Seven Habits of Highly Effective Entrepreneurs by Linda Leontowich

John Dryden once said “we first make our habits and then our habits make us”.

Over the decades I met some very accomplished entrepreneurs. In recent years I have studied the attributes of those who excel.

A myriad of books and resources are available for people who want to delve further. I have collected some key points gathered from my own experiences and from others (some famous, some not) who have inspired me over the years.

1. Get extreme clarity as to what differentiates you, your business and your perfect customer. Sounds simple and yet I have met people at networking events who were unclear about who their perfect customer was. Either they have not given much thought to it or they just haven’t had time to focus on crafting a superb answer.

2. Substantial growth happens when you work “on your business” instead of “in your business”.  A few years ago I met a dynamic women entrepreneur in my city who started a technical support company specifically for women in business. I was surprised to learn she had no technical support background.  After finishing her studies in the business administration, several things were very clear.   She had a passion for marketing, networking and communicating. 

In fact, it was her business savvy instincts that helped her reveal a void in the market.  Sitting down at her own computer one day she identified with what it was like to be a women entrepreneur starting a business and in need of a tech support company. She realized how great it would feel to have someone to relate to in a supportive and unintimidating manner  during panic-stricken moments of computer malfunctions.  She carefully selected technical staff who supported her vision and has enjoyed ongoing success.  This example serves as an excellent reminder  how business owners, who are sometimes deep into the trenches of “doing”,  sometimes miss the essential “visioning” - where real growth is launched.

3. Practice good self-care. We all know of entrepreneurs who work late into the evening or into the wee hours of the morning. Anyone who has started a business knows how easy it is to get into that habit. Consequently you are not likely to be at the top of your game during the day when relating to customers or performing key tasks.  Plan your schedule so you are well-rested and nourished for the job. Rest assured the top performers in your industry do that consistently.

4. Polish your communications including your marketing messages, email messages, voice mail messages or elevator pitch.  Your reputation rides on every single message so when dealing with sensitive issues consider picking up the phone and talking directly to a client or supplier as the better way to go.

Set up reminders on your Blackberry so you regularly  update your automated phone and auto responder messages. When calling someone I met through networking I was greeted with a rather muffled message from what appeared to be an antiquated answering machine. Ironically the business owner was promoting business communication workshops. Thanks to technology there are many excellent (some low-cost) telephone answering options available to help make your business convey professionalism on a consistent basis.

5.Work towards building a dynamic team to which you can delegate those competencies you are not good at. If Miley Cyrus and J Lo can have their entourages you can too – though yours need not be as elaborate.  Seek out a perfectly matched bookkeeper, accountant, editor and marketing consultant. It may take some time to build such a team but well worth it.

Consider also hiring a business coach occasionally or to guide you through those special challenges.  In the long run, it can actually save you time, money and stress. The bonus is you are likely to gain valuable clarity that you were not able to discover on your own.

6. Invest in Yourself. Despite how many credentials you might have, continually seek ways to step up your learning curve.  The key is to make it manageable. I recall the overwhelming  feeling as a new entrepreneur going to conferences and trying to learn more about numerous topics at the same time. Yikes! It’s exhausting.

Instead I would recommend you select two to three topics you want to focus on every six months. Ideally one topic relates to your industry and another covers a self-development area. When you focus on such topics, the right teachers and resources appear. Build your library with related books. Get into the habit of carrying one of them with you so when you have to wait a few extra minutes in a client’s office you can catch up on reading.  Before long you know you are on to the next book.

7. Mind your vibrations.  We have all heard about the many benefits of being surrounded by positive-minded people. I am going to suggest you go one step further. Consider getting immersed with their ideas, suggestions and feedback.  Connect with those who can boost your confidence, accountability and positive outlook. A great way to make that happen is by being part of a Success Circle or Mastermind.  I have been part of one for several years now.  Basically it is a small group (6-8 people) who commit to meeting regularly (face-to-face or via telemeetings) to discuss their wins and challenges with the purpose of giving each other uplifting and supportive feedback. 

Whether  you are an aspiring entrepreneur or an accomplished one , the benefits are plentiful.  Having that objective view from people you trust can be invaluable in your decision making. 

Such a team can also assist in zeroing in and articulating your key strengths and talents.  Imagine having your own focus group you can test the waters with from time to time. Chances are you will get business from the group however that’s not the primary reason why people  should join.  If you should get business from the group and/or referrals, consider such benefits  an added bonus.

If you can’t find a group to join, start one of your own.  Like anything worthwhile it can take some work on your part.  Consider rotating scheduling and facilitating duties. With today’s Facebook, Linked-In, Twitter and Meetup options, connecting with like-minded people has never been easier.