📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

5 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Do Differently From determining product-market fit to continually reinvesting in themselves, here is what makes some entrepreneurs stand the test of time.

By Thomas Oppong Edited by Dan Bova

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Helga Esteb | Shutterstock
Richard Branson

Every entrepreneurial story is different and unique but each one begins with someone starting something and taking a chance on a dream. Sometimes it turns out big and other times it fails. Either way, they keep moving forward and getting stuff done.

Here are a few things that successful entrepreneurs do differently:

1. They spot solutions in problems.

"A business is simply an idea to make other people's lives better" says Richard Branson.

Successful entrepreneurs are constantly figuring out how best to tackle obstacles and challenges they encounter daily -- they don't see problems but opportunities. Every great entrepreneur is constantly finding ways to make ideas and solutions work.

When you have a ready market, be sure your solution will solve real problem your target market have.

2. They keep on investing in viable business ideas.

Insanely great entrepreneurs don't have an end game. They aren't looking to achieve "enough." Often, they spend much less than they earn and invest their profits in new ventures or better ways to work on the same idea.

Related: 7 Million-Dollar Habits of the Super Successful

3. They invest in their own skills.

You can never go wrong with investing in yourself -- and successful entrepreneurs know that.

Entrepreneurs who value self-development invest their time each week in resources that will make them better. They are known to trade their free time for increased skills or knowledge. They also know the value of constantly learning, as It's the only way to stay relevant in an ever-changing business world.

4. They still own assets that compound.

The most efficient way to build wealth is to own a part of a company with the most wealthy entrepreneurs today owning large percentages of their businesses. They hang on to every precious percentage of ownership and continue to invest in long-term assets that will pay off in the future.

5. They always play to their strengths.

Successful entrepreneurs concentrate on what they do best by playing to your strengths and outsourcing their weaknesses.

The greatest entrepreneurs have hired some of the smartest people in their industries to work on what they can't do but have to do. You can't do it all alone.

Related: 15 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Do Every Day

Thomas Oppong

Founder @Alltopstartups

Thomas Oppong is the founder of Alltopstartups.com, a startup resource site, and the curator at Postanly Weekly, a digest of the best productivity posts around the web.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

'This Year Almost Broke Me': Tom Schwartz Reveals 'Scandoval' Almost Shut Down His Restaurant After Losing 80% of His Business

As Bravo's "Vanderpump Rules" ends its 11th season, longtime cast member, Tom Schwartz, and Schwartz & Sandy's business partner, Greg Morris, open up about how public scandal almost shuttered their restaurant — and how they kept it afloat.

Business News

Major U.S. Airlines Are Suing the Government Over 'Capricious' Fee Transparency Law

Southwest Airlines opted not to join the other airlines in the lawsuit.

Social Media

Here's How I Determine If I'm Getting Value Out of X (and How You Can, Too)

Don't let low-value accounts and promotional material bog down your time on X (formerly Twitter). Here are some strategies to curate content, engage with quality people and maximize your time.

Health & Wellness

How This CEO Turned 99 No's Into a $500 Million Sleep Tech Powerhouse

Eight Sleep's Matteo Franceschetti reveals his journey from nightmarish rejection to dream-like motivation.

Franchise

Which Franchise Model Is Right for You? Here's How to Choose

There are thousands of brands and concepts, but franchises generally fall under two business models: "brick-and-mortar" and "service-based." Which is the best choice for you?