Some Business Owners Succeed, While others Fail…Why?
This question has mystified me since I started my business many years ago. I own a painting business. Let's be honest, painting a sharp trim line or handling a spray gun isn’t rocket science. The same is true when it comes to the detail work of many other service businesses as well.
There’s a fine line separating talented entrepreneurs from those with merely adequate abilities. So why do some business owners (painters included) barely scrape by, while others, working the same area, and offering similar services live like millionaires?
I've learned success in your business and your life has little to do with how well or how fast you can knock out the work. Small business owners who consistently rack up big revenue numbers year after year understand something: real success has everything to do with your mental attitude and how you treat others.
To grow your business successfully you must communicate effectively and get along well with others.
The responsibility to get along with your customers, vendors and employees is all on you. That, my friend, requires good “people skills.”
As soon as I began setting attainable goals and made very small changes I went from barely getting by to quadrupling my income in less than a year. The starting point of success is recognizing change begins with you. The following comparison between the characteristics of successful people and that of failures may help you recognize areas where you can improve.
A successful person knows precisely what he desires, believes in his abilities, and has a plan to get it. He or she becomes obsessed with the idea and devotes the majority of his time acquiring it. Failures have no goals in life, they move on their own initiative only when told to do so. They believe all success is a matter of luck. And, they continually sell themselves short through their lack of confidence.
Successful business owners understand the importance of emotional intelligence, or, people skills. They know people will be more likely to do business with people who are likable. They learn the art of influencing others to cooperate and carry out their plans and purposes. Failures see the bad in everything. They find fault in others. They go out of their way to share their negativity. They continually look for others to join them because misery loves company.
Successful people take a genuine interest in others. They look at business opportunities from a creative, win-win perspective. Failures keep to themselves and have a closed mind to new ideas. Their focus is on competing and beating others to the punch. As a result, they lose out on favorable opportunities and the friendly cooperation of others.
Successful people always keep their outlook positive. They handle problems as soon as they occur. They’re upbeat and put a sense of urgency into everything they do. They realize success depends on the quality of service they provide and they make a habit of providing more than promised. Failures continually procrastinate. They are always on the lookout for "something for nothing." When they fail to get it, they blame everyone else but themselves.
There is a big difference in the words, actions, and lives of successful people and failures. One of the most important keys to your success lies in your capacity to believe you will succeed. Chances are, you are where you’re at in life as a result of how you think about yourself and how you treat others around you.