Basically, get out of your own way, ignore the naysayers and find your own success.
Whether in life, or in business, there’s no cookie-cutter, surefire way to achieve success, no one plan you have to follow. We all carve our own niche, create our own success; but there are some things all successful entrepreneurs have in common: they think big and act bigger – meaning, they tie visions to actions – go beyond the stories and excuses, the self-imposed limitations, preconceived notions and constraining structures to become the biggest, baddest, best versions of themselves.
Here are five principles that have helped me stay on track throughout my career:
Be Authentic
I consider myself a successful businessman, but that success doesn’t come from trophies or accolades. It comes from being me all the time. It’s okay if you’re not everyone’s cup of tea; it’s going to happen. Some of the best people I’ve met act the same way in public (or in a business setting) as they do at home. That authenticity comes through in every setting – during a meeting or at a keynote address. There’s no need to second-guess their motives and they exude trust.
If you’ve been conditioned to think that being “you” is risky, ask yourself why? To me, that sounds exhausting! Having to pretend to be someone else is no way to live. How can your business stand for something when you can’t even stand up for yourself? Being anything less than yourself could have serious repercussions for your business. It can kill morale, productivity, loyalty, vision and eventually, your bottom line.
Adapt, Change or Die
Over time, your story will need to evolve; that’s a given! However, many people are afraid of changes, thinking that it will change the core of who they are. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s okay to evolve, and to even change your mind about things. That doesn’t change your core. If you refuse to evolve and change with the times, you run the risk of being the dinosaur in the room, and we all know what happened to them. Extinction shouldn’t be part of your plan. Ever!
What’s Your Story?
This is one question I ask everyone I meet. I ask, not only because I am interested, but also because I’m curious to see how original their story is. I want to see if they stand for something or if they’ve crafted their story from someone else’s experience. For example, I am firmly against TED Talks; not because they’re useless, but because I think they cultivate a false sense of idolatry. There are some great people who speak at TED Talks with great, useful advice – but that’s their story; it will never be YOUR story. There’s no single solution to any problem, so while the TED Talks may inspire many, it can create a “sheep” mentality and not encourage the individuality I look for in people and entrepreneurs.
What Are Your Conditions of Satisfaction?
In business, I always adhere to the following three criteria: 1) Is it going to make me money, 2) Will I grow professionally, and 3) Am I going to have fun doing it? Those are my conditions of satisfaction. I might consider a business opportunity that satisfies two of the three under the right circumstances; but never just one – no matter how good the money is.
Find out what makes you happy and meet your own conditions of satisfaction. Throughout my career, I have learned that if those conditions are violated, it never ends up well and usually ends up costing me some money. So, unless your last name’s Rockefeller, I wouldn’t recommend losing money on something that doesn’t interest you.
When in doubt, ask yourself the following questions:
- Who are you?
- What do you want to do?
- Where do you want to go?
- What is your end game?
- How does it all connect to the story that sells you?
I’ll leave you with the following: the only thing that ever limited me was the voice in my head telling me I couldn’t do something or needed to do it differently. Basically, get out of your own way, ignore the naysayers and forge ahead. Find your own success.
