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35 Proven Strategies That All Entrepreneurs Should Consider to Achieve Professional Success
Exploring the diverse world of entrepreneurial success, we've gathered insights from CEOs and Founders to uncover what truly drives their achievements. From defining personal success to fostering genuine relationships, join us as we delve into the 35 invaluable strategies these seasoned entrepreneurs credit for their prosperity.
Define Personal Success Clearly
The number one thing that has helped me become successful as an entrepreneur was taking the time to establish clarity around what "success" means to me. While it has truly never been easier to start a business (especially an online business), it's also become just as easy to fail along the way, due to improper or even a pure lack of foundational business planning and sequential goal-setting. How can we become successful if we don't determine what it will take to get there? How can we measure our success if we're using someone else's ruler? The more we are able to recognize our incremental accomplishments as portions of larger goals being realized, the clearer we are able to see our own version of success come into view.
Tessa Schwall, CEO and Founder, Aligned Designer
Exceed Industry Standards
I work hard to do the things that no one else wants to do, so that my clients and future clients can trust my business to go above and beyond the industry standards. For example, when a proposal is requested, I will work outside of normal business hours to ensure that I submit it before the due date and with all the relevant information that the client will need to know. I work hard to reply back to clients within 48 hours (usually within the same business day they reach out). I believe that a high level of attention to detail has enabled me to be successful, grow my business in a strategic way, and ensure client satisfaction!
Beryl Krinsky, Founder & CEO, B.Komplete
Avoid Milestone Fixation
One crucial practice that has significantly contributed to my success as an entrepreneur may seem a bit counterintuitive, but it is resisting the urge to constantly chase the next big milestone. I've observed many entrepreneurs, particularly those in the early stages, become so hyper-future-focused that they end up like a rock skimming across the water—always moving on to the next impact point without allowing time for the ripples of their efforts to settle. This relentless pursuit often leads to frustration and a lack of tangible results, as they move on too quickly to reap the benefits of their initial efforts.
This mindset not only leads to disappointment but can also cause severe burnout. I'm not just talking about temporary exhaustion from a hectic week but genuine, clinical burnout that will wreak havoc on every aspect of your life. To avoid this, I prioritize staying grounded. Having a clear plan and a defined destination is essential, but it's equally important to invest in your current position. Water the grass where you are, trust the process, and take consistent, deliberate steps in the right direction.
The drive of an entrepreneur is a powerful force; it's what sets us apart. However, for long-term success, you must focus on cultivating where you are. This approach has been transformative for my entrepreneurial journey. Here's the simple formula I follow:
- Analyzing Backward: Reflect on your journey so far and unpack where you came from. What worked? What didn't work? What needs to change?
- Cultivating in the Present: Use insights from your past to develop a solid action plan for your current situation.
- Activating Forward: Implement what you've learned to take strategic, paced steps toward your goals.
It's not about how fast you can move but about creating sustainable, long-term momentum toward success.
This shift has been a game-changer for me, and I believe it can help other entrepreneurs achieve their goals without burning out.
Jonathan Collier, Founder, NexGenRVA Creative Consulting
Join Entrepreneurial Masterminds
By far, one of the greatest things that has helped me was joining "masterminds" with other business owners. More specifically, masterminds with owners of agencies similar to mine. You don't have to be invited to one, like I was for my first mastermind. You can create your own by reaching out to successful business owners and developing agendas that are valuable to everyone involved.
Through masterminds, I've learned how to build a team, structure operations, become more profitable, scale, find work/life balance, prioritize my health, and much, much more. It's been one of the most transformative experiences in my entrepreneurial journey. Not to mention, these colleagues have all become close friends—like an extended family. Anyone can do this, and there hasn't been a single mastermind that I joined that has cost me money to join. The cost of admission has been the willingness to be open, share, and not have a scarcity mindset. Every member in our collective mastermind has become more successful as a result, and we now hold annual retreats to spend time with each other and build even stronger relationships and stronger businesses!
Chris Castillo, Founder, Propel Digital Marketing
Adhere to Client and Project Standards
One thing that I learned from past failed attempts at entrepreneurship is to stick to solid boundaries for the clients and projects I take on. Recently, I said "yes" to a project that bypassed my SQL standards, and the result was a months-long back-and-forth because of an essential mismatch of service value to client budget.
