We all know that one individual who never sleeps. The person who can simply accomplish more in their 24 hour day than the rest of us. I’m going to go ahead and take a guess that the person you’re thinking of is most likely a very successful entrepreneur. Successful entrepreneurs don’t reach the top on accident, in fact it’s quite the opposite. Over the years they acquire skills and develop habits that propel them forward.
Every individual will have a slightly different approach however they all follow a similar framework. That said, here are five ways successful entrepreneurs separate themselves from the rest of us.
They Stay The Course
It’s common for an individual to feel productive just because they are going through the motions. Yes it’s important to stay active but if you continue to perform tasks that provide no value or have no end goal then you’re wasting time. Try to focus in on projects that are directly aligned with your end goals.
For example if you’re a freelance writer then you want to do whatever it takes to focus on that career. Sure you can try new things but you won’t truly master something unless you spend the time on it.
They Structure Their Goals
“Getting rich” is not a tangible goal for anyone to strive for. Yes many of us are driven by the lifestyle that comes with financial freedom. However very few of us have structured plans in place to achieve that goal.
Successful entrepreneurs break down their goals into smaller steps so they can work their way up. As you break your larger goals into smaller tasks you are setting yourself up for smaller victories along the way. This will give you a sense of achievement and keep motivation high.
They Structure Every Day
The more structure you put into your day the more you’ll get out of it. Even if you don’t have any meetings or commitments during the day it’s still important to give it some structure. For example you can block out times during the day and allocate the blocks to finishing certain tasks.
If possible you should try to use a calendar application that allows you to organize each workday with time blocks. The more you do this the more you’ll be able to gauge your bandwidth in a given work day. That way you’ll be an expert at optimizing each and every day for maximum productivity.
They Invest in Themselves
A successful business really comes down to the people. At the end of the day you really can’t control or change anyone else but yourself. That said, every successful entrepreneur knows they have to invest in themselves as much as possible to maximize their abilities.
Whether it’s time or money you should always try to keep acquiring new skills and abilities. Even if it’s something as simple as reading for an hour a day it adds up.
They Always Look Ahead
Entrepreneurs are dreamers. They like to envision their success before it happens. When I say they always look ahead I’m not saying they are stuck up in the clouds. I’m simply saying they don’t fret on the past but rather push forward when times get tough.
There will be more failures than successes when you start your business. That said, it only really takes one success to make your career. The best thing you can do is constantly put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
Final Thoughts
There’s no secret sauce to success. However there sure are ways successful individuals separate themselves from the rest of the pack. The five ways listed above a great examples of that.
Renzo Costarella
Renzo Costarella is an entrepreneur, avid learner, and startup enthusiast currently living in Silicon Valley. He consults for several startups in the Bay Area and is pursuing a few ideas of his own.