Article by Mike Anderson (NSBC Founder & CEO)
Although this ideal situation of “quick success” doesn’t usually work out in life, there are some incredible stories. I have had the fortunate opportunity over time to meet these mercurial, highly successful entrepreneurs, who have shared with me what it took them to achieve “quicker success” than most.
If we can model the success traits of the zero-to-hero mega entrepreneurs, there is no doubt that we will experience fewer difficulties and fewer failures and that our road to entrepreneurial success will be shorter.
Most of the working world never realise success, in fact only 5% are successful and 1% are super successful. Plenty of time, effort and sweat is needed before seeing things come to fruition and yes, we become successful because we choose too and by the actions we take.
Whether or not you’re an established entrepreneur or just starting out on your journey, there are particular traits you’ll usually find operating within the exceptional entrepreneur.
Most businesses do take time to succeed. Many entrepreneurs give up when there’s no immediate success. If you speak to any successful person you would quickly realise that things don’t always go as planned. Most successful people have been through series of disappointments and failures before they became who they are.
Because success usually happens as a result of the accumulated experience people collect from their failures it doesn’t make any sense to assume that you will make it fast. Yes you can succeed from the first attempt but generally most people never make it before they fail many times. You need to understand and prepare for this. Always keep it in your mind that quick success must be a bonus.
I strongly encourage you to aim for fast success but don’t assume that this is how life works. Slow and gradual progress is the way most successful people have gone until they have made it. Yes in some rare cases you might find a chance that pushes you forward quickly. The general rule is that you have to be patient and persistent until you make it. Take a step everyday even if it was a small one and eventually you will make it – that’s as long as you keep moving and never give-up.
Let’s highlight what the most successful entrepreneurs do to achieve enormous success quicker than most:
1. They get up insanely early.
2. Before sunrise, they re-evaluate their short-term, medium-term and long-term goals, and plan their attack for the day. They start their day laser-focused.
3. They keep promises no matter how small.
4. They permanently search for a better way of doing things.
5. They live their journey with persistence, determination and self-discipline.
6. They have unshakable self-belief in whatever they do themselves and have supreme confidence in their ability to triumph.
7. They always look at the bright side of life. In this way they encounter fewer obstacles on their success journey.
8. They follow their heart and intuition – passion is what drives them to succeed.
9. They thrive on risk and don’t dwell on failure.
10. They have knowledge, experience and a deep passion for their business.
11. Their customers love what they do.
12. They are willing to put in never-ending hours of work themselves.
13. They continuously express gratitude and always have a positive outlook.
14. They constantly challenge the status quo which gives them the seeds of vision and opportunity.
15. They don’t wait for the perfect conditions; they thrive on risk and act quickly.
16. They seize opportunities before the tipping point of evidence.
17. When they do fail, they bounce back quickly, change direction and move forward positively.
18. They demand excellence from themselves.
19. They soar with the eagles that fly high, only surrounding themselves with the positive, big thinkers and achievers.
20. They take responsibility for everything irrespective of what happens.
21. They only focus on what’s important, they have the ability to say no to almost everything.
22. They move faster and set tough deadlines.
23. They visualise and feel their success until they live it.
24. They focus on what they do best and outsource the rest.
25. They don’t throw in the towel – they just keep going and never give up.