What it Takes to Succeed in Business

One of the hardest things in the world to do is to start a business. I’ve watched several people start a business and some have succeeded and, quite frankly, some have failed. For those that have succeeded, I’ve noticed a handful of things in common and I’d like to share them with you.

Connections!

That’s right the connections you have and make can make your business a success. Consider if you meet someone that’s a mover and shaker in what you want to do. That’s where The Entrepreneur Meetups come in, we all know that mentors are a good thing and that’s because they’ve been where you’re going and they can help you not fall into the same potholes as they did. Very often the problem is, people don’t want to listen and they get stuck in the do-it-themselves mentality. Which is one of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen people do, the lone ranger will never work out in business. Why? Because no one ever truly does it alone. You always need help or your business won’t make it!

Time!

Allow yourself plenty of time to do the work that needs to be done. When you start your company and expect everything to work out in the first weeks and months, you’re probably going to be let down. Things like video’s, marketing and hiring the correct employees for the position all take time. You may have to go through 10 people to find that perfect fit. That takes time and isn’t going to be done overnight, no matter how much you want it to be.

Also, you will need to look at having lots of long hours when everyone else is at home doing their life, in order to make your business happen. Why? Because there are hours and hours of work that need to be done in the first 3 years of a new business to give it a chance of working. If you don’t do the time, you’re almost assured that your new company won’t be making it.

Focus!

Another big mistake I’ve seen people make is to focus on things that just aren’t that big of a deal to people in the long run. For example, I’ve seen someone spend 2 years worrying about their logo and the color of it. Who cares? Most companies change their logos as they grow and move forward. They want to change the focus, so they change the logos. In most cases, it’s a good thing, sometimes not so much. But to spend 2 years worrying about your logo when the competition is passing you by is wasting your time and your investor’s money. Keep the main thing the main thing and disregard the distractions that will come your way! People will be more patient with you if you’re a small company and they know you don’t have everything nailed down. If you act like a big company and you’re not, then people will expect big company results and you’re not in a position to give them that, so why pretend that you are. It will let them down and give you a bad reputation!

While it’s not where you start that counts, it’s where you finish. What’s in between and what you do in between can make all the difference in the world. So, get out there and do what you want to do and find the connections and resources that you need to be a success!

The ideal holiday destination

The Caribbean has been a tourist destination for a long time. However, there are places that stand out from the rest like Caicos and Turks. These beaches are called ‘the last of the true exotics’ for a reason. If you are looking for a place to spend your vacation, Turks and Caicos is the place for you. The islands have a sunny tropical climate that is great if you need to relax and soak up the sun. There are other things that make these islands stand out from the rest.

The island is the ideal beach hideaway where you get to see beautiful, clean beaches thanks to the coral system that happens to be the third largest in the world. You will get to bathe in the clear blue waters and leave your mark on the white sandy beaches. Turks and Caicos are the places where you get to sunbathe and enjoy the cool ocean breeze at the same time.

If you are a diver, Turks and Caicos is the place to revel underwater and take your diving to the next level. Whether you are an experienced ocean diver or a beginner trying to dip your toes into the underwater universe, you will get a memorable experience on these islands. You can view thousands of miles of beautiful reefs and historic wrecks under the water. If you are lucky, you will meet Jojo, the local dolphin who enjoys accompanying divers on their expeditions.

Those who enjoy snorkeling will feel contented when they visit Chalk Sound, Bight Reef and Smith’s Reef that are considered good snorkeling locations.

Nature lovers can visit Turks and Caicos if they want to see marine animals and other creatures. The banks of Turks boast of being the perfect spot to see the migration of the Atlantic humpback whales every year. If you also enjoy seeing land animals, you will get the chance to see flamingoes and other birds.

You cannot visit the islands without meeting the lovely locals. When you visit Turks and Caicos, you get to enjoy the musical and cultural festivals that often feature big artists. You can also enjoy a glow-worm cruise where you get to see the eggs of a marine worm that laminate the surface of the ocean.

