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Last week, we pondered on our attitude towards customers. Today, I want to show you the attitudes that characterize successful entrepreneurs. They are habits anybody could cultivate in other to reach the apogee of achievement in his or her business.
Successful entrepreneurs have three things in common; they are Perseverance, Plan, and Patience. Let’s look at Persistence
PERSISTENCE
When Bose Ayeni wanted to start her fast food-tantalizers, she went from pillar to post for money to start-up. She went from one bank to the other for financial aid. Unfortunately, the banks told her that they don’t finance start-ups, but she didn’t take no as an answer. Today, her fast foods are in high demand.
How many times has your proposal being denied? How many times have your ideas die because of lack of capital? How many times have you failed in business?
Someone said “the reason we fail is to learn to pick ourselves up.” Do not throw -in the towel. Stick to your ideas. There are no overnight successes. Success is achieved one day at a time. There is the SW, SW, SW, SW formular. It means Some Will, Some Won’t, So What, Someone is Waiting. Someone is waiting for your products or services. Someone is waiting to listen to your ideas. Regardless of the NO’s you’ve got, a YES is waiting for you somewhere.
Remember the mountain climber philosophy. The mountain climber says “I will climb the mountain. They’ve told me it’s too high, it’s too far, it’s too sleep, it’s too rocky, it’s too difficult But it’s my mountain. I will climb it, you will soon see me waving from the top or you’ll never see me, because unless I reach the peak, I’m not coming back.” Stick to your dream until you actualize it. Stick to it until you get it.
PLANNING
Proper planning Prevents Poor Performances. A house cannot be built without a plan. A business outfit cannot see the early morning sun without a plan. That is why you have to do the SWOT analysis, feasibility studies, among others. I was recently told of Japanese, who has a 200-year plan. Guinness started in 1759, and is still selling today because its owners had a plan.
One research revealed that those who have a plan achieve more than those who don’t. Another word used in lieu of planning, is strategizing. What’s your strategy? As an entrepreneur, you need a strategy, more than energy. A business without a strategy will end in tragedy.
To build a brand strategy, ask yourself the following
questions:
Why am I coming into the market?
What is my Unique Selling Point?
How do people view my brand?
What do I have that my competitors do not?
What difference am I bringing to the market?
What brands are used, and which is preferable?
Who are my major competitors?
How can I use my competitor’s weaknesses to maximize profit?
As you ask yourself those questions, plan for the future of your business. Where do you see your business outfit eight years from now and how do you intend to get there? Plan your work, and work your plans. Now, let’s look at Patience.
PATIENCE
It is the patient eye that sees the nose. Financial experts tell us that if you keep a particular percentage of your money, monthly, overtime you will amass wealth. It is like that in business. If you can patiently do business, overtime, you will become wealthy.
Be patient. Don’t be too much in a hurry. A lot of youth are online fraudsters today because they want to get rich quick with a mouse’s click. According to a proverb “hasty climbers have sudden falls”.
I don’t mean you should be sluggish. I don’t mean you should be idle. I mean you should prepare yourself thoroughly, and then wait. Wait patiently for your opportunity to come. A proverb says “everything comes to those who wait”.
I believe in taking quantum leaps. It goes a long way, but I also believe in taking small steps. You’ll hardly get tired or make mistakes by taking small steps. Use your discretion to know when to take a quantum leap, when to take small steps, and when to just WAIT.
Remember: Stick to it, Plan it, and WAIT patiently for it.
This is Omowole Agbolade telling you to go out and get extra-ordinary results.
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