While entrepreneurs have existed in some form or the other from time immemorial, it is only recently that the term has taken the gigantic proportions that we see today. What a lot of people do not realise is that being an entrepreneur is not as easy as some might make it look – there is a lot of hard work, several strategies and plenty of mental lightbulbs that need to go off at the right time for an entrepreneur to become truly successful.
The journey to becoming a truly successful entrepreneur is lined with a lot of hardships, more failures than successes, a will to go on even in the face of failures and of course a desire to do something better than yesterday. If you are dreaming of becoming the next name in the list of stupendously successful entrepreneurs, then here a few things that you need to keep in mind:
- Be professional (in everything you do) – If you want to be an entrepreneur that the world looks up to, then you need to make sure that you are a thorough professional. Your time as well as the time of the others around you is precious and you need to make sure that it is never wasted. Your approach to work and the people around you will determine how successful you become. Your professionalism will also be visible in aspects such as how you go to meet people for the first time – the way you are dressed, your business card and even how much in time you arrive will speak volumes about you. In the process of creating your brand, you will need to remember all these things and ensure that you put into practice things about other entrepreneurs that impress you!
- Information is your best friend – Whether you are meeting a prospective client or are trying to impress a possible investor in your project, information is your best friend. You need to make sure that you are always well read and updated on the topics that are related to your line of work. It is important to remember that these days the consumers/customers are extremely aware and conscious, which means that they will not purchase a product or subscribe to a service without doing a little research. This means that before you offer what you have to offer, you need to do your own research too. The internet could prove to be your best buddy, because here you will be able to find almost every bit of information that you might need – from how to build a brand to how to sustain a business. Identify the informative websites and the popular bloggers and try to follow them to gather as much information as possible. Having that one extra bit of information might be just the thing that gives you the edge over your competitors.
These might not be things that a business school teaches you, but there is always something to be learnt every day, provided you are willing to keep your eyes, your ears and your mind open!
- Be a storyteller – Many people think that business is all about being serious and talking about facts and data, but there is no rule that says that you can’t make the same information a little more interesting. The human mind prefers information that comes in the form of a story, it is an inherent trait that is visible right from our childhood days. There are those who might think that because they have a product or service to offer, they might not be able to offer a narrative to go with it, but the fact of the matter is that you can create a story for anything, provided you are willing to try. Take a few minutes to gauge your client and then create a narrative that will appeal to them.
- Get a website or at least a blog – It does not matter what you are selling, you need to have an online presence, which will allow you to reach out to a greater audience. If you can afford a website, get a website, but even if you can’t at least invest in a blog, through which you can tell your stories, share information about what’s new about your brand or simply advertise. However, just having a website or a blog will not be enough – you will need to keep them updated and ensure that you keep it all current and informative. Through a website or a blog, you will be able to generate traffic and through traffic, you will be able to generate revenue, but you do need to make sure that you are doing all the right things. A strong media presence can do for you, what a lot of money could possibly not, so invest in social media, even if it means hiring a professional to do it for you.