Success = Willingness to do Whatever it Takes!

Did you think that having your own business would be a ‘cake walk’? Do you find yourself making comparisons to others in business and wondering why you aren’t doing better? You are not alone! This is so very common, especially for those new to the business world. There really is only ONE ‘secret’ to success – and that is the willingness to do whatever it takes. I’ve put together a short check list of what is required to grow your business, make money and have fun. 1. DO YOU HAVE A BUSINESS OR DO YOU HAVE A HOBBY? Having a business is serious stuff. It means getting set up in a serious way – do you have a business name, a business bank account, a book-keeper, a business phone line, a business license, a method for processing payments, etc. Are you willing to put all these things in place in order to serve your clients in a professional way? 2. DO YOU HAVE FIXED HOURS OF OPERATION? This varies, of course, depending on the nature of your business. My point here is ‘are you open for business”? Or, are you spending your time, during working hours, running errands, doing laundry, phoning friends? When you are in business – you must be open for business – and people need to know that you are there to serve. Are you willing to put in the hours it takes to grow your business? For me, in the beginning, that meant some very long days and weekends. It was hard. I was exhausted. And it was necessary – to get where I wanted to go and grow. Now, while I have fairly consistent hours of operation (M-F, 10 hour/days), I rarely work on weekends or holidays. 3. DO YOU HAVE A SUPPORT TEAM IN PLACE? You cannot grow a business on your own. It takes a team. In the beginning, that may mean a part-time assistant. The point is, you need someone. That is the only way you can work in your unique gift and make the big money. In the beginning, it begs the question – how can I afford an assistant when I am barely making any money myself? All the more reason to hire help so that you are not spending your time on $12/hour administrative-type tasks. Do you have the willingness to take that first big step? 4. ARE YOU PREPARED TO HANDLE CONFLICT? This is one of THE biggest challenges when running a business – whether it’s handling conflict with clients, team members, suppliers, partners, etc. Conflict is going to happen. Most of us have not been taught critical thinking skills or conflict resolution skills. This is so important because ‘where two or more people are gathered’, there will be conflict. It just happens. And you’ve got to deal with it – openly, honestly, quickly. For women entrepreneurs, this is probably one of the most difficult, daily challenges in business. You’ve got to be willing to handle conflict head on in order to survive and thrive in business. 5. ARE YOU WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES? This can mean everything from working long, crazy hours at peak times – it can mean making big investments in your professional development and in the growth of your business – it can mean leaving some people behind because you have ‘outgrown’ them (and you will!) – it can mean being criticized and scrutinized particularly by those who have given up on their own dreams – it can mean the willingness to make mistakes and get back in the game – it can mean making sacrifices to move forward (and that’s not a bad thing!) – it can mean lots of travel and lonely nights in hotel rooms as you attend events to increase your knowledge and skills. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your definition of success? Being in business is not for the faint of heart. Most people belong in jobs. Period. They need that kind of structure – accountability – and regular pay check. For those of us who have dared to step out – and ‘do our own thing’ – it can be scary, lonely, risky …..and…….challenging, rewarding, exciting, profitable and sheer joy.