If you were to interview the most successful entrepreneurs, there is no doubt that they will talk about their drive to never give up. The reality is that running a successful business requires long-term commitment built on persistence. However, persistence in and of itself will not always lead to the results that you desire. Accordingly, below we share valuable advice on how you can make sure that your persistence in your business pays off.
The Rules of Persistence that Pay Off
For entrepreneurs to achieve their goals, persistence is the single-most important ingredient in the success recipe. Although persistence is an incredibly powerful entrepreneurship trait, it has some caveats. Here are the three basic rules that as an entrepreneur you need to follow to ensure that your persistence pays off.
Get your head in the game
As an entrepreneur, you are a problem solver. You must be smart enough to know what product or service is good for the market and which you need to pull from your list of offerings. Additionally, there are decisions to be made as it relates to marketing, customer services, sales, and much more. With so much on your plate, you must make sure that your head is in the right place. Making the wrong decision repeatedly is persistent, but it is a persistence that will not have a positive outcome.
Maintain consistency
Once you know that your decision and activities are based on solid business foundation, you must implement them consistently. Persistence will never work if you aren’t consistent enough in doing what is necessary to take your business to the next level.
Creativity pays
The marketplace is always changing, and without creativity, you may find that your persistence will only lead to failure. Being stuck in the old way of doing things can significantly alter the progress of your company. There is no doubt that your competitors will be looking to come up with new and creative products and services. To keep yourself ahead of the game, you must be persistent with your creativity.
Foster the Persistent Mindset
The human brain is a very complex organ, but it is central to how we think and directs what we do. How you think as an entrepreneur can significantly determine your growth path for business. Here are a few things to consider in fostering a persistent mindset that will pay off.
Have a growth mindset
Your mindset is the window that you use to view the world. It affects your learning process and influences your way of interaction. If you start to think thoughts of growth and development, then your decisions and actions as an entrepreneur will reflect just that.
Exhibit confidence
Confidence can empower you in all your endeavors. As an entrepreneur, you are the leader of your team, and so the confidence must begin with you. The persistent entrepreneur must believe in himself in other to success. Confidence also affects the quality of your life in a positive way. You can set up your goals with the belief that you will accomplish them. Believing in your success is the key to getting others to join in and take your business to the next level.
Be committed to the process
The very foundation of persistence is a commitment never to give up. Commitment starts with setting a goal and developing a strategy to reach the target. The business world is such that success can be days away and in other cases, it can be years away. Without the right level of commitment, you can give up on a dream or a goal just when your persistence would have paid off.
Believe It till You Achieve It
There are those that believe that you should fake it till you make it. This concept encourages a facade both for you the entrepreneur and for your customers. The preferred attitude is to believe it till you achieve it.
The success of your business starts and ends with you. To achieve anything, you must first believe in yourself so that others may follow suit. If you don’t believe in yourself who will?
Be assertive
For you to earn respect as an entrepreneur, you must exhibit assertiveness; this is not only reflected in your speech but also in your actions. Whenever you are faced with challenges or problems as an entrepreneur, you must be ready to take the steps necessary to resolve the issues quickly.
There is hardly any room for hesitation; you must be decisive and precise in your decisions and plan of action. Employees don’t want to work for a business owner who is unsure and passive, and likewise, clients want to work with an entrepreneur who is confident and self-assured.
Be organized
Success is the end product of excellent planning and daily actions. Proper organization will help you gain control of your business. Success cannot thrive in an unstable and messy environment. There is a need for order and discipline if you expect your persistence to pay off.
Be strategic
Success doesn’t come instantly; you must put in the time. The very nature of having a persistent drive as an entrepreneur is that there is no overnight success. However, while success takes time, there is also a need to be strategic in what you do as an entrepreneur. Your actions must be purposeful, and decisions must be made based on solid research and information. A strategic entrepreneur knows that he must invest the time, but is also cognizant of the results to be achieved at varying intervals.
Starting and growing a business requires a lot of work. There will be ups and downs and numerous problems along the way. However, if you can stay focused and press on through using the above tips, then you will soon reap the results of your persistence.