|
|
 |
Ten Keys to Succeeding at Work
If you're in business - or thinking of going into business - with the sole objective of making money, then I'm sorry: you're doomed to failure. there's much more to success than just that. Over the past 20 years I've studied successful business people - many of whom are self-made millionaires. Do you want to succeed in business?, well here are some of the keys I believe these people can teach us ...
| 1 |
You need a clear vision of where you want to go
I've observed three types of people in business. The first are the optimists, who build their castles in the sky. The second are the dreamers who want to live in the castle. The third are the realists - those who collect the rent. The lesson? It's not much sense having a dream if you haven't developed an action plan to help make that dream a reality. |
2 |
You've got to love what you're doing
Tragically, many of us exist in jobs we don't enjoy. We aren't prepared to venture out of our comfort zones into areas we'd find more satisfying. We don't have the guts to pursue our dreams.
Wendy Pye of Sunshine Books was dismissed from her job in her early 40s. She remembers that as one of the blackest days of her life. But she loved publishing, especially anything to do with children's books. Encouraged by her husband, she set up her own business - and within five years her companies were worth over $3.5 million. |
3 |
You must seek help from people with skills you don't possess
Running a business calls for expertise in many different areas: market research, manufacturing, pricing, production, promotion, technology, financial management, law ... to name a few. But whatever you do, don't attempt them all yourself, and don't re-invent the wheel. |
4 |
You have to be willing to take calculated risks
Most business people need to take risks. However, the successful ones always assess the down-side: they look at what's the worst that could happen and what the consequences could be. Then they weigh up all the alternatives, make a decision, and move ahead. |
5 |
You must receive good management reports
Most small business operators don't understand the intricacies of financial statements. They don't understand the importance of following the trends of vital financial ratios - like proprietorship ratio, working capital ration, major expense items to turnover, and ageing of creditors and debtors. Large numbers of them only discover six months after year-end balance date that they've made a loss - when, if they'd been given timely management information, they could have done something to remedy the situation. |
6 |
You should work ON your business, not IN it
Many people forget why they went into business in the first place. Initially they were looking to provide for spouse and family. But with financial stress and other work pressures, their whole life starts to revolve around the business - and their spouse and family get neglected. Successful business people, however, regularly revisit their goals. They know that the real purpose of business is to ADD VALUE ... and that balanced living does not require you to sacrifice your family. |
7 |
You must satisfy the needs of your customers
Do you know which of your customers provide most of your profits? An Italian by the name of Pareto developed the 80-20 rule. In business terms he maintains that 80% of your profits come from 20% of your customers. Do you know which are your most profitable lines? Could it be that 80% of your profits are derived from 20% of your products? Is it possible that 80% of your sales come from 20% of your sales people? Pareto is saying you need to concentrate on those areas of your business from which you are getting the most effective return. |
8 |
You need to work at self-development
In the business environment we're now working in there's nothing more permanent than change itself. What was impossible yesterday is possible today.
Are you aware that, in your chosen area of endeavour, if you read one book a month on that subject for the next five years you would become an authority on that subject?
A famous Chinese philosopher, Sun Tzu, made the comment: "I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, But I do and I know".
|
9 |
Your honesty and integrity must be beyond doubt
There's a story about a minister of religion who became frustrated at trying to find a carpark, and finally parked in a "no-parking" area. He left a note on his windshield which read: "I'm a minister of religion. Having circled the block five times and running late for a meeting, I had to park in this no-parking area. Forgive us our trespasses."
On returning from his meeting three hours later, he noticed that a paragraph had been added to his note. It read: "I'm a traffic warden and I've been policing this block for the past five years. If I don't give you a parking ticket I'll be dismissed from my job. Lead us not into temptation."
The moral of the story? You need to be honest in the small things as well as the big things! |
10 |
You have to be determined
The high achievers in life are those people who do the things that the low achievers don't want to do. They all have tenacity of purpose, a determined look in their eye - they will never give up in pursuit of their goal. When they get knocked down it's not a question of whether they'll bounce back - it's only a question of how high they'll bounce back. They always have a burning desire to succeed. |
|
