4 Skills Required For
Success
A study of successful entrepreneurs is really
a study of successful people.
Actually, it's a study of successful relationships. The world is built on good and bad relationships. Good relationships are worth striving for because you can usually get something you want from them. The other person in the relationship wins, too. Trades and deals leave both parties feeling happy. That's what you're aiming for.
Bad relationships don't do *quite* as well for both parties. Usually just one. But still, bad blood makes the world go round. War is a multi-trillion dollar business globally. So even when someone is having seven shades of you-know-what leathered out of them, someone, somewhere, is getting rich. What a lovely species we are!
Relationships - good and bad - can be lucrative. But I don't suggest you try to make a business, career or fortune out of being a war-mongering tyrant. Or servicing the war-mongering tyrant market in some way. Yes, there's money in it. But you need to be able to look your kids in the eye, right?
Anyway, the point I'm labouring to make is this. If you want to make big money outside of your job... you want to do something on your own... and you want it to last more than a couple of months... you need more than just an idea and customers.
Good relationships - this is what I want to spend some time yakking about today.
A-Holes don't make big money anymore
The Donald Trump, 'type-A' autocratic entrepreneur is an anachronism. A dinosaur. And a rarity in 2015. I've worked for a couple of these types of men. (They are usually, but not exclusively, male.) They were most unpleasant. To boot, they were unpopular, egotistic and not very smart.
They had high staff turnover because they believed the best way to motivate an employee was to chew them out aggressively in front of colleagues. This was a management style popular in the 70s and 80s - a time where the labour market wasn't as transient and mobile as it is now.
Actually, it's a study of successful relationships. The world is built on good and bad relationships. Good relationships are worth striving for because you can usually get something you want from them. The other person in the relationship wins, too. Trades and deals leave both parties feeling happy. That's what you're aiming for.
Bad relationships don't do *quite* as well for both parties. Usually just one. But still, bad blood makes the world go round. War is a multi-trillion dollar business globally. So even when someone is having seven shades of you-know-what leathered out of them, someone, somewhere, is getting rich. What a lovely species we are!
Relationships - good and bad - can be lucrative. But I don't suggest you try to make a business, career or fortune out of being a war-mongering tyrant. Or servicing the war-mongering tyrant market in some way. Yes, there's money in it. But you need to be able to look your kids in the eye, right?
Anyway, the point I'm labouring to make is this. If you want to make big money outside of your job... you want to do something on your own... and you want it to last more than a couple of months... you need more than just an idea and customers.
Good relationships - this is what I want to spend some time yakking about today.
A-Holes don't make big money anymore
The Donald Trump, 'type-A' autocratic entrepreneur is an anachronism. A dinosaur. And a rarity in 2015. I've worked for a couple of these types of men. (They are usually, but not exclusively, male.) They were most unpleasant. To boot, they were unpopular, egotistic and not very smart.
They had high staff turnover because they believed the best way to motivate an employee was to chew them out aggressively in front of colleagues. This was a management style popular in the 70s and 80s - a time where the labour market wasn't as transient and mobile as it is now.
Learn four simple success skills
These days, you can walk straight out of a 10am
bollocking in the boardroom; jump on LinkedIn or Seek, and have a job offer
appear in your inbox by lunchtime.
We used to fear this type of boss. Now we despise and pity them. It's not good leadership. It's weak leadership.
In any case, I don't think it's particularly smart to be a jackass in business in this day and age. Especially not as a start-up. I believe that how you conduct and manage key relationships is the single biggest influencing factor in your success.
I call it the biggest influencer because it's the most controllable part of what you do. You could have the best product on the market. But if you treat your suppliers, partners, employees - or even customers - like dirt, no one is going to want to help you succeed.
On the flip side, even if your product or service isn't market leading; if you conduct yourself well - if you're friendly, amiable, cheerful and ready to help - you'll draw customers to you. You'll create a good impression and a great experience. That will guarantee you referrals and repeat business... the very way you'll stay operational.
You can control all of this.
Remember, people do business with PEOPLE - not corporations. If you only take one thing out of today's eletter, make it that. We're all time poor. Dealing with difficult, spiky, inflexible types is a bloody drag. It's hard work. And particularly galling when you're spending money in the bargain.
But when you do business with someone who's pleasant, helpful and attentive, you feel good. And relieved. This person has solved a problem for you. And dealing with them was easy. It reflects well on you that you chose them. That itself makes you more likely to choose them again in the future.
You and I know that researching solutions to problems is a time consuming pain in the ass - even in the internet age. I want that burden lifted from my shoulders, quickly. I don't want to have to do more work that takes even more time - especially once I've picked someone to do the job for me.
I want to know that you are 'on it'. If you can communicate that effectively - lift that burden off my shoulders - you'll get my business now, and in the future.
