I believe in entrepreneurship, at some point in time, you will have to discover your path all by yourself. It took me decades to learn what I know now but the fact is that my yearning to learn is not over yet.
Trust me, the best entrepreneurial lessons I’ve learned have been rather simple ones which were often hidden behind the corners of my mind.
Neither have I gone to a business school nor taken any private course on being a leader. Everything I learned is from my experiences.
Below are a few philosophies I curated during my entrepreneurial journey.
Don’t make Excuses, make Improvement
Most often than not, things will go contrary to the way you planned. It can be anything from delivery issues to customer problems to simple production problems.
The human tendency is to, at the onset, find an excuse for why it didn’t work. But will finding that excuse help in solving that problem? No. It won’t. Therefore, rather than making excuses, focus on finding a solution to the problem. Your problems will of course take time to get fixed, but as long as you are making amendments, you’ll finally get there.
Don’t Give Up
You will get exhausted from being an entrepreneur, especially when things go wrong. What’s helped me thrive over the years is that I am determined and patient. I think consistency matters; I just believe in going on, until things are done. Don’t pause, keep moving – even if they are small steps – eventually you will achieve your goal.
Focus on the Core
It’s easy to get distracted. If you fail to focus on the core of your business model, you will end up spinning your wheels without any yarn. Don’t let external factors deviate you from your goal.
Perseverance
When people look at what I have achieved in business, most of them think that I achieved it in a few years. However, they don’t know that I have been an entrepreneur for more than forty years now.
During these years, I’ve lost money in business, made mistakes, took risks and invested innumerable hours into my business. Let me remind you, success is not achieved overnight.
Be ready to Unlearn
Every day is a new chapter and with a new day comes new challenges and lessons. Always be ready to unlearn what is not required and learn what is necessary. Life is a continuous journey of learning, unlearning and relearning.
Be Nobody
While we grow and become successful, often we become egoistic and paint our existence with powerful taglines. Try to be uninfluenced by the greediness around you. When you stir clear from the surrounding chaos then you will be able to listen to the inner voice.
Together, we grow Stronger
Always remember, entrepreneurship isn’t only about you. You can’t fulfill your dreams without helping others with theirs. While following my dreams, I made it a point to guide those around me. It’s similar to watering the plants even after you pluck their fruits.
While my journey continues, these are some of the philosophies that helped me to grow strong roots. I hope they guide you when you stumble.