Visit Turks and Caicos to get the tropical getaway you have always been looking for and get away from the busy urban life. Check out the villas that are available in Turks and Caicos here.

How to motivate yourself and remain productive

Motivation is the only great type of fuel you need to keep going. No matter how great your ideas are, how brilliant your plans, how exquisite your strategy, if you run out of fuel, you will fail. So, motivation is the key. But motivation never lasts, that’s why it is recommended to be consumed on a daily basis. One boost of motivation once a year, most usually because it is fashionable to make a New Year’s Resolution, means nothing.

You may have a big picture of how your business or your plans should look like, but you can never have a “picture” of all the daily little guerrilla fights you have to put up with in order to be successful in your business.

Also, don’t forget about productivity! Productivity is highly influenced by your level of motivation. Each day is unpredictable. Apart from what you plan to do on paper, a hundred other little things might happen that you never planned for, and never even wished for. These things can have a strong impact on your motivation and, thus, can directly alter your productivity for the day.

It is a very tricky business to keep motivation and productivity balanced and on high. That’s why you have to come up with some great tactics. We studied the behaviour of the most successful business people and came up with 7 tactics that you can always use to boost up your confidence and productivity:

Wake up early and work out: Very unsurprisingly, isn’t it? We all have been told that the early bird catches the worm and it is correct. Waking up early gives you a sense of “beginning” a new day, puts you in front of everyone else and, you will see, gives you satisfaction in the long run. Welcoming the day with a full smile and a light workout session gets your blood running and your high spirits on. Setting up a routine that is easy to follow will prove very useful in the long run.

Take breaks: There are always tense moments during the day. It is very important to be able to disconnect from them and go out of the office, take a walk or just lay down and free your mind for a few minutes. Let your mind wonder, let it be free. You will see you will feel better afterwards.

Don’t be too hard on yourself: We all makes mistakes. Don’t be too hard on yourself when you make them. Don’t dwell on that guilty thought, blaming yourself for something that is already done and gone. This Mistake is one of the biggest deterrents, the biggest enemy. It can lower your motivation level in a matter of seconds. Once you’ve made a mistake, be done with it and go on with your plans for the day. Don’t let it spoil all of them.

Celebrate achievements, no matter how small: A task done is a task well done. Yes, no matter how small your accomplishment is, give yourself a prize. Go get a drink, or a 10 minutes break or buy yourself something nice, you know it. But it is important to celebrate every small task you’ve done in time and as planned. Don’t go from one completed task to another without a simple, but good celebration. Learn to celebrate yourself and your work. At the moment, it might not look great, but in the long run, it sure plays a very important part.

So what? : This is not really the safest tactic in the list, but when everything else fails, you can try it. It is a very good and empowering thought. Why? Well, there are periods when everything seems to be falling apart and fear, tension, stress start creeping in and you end up doing mostly…nothing because you are afraid to not make it worse. But most of the times, doing nothing is worse than anything. In those tough moments, remember that nothing is really important, that as long as your life is not in danger, as long as you have something to eat, somewhere to sleep, there is always hope. If you cannot land that deal, if you are on the verge of losing your business, so what? The world will not come to an end. You will dust yourself off and keep going or start again. But most important, don’t be afraid!

Read and educate yourself: It is very important to always keep an eye on your goal and an eye on yourself and your development as you’re reaching that goal. Never forget about enriching yourself, not only your business. This way you will feel a sense of total achievement.

Don’t take your eyes off the road: You are driving the vehicle of your life, your business, yourself. Never forget to keep your eyes on the road, on your goal. Your final goal is where your motivation should come from.

We’re sure there might be other tactics and tricks to keep you on track, but start with these and see if any improvement is on the way. In the end, all you have to do is to believe in yourself and in your goal. Do it using the 7 tactics explained above. Safe journey!

For more tips and networking check out EntrepreneurMeetup.com