You can learn these four simple success skills in an afternoon
It doesn't take a lot of work and effort on your part to develop these qualities - and give yourself more chance of succeeding. You should honestly see this as the biggest no brainer of them all. I'll be surprised if you don't.
Your goal should be to make it a pleasure to do business with you. That's it.
We are hardwired to make decisions that will cause us the least hassle. Being a difficult, unpleasant character will stop you getting business. Why would you hamper your own efforts?
Here are four obvious skills to learn, develop and master that will definitely help you make more money and last longer in business. Because doing business with you will become a pleasure.
We used to fear this type of boss. Now we despise and pity them. It's not good leadership. It's weak leadership.
In any case, I don't think it's particularly smart to be a jackass in business in this day and age. Especially not as a start-up. I believe that how you conduct and manage key relationships is the single biggest influencing factor in your success.
I call it the biggest influencer because it's the most controllable part of what you do. You could have the best product on the market. But if you treat your suppliers, partners, employees - or even customers - like dirt, no one is going to want to help you succeed.
On the flip side, even if your product or service isn't market leading; if you conduct yourself well - if you're friendly, amiable, cheerful and ready to help - you'll draw customers to you. You'll create a good impression and a great experience. That will guarantee you referrals and repeat business... the very way you'll stay operational.
You can control all of this.
Remember, people do business with PEOPLE - not corporations. If you only take one thing out of today's eletter, make it that. We're all time poor. Dealing with difficult, spiky, inflexible types is a bloody drag. It's hard work. And particularly galling when you're spending money in the bargain.
But when you do business with someone who's pleasant, helpful and attentive, you feel good. And relieved. This person has solved a problem for you. And dealing with them was easy. It reflects well on you that you chose them. That itself makes you more likely to choose them again in the future.
You and I know that researching solutions to problems is a time consuming pain in the ass - even in the internet age. I want that burden lifted from my shoulders, quickly. I don't want to have to do more work that takes even more time - especially once I've picked someone to do the job for me.
I want to know that you are 'on it'. If you can communicate that effectively - lift that burden off my shoulders - you'll get my business now, and in the future.
You can learn these four simple success skills in an afternoon
It doesn't take a lot of work and effort on your part to develop these qualities - and give yourself more chance of succeeding. You should honestly see this as the biggest no brainer of them all. I'll be surprised if you don't.
Your goal should be to make it a pleasure to do business with you. That's it.
We are hardwired to make decisions that will cause us the least hassle. Being a difficult, unpleasant character will stop you getting business. Why would you hamper your own efforts?
Here are four obvious skills to learn, develop and master that will definitely help you make more money and last longer in business. Because doing business with you will become a pleasure.
1.
Be nice. Simple, right? They used to tell me 'nice guys
finish last'. Maybe in the 80s. Nowadays I wouldn't risk my business on
cultivating a difficult personality. Social media will destroy your commercial
aspirations inside of an afternoon if you're rude, obstinate or miserable. Try
being nice, helpful and attentive to the people who will pay you their money.
You'll get more of it.
2.
Share. Share your ideas with people. Your staff. Your
customers. Even your competitors. Sounds counterintuitive, right? But you all
benefit from a strong industry. Compete on price and service by all means - but
becoming an 'industry champion' will pay dividends by way of added credibility.
Credibility is so important in relationship building. It's the number one
factor that influences trust. Trust is all about being open. So share!
3.
Listen. I used to be the guy who always knew best. How
embarrassing. I thought I knew more than everyone else - and that my experience
was worth more. These days I know way better. I listen - to friends,
colleagues, mentors, my family; anyone and everyone who wants to contribute. I
don't presume to know better than anyone. Because I don't. My business is all
the better for it. Remember: one idea can change everything. Not all the ideas
have to come from you. Discovering this is humbling.
4.
Be humble. Past glories are only relevant to your efforts to
build credibility. Beyond that you just look insecure when you bang on about
that great deal you made in '05... or the incredible sales campaign that
launched six months ago. Those are gone. The only thing that matters is your
next deal. You have to work hard to be humble (take it from me). But it's so
important. Thank your team. Acknowledge their contribution. Same with
suppliers. Thank your customers for their business. Let them know how much it
means to you to do a good job for them. Humility is such an open emotion.
Humble entrepreneurs only communicate a willingness to do a good job. There's
no ego or conceit. It's one of the most attractive qualities you can display to
your customers, co-workers and suppliers. Being humble will definitely get you
more business and more money.
That's your takeaway: make it a pleasure to do business with you.
If you do, you'll fare better than your competitors, make more money than your competitors, and last longer than your competitors.
This article was first published in The Escapologist, Australia on 22/10/2015.
By Simon Munton | Oct 23, 2015
https://www.commonsenseliving.co.in/common-sense-living-letters/detail.aspx?date=10/23/2015&story=494&title=4-Skills-Required-For-Success
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