it take to be soaring on success? Technical knowledge, enough capital and good regular customers are no longer enough to guarantee your appointment book will be filled and your account books will be in the black.

Have no doubt, entrepreneurial bliss can be yours. If you are willing to be proactive and driven, positive and committed.  Here are some personal characteristics I have recognized that separate the squeamish from the successful.  Utilize these characteristics to increase your success. As you go through this list think of what you could do in each area to set yourself up to win.

Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs  

1.  Definiteness of Purpose and Passion.  The biggest insurance for continued success is right livelihood.  Ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing and make sure the answer is strong enough to energize you and keep you moving on the fast track to more success. No one can stay fired up seven days a week about work that does not excite them.  If you are not passionate about what you are doing, keep looking.  

2. Believe in Yourself and Your Ability to be Successful
You will be as successful as you believe you can be and as you can see yourself being.  Visualize your successful future. See it. Feel it. Hear it. Taste it.  Support yourself with positive words and positive thoughts.  No one else can give you the personal strength you need for success. You have to tap into the resources inside of you.

3.  Be A Repeated Risk taker
It is said luck is when preparedness meets opportunity. By taking risks you create opportunities.  I taught a workshop at Alumnae Resources last week.  It went great.  I remember what it was like the first time, how scared I was, how I over-prepared, how I was sure I would flop.  Let me tell you a secret.  We rarely flop. Things usually work out OK. Go for that new project, develop that new product, Go after that big client. If you do not, someone even less qualified will.  What risk are you willing to take today to get what you want? Today's risk is tomorrow's cakewalk, so get out there and expand your comfort zone.

4.  Communicate Powerfully 
I offer a whole workshop on communication. It is a huge topic.  Here are a few key points.  Learn to remember names. Always give a firm handshake. Use eye contact to create rapport. Make sure you have open body language and good posture.  Learn how to negotiate.  Most importantly, always ask for what you want every time.  If you do not ask, the answer is already no.

5.  Continuously Engage in Personal and Professional Development
I recently heard internationally acclaimed futurist, Paul Shay, speak to this issue.  He said that we are becoming a society of "Know Hows" and Know Nots."  There is a lot to learn out there in and out of your industry. To anyone who suffers from technophobia... get over it.  The success of your business depends on your ability to keep up with the widely used and accepted business forms of technology.     

6.  Create a Large Sphere of Influence 
 Business is about relationships.  Always be networking. Get involved in an industry specific professional group, an umbrella organization like your local Chamber of Commerce, and a women's professional group. An entrepreneur can get clients, referrals and resources from focusing on creating relationships.

7.  Promote Yourself as an Expert in your Field
Do not wait until you think you are an expert before you begin to position yourself as an expert.  Answer the question, how could you be recognized as an expert in your field?  Here are some possible answers.  Once you join your industry organization, get involved in the leadership -- it is always better to be in the front of the room than the back. To share your expertise, write articles, create information booklets, put on seminars, be on panels, and/or teach a class.  Be the expert you are.  

8.  Short and Long Term Planning  
Planning allows you to be proactive vs. reactive.  Planning is the foundation on which your business sits.  You will never get where you have not acknowledged you want to go. You need goals and action plans in each area of your business: marketing, customer service, product development, operations, administration etc.  Interestingly, I find that women are frequently unwilling to set income goals.  Do it, then decide how many billable hours, units or policies you need to sell weekly and monthly to meet those goals.  Review your short and long term goals daily.  Plan for tomorrow at the end of today, plan for next week at the end of this week, plan for next month at the end of this month.

9.  Stay Motivated
When you have doubt, or fall down and you want to stop, you can keep going by creating structures in your life to support you.  Have lunch with women who are further along in their business.  Listen to a motivational speaker like Marsha Weider or Patricia Fripp in the car.  Read an inspiring book by an accomplished businesswoman like Anita Roddick or Coco Chanel. Join an Action Group to talk about the challenges you are having.  Hire a coach to help you get unstuck, see the big picture and get revitalized.  By creating structures in your life that serve you, you alleviate stress and gain the support you need.  This support will keep you going, going, going.

Take the time to plan how you are going to incorporate and master each of these “Successful Entrepreneur Characteristics” in your life.  When it comes to your business success, knowledge is nothing, action is everything. Successful entrepreneurialism comes down to action.  What are you going to do? 
What changes are you going to make? What structures are you going to put in place to increase your success?  Look forward to your results.

Read Only Copyright 2002-2005. Used with permission of author. Caterina Rando, MA, MCC, is author of "Learn to Power Think," and a keynote speaker and success coach. She helps people invigorate their professional and personal lives and create the results they want. To find out more visit http://www.caterinar.com. Caterina can be reached at 800-966-3603 or by email at cpr@caterinar.com.

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