(AmericanProsperity.com) – Every day, entrepreneurs take on challenges that many people will never know or understand. They’re high achievers and have high expectations.
Unfortunately, a trend over the last few years has been developing among entrepreneurs and it centers around a mindset of “effort and reward.”
Too many people buy into a belief that they should be rewarded for simply putting in the effort, and any amount of effort will subjectively do. Many have fallen into the trap that if they launch a new company, service or product they should expect hundreds or thousands of new customers in the first month.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Just because an entrepreneur goes through the motions and does the bare minimum, doesn’t mean there is going to be a reward. In fact, the reward usually comes after a lot of pain, trials, and perseverance.
Just showing up isn’t going to cut it, it’s just the first step.
Here are five things you need to do right now to overcome the challenges that lead to the destructive “effort and reward” mindset and achieve lasting and true success.
#1 – Realize There Are No Overnight Successes
It’s tempting to believe that success happens overnight. Rarely are the stories told of the struggles and trials entrepreneurs go through to achieve success.
Being an “overnight success” is the culmination of consistent, steady, small steps achieved over time. Success usually happens for those who hold out a little longer, put in the time, the work and the blood, sweat, and tears to learn what works and what doesn’t, and who can develop a vision and path to success.
# 2 – Stop Pursuing Unnecessary Risks
The majority of people see risk and they run from it. However, if an entrepreneur has done the research, is prepared, and knows what it will take to succeed, risk becomes an opportunity to be pursued with dogged perseverance.
Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs don’t take the time to access the risk and research the opportunity. Always know what you’re getting into and don’t take shortcuts on the due diligence. That could be the difference between success and failure.
# 3 – Remember It’s Not All About Money
Business is a game and money is how you keep score. Professional athletes perform at the highest level and that doesn’t happen by accident. It’s intentional. Untold hours are spent on the practice field perfecting their craft. The score after a game simply reflects the time spent mentally preparing and physically practicing,
In business, money is a reward but it’s not the only one. The challenge is to keep them all in proper perspective. Money may allow someone to spend their time how they want, with whom they want, wherever and whenever they want, but it doesn’t ensure happiness while they do it.
Don’t fall into the trap of working hard to chase profits — chase the lifestyle you ultimately want — that’s the true reward.
#4 – Avoid Complacency
Too many entrepreneurs are willing to settle for “good enough” and become complacent. Your business is either growing or it’s dying. There are no in-betweens.
To achieve success, you must overcome the challenge of complacency. Work hard every day to know your business and search for ways to improve it.
Successful businessman and entrepreneur Mark Cuban once said, “Sweat equity is the most valuable equity there is. Know your business and industry better than anyone else in the world. Love what you do or don’t do it.”
#5 – Overcome Your Ego
Mending a relationship with a customer can be difficult if you’ve been a jerk. It’s much easier to be respectful, nice and to put yourself in your customer’s shoes.
Empathy and honesty are common traits among successful entrepreneurs. If you’re achieving success, never let it go to your head or make your team and customers feel like you did it alone. You didn’t and they know it.
Eventually, entrepreneurs who are disrespectful end up having clients and customers who are the same. In the end, you get what you earn.
Mastering these tasks is not a guarantee of success, but failing to master them will almost certainly lead to failure.
Copyright 2020, AmericanProsperity.com
