6 Fundamentals Every Modern Entrepreneur Needs to Succeed The game of business has changed. Cultivating your personal brand is the cornerstone of success.
By Dan Antonelli Edited by Dan Bova
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
The road to being a true-blue entrepreneur is paved with spectacular stories of crash-and-burn. It requires a certain type of stamina that few possess and an insatiable desire to do better than the day before. Such a demanding lifestyle has no boundaries in place, except for those self-imposed. This alone can prove deadly for the half-serious startup hopeful.
Mastering the daily hustle is something that will either make or break any hopes for success. If you're not serious about upgrading your skill set, than prepare to be beaten by those who make it their mission.
Succeeding today calls for a jack-of-all-trades-like approach. Here are the qualities that future success stories in business need to possess:
1. A scholarly research ability. People don't simply buy things anymore. There's a winning mix of brand interactions, advertisements and recommendations that go into every significant purchase we make.
Getting this recipe to truly click involves not only knowing the history of your industry and competitors, but also knowing where and when to go for the latest updates and insights. Don't pick up a copy of The New York Times, read through, and call it a day. Find those bloggers and influencers leading the way, peruse every trade publication for your industry and learn where to go for real answers.
Having an edge in the form of information is what will help you win those customers who are still on the fence.
2. A strong social media presence. If your LinkedIn profile looks like a phone book listing, we have a serious problem. If your indecent Facebook photos show up in an online search for your company, we might have a catastrophe. Tighten up your presentation to the world to leverage the free online assets we know as social media.
Designers are using Instagram to showcase their portfolios. Business owners are using Facebook to adjust their product offerings. Twitter breaks news, Tumblr shows trends and Pinterest uncovers customer buying habits. Find the channels best suited to your industry and start making them work for you. Just make sure to tie up any loose ends first.
3. An actively updated blog or website. If you are so much as selling lemonade, you need a website. Unless you don't like making money, you need a blog. If you're not actively engaging potential customers online, showcasing your expertise and properly updating your channels and site, you're losing to someone who is. Get in a weekly rhythm of updating your digital properties.
Websites drive conversions and blogs drive search traffic. Both can become bottomless pits when it comes to managing your time. It helps to have a set of resources or a resident expert in your corner. Wordpress sites, and the like, make updating your content painless but consider teaming-up with an outside firm or consultant. Their insights and strategies can save hours of frustration.
4. A professional look and feel to everything you do. Even if you're not in the fashion industry, every entrepreneur needs to work on perfecting their own personal style.
There's a certain beauty to a freshly-minted business card or fine-pressed uniform. Clean, appropriate, smart design is what drives the professional world. Even for multi-colored or explosively creative big-league companies, there is a certain order and form that exists in their business materials that simply screams professional.
If you want to succeed, you will eventually need to develop an eye (or at least an appreciation) for the power of superior branding. Because superior branding is enough to turn a "maybe" into a "yes, please!"
5. A knack for storytelling. This is an often untapped asset in the business world, an escape from being perceived as just another vendor. While a great many might feel like they don't have one, rest assured: every business has a story worth telling. It may take some soul searching, but once you lock in to that narrative, greater opportunities will begin to present themselves.
The world is filled with truly special individuals and great stories just waiting to be told. Recognize where your products or services come into that story and align yourself with it.
When it comes to keeping things fresh, it helps to keep a journal to recount all of your awesomeness. At a company, it's about creating the story of a best-in-class service or product that makes life better. And don't forget: a great story needs great characters!
6. A way to put it all together. Keeping an ear to the online grindstone is a full-time job. A limitless smorgasbord of productivity apps and software services can leave many anxious and distraught. Turn these feelings into fuel and recognize that anything is possible. Use sites like IFTTT.com to automate certain processes and services like Evernote to keep tabs on your daily readings.
Be sure to take a step back from it all every day. Find time to reflect, with family or through fitness. Keep yourself motivated by seeking out mentors, video tutorials and new information. You don't need to back yourself into a corner, but you do need a strong focal point to help guide you through hardships the that will inevitably come about. The stronger your focus, the better chance you have of coming out victorious.
In today's world, it's never been easier to make your mark in business. The challenge lies in saying something meaningful and relevant. Take part in the global economy, find the balance that best suits you and get ready for big things to happen.
