How real entrepreneurs tackle business problems and unsatisfactory results

When the going gets tough the tough gets going. In spite of all the efforts, sometime things don’t go as planned. We fail short for many reasons. Sometimes even beyond our control.

The truth is, and if you do not believe me, please search for it and validate my findings around you; that you’ll probably experience difficulties if you are just starting on your own. Smooth sailing is desirable and highly unlikely. To eventually succeed in your enterprise more than anything you will need courage to start, willingness to try and almost a superpower to rise just one more time more than you fail.

And failure…that word that scares us the most. What is it really? And when, if any time, we can declare business as a failure?

What “Uncle Tony” (aka Tony Robbins) said about life is that there are no failures only results. And to a certain degree, he is both right and wrong. My point here is not to prove which side I am leaning towards more but to express clearly that event tough results are poor and you have nothing to be proud of, there is no need to underestimate what you can achieve and accomplish. No need to undervalue where are you coming from…

Think journey not the event. Think learning not the grand finale. Think progress not stagnation.

As an entrepreneur you should always cherish the good things and learn from the mistakes you’ve made. Mistakes are lessons we need to learn for a reason. If not mastered in its first attempt they will be repeated. And repetition is always painful, costly and resource consuming.

Keep moving…

We need to move forward in our life instead of wasting time by cribbing over something which did not succeed. We should look for other opportunities as there is number of other career options available today. You can always start all over again with all new enthusiasm and dedication. Key word in making business successful is testing not failing.

I heard so many times that people were failing numerous times before they eventually succeeded. Don’t buy into this type of thinking because they did not. Instead, consider other alternatives. Think about testing, learning, adjusting, refining, optimizing, re-engineering, re-positioning, aligning, educating, improving…You get my point. People have good intentions and I am yet to find one that wants to fail deliberately. You must not think about results as failures…Oppositely, find the meaning and importance in every experience, in every lesson, and you will eventually find your way. The right way, when you are fully prepared to take your chances.

To specialise or not…choices you need to make

My next point is about specialization. And you will probably face numerous options when you are just starting on your own. To specialize or diversify. To narrow your focus or to spread the risks. To place your eggs in one basket or to have more options and targets. So my advice for someone starting a business would be to play to win. Consider carefully your strengths and talents because it is all you have at your disposal immediately. Plan to get better in things that matter and position your service, products and everything you do around it.

Before starting a venture, you should always keep your options opened, in case it does not work out. However, you should act as if your life depends on it. No reservation, no holding back. Give your best and that will be just fine and sufficient. Do not depend solely on one thing, especially in business, as it involves a lot of risk. According to your talent and skills, think about a second career option. Think about where your talents and potential can be fully utilized for maximum results.

You can always consult a trusted advisor (accountant, mentor, business coach, SME consultant, someone you trust) who will help you follow the right path when you are struggling to find it on your own. You can check on internet various other options and choose accordingly. It is good to widen your horizon of knowledge, as you learn new things that can help you in life.

Be Strategic

The role of strategy is very important in every aspect of life; a good planning can lead you to attain your true potential. With no planning there is no directions and confusion, delusion and frustration prevail all your great intentions. You should make a strategy to win and include how you should work if the business does meet the correct target and blows. At that point, you need support, a shield that will guard you from the negative effects and influences. This can be in the form of some advisor who can help you cope with such matters.

You can restart on a new platform, by utilizing your strategies and strong points. A consultant is best for this job as he will deconstruct the strategy and simplify things to encourage you. This time requires trust and support; you should talk to your family and friends to lighten up your mood. Do not consider yourself responsible for every wrong thing, as that will help you de stress.

Play to win using what already works for you

Make the best use of your strengths by repeating, emphasizing and positioning your strategic intent and goals around them. If you are good at accounts; go for accounting, find jobs where you can utilize your talent. As repeating that task will boost your confidence. It is always beneficial to correct your mistakes. If certain limitations were hampering the work, analyze them, seek expert opinion, and learn how to deal with them. It is only after practice, we learn to master something. One should make the best out of their weaknesses too; running away from them is not a solution.

Honesty is the best policy; it never keeps you in dark. Be true to yourself. Learn how to be good at something critical to your success, if you are not don’t fail into a trap of assuring yourself to be.  There are no shortcuts. You have to strive hard to achieve excellence and work in their direction. You have to find the right opportunities and learn to grab them. Nobody is going to serve it on a platter for you; you have to take an initiative and proactive. A wise decision can potentially elevate your career and lift you to greater heights of success. In case of confusion, directly take a credible expert opinion and multiply your results and windfalls.