It can be very easy to say "yes" to work that is either beyond the scope of what I've declared my service area focus to be or below the minimum compensation amount I've established for the work I deliver. Inevitably, compromising on either (or both) leads to frustration and lost revenue. By sticking to my standards as an entrepreneur, I ensure that the right clients and projects come my way, and in turn, I feel more fulfilled and valued for the services that I offer.
I advise any entrepreneur to establish your pricing sheet, ensure you're setting a high enough value on your time and work output, and make it part of your DNA. The right clients will flock to you, and it'll be easier to redirect mismatched clients to resources that are better suited to their needs.
Rachel Moore, CEO, But Wait, There's Moore
Solicit Early Feedback
We started soliciting feedback really early on in our entrepreneurial journey. We would go to coffee meetings with business leaders throughout San Diego and ask to hear their feedback on what we were building. Over time, this evolved into regularly interviewing our customers.
We always want to be learning about ongoing pain points and how we can evolve our solutions to help. When collecting outside perspectives, it's equally important to maintain discernment. As an entrepreneur, you have the most exposure to the complexity of your business, and it's important to trust your intuition.
Samantha Pantazopoulos, Co-Founder + CEO, Vizer
Learn to Lead Through Coaching
I trained as a coach before I had any intention of becoming one. The reason was that I wanted to improve my communication skills. I learned quickly that this was just the tip of the iceberg, and that coaching is essentially leadership. Therefore, to me, learning how to coach is fundamentally learning how to lead, which is one of the most powerful things you can do as an entrepreneur.
Matt Saunders, Business Coach, Matt Saunders Business Coaching
Build Resilience and Adapt
Stay the course. There will always be unforeseen circumstances that you hadn't anticipated, that slow things down and can be discouraging. Building resilience is a key skill for the entrepreneur because the only thing that's constant is change! Being able to pivot, improvise, and keep on going will help you stand out from the crowd.
Susan Elford, Leadership Coach & Business Mentor, Susan Elford Coaching & Consulting
Start with a Clear End Goal
The greatest single decision I made in order to make it as an entrepreneur has been to start with the end in mind.
For me, that meant sitting down with a number I was happy with earning over the space of a single business year and then reversing that back into a high-ticket package that would bring me that with just one client a month. Pro tip here: don't forget to calculate your taxes and expenses, too!
This isn't for your typical e-commerce business that focuses on numbers and little margins; this is a hardcore approach for service-based businesses that are confident they can over-deliver on quality and results.
In all my years since making this decision, my business has, through the worst of times, been able to stay afloat and, at the best of times, give me the life I always dreamed of.
Gabriele Gabba, Owner at 1 on 1 Art School, 1 ON 1 ART SCHOOL
Embrace Continuous Learning
One thing that has helped me succeed as an entrepreneur is cultivating a mindset of continuous learning. It's not just about taking courses or reading books, but always being curious and open to new experiences. This has allowed me to adapt quickly to changes and constantly improve my skills.
This approach has profoundly impacted my entrepreneurial journey. I see challenges as opportunities to grow and failures as valuable lessons. This mindset has kept my motivation high during tough times and fostered a culture of innovation and continuous growth within my team. Being a leader who learns and evolves alongside my employees creates a dynamic and stimulating work environment, motivating everyone to strive for improvement. Ultimately, this mindset has made my entrepreneurial journey more meaningful and fulfilling for both myself and my team.
Paolo Cernigliaro, Founder & CEO, Partita Iva S.r.l.
Maintain a Daily Routine
Sticking to a daily game plan or routine is key. As an entrepreneur, there isn't anyone out there to tell you what to do for your business specifically. This can become incredibly isolating if you don't create a structure for yourself. Without a routine, your days become unorganized, which inhibits your proclivity to create opportunities that help grow your business and maintain its good standing. With a daily game plan or routine, you hold yourself accountable for the growth of your company. You run your business from a place of clarity, allowing you to steer it in the direction you want it to go.
Alan Gelfand, Owner, German Car Depot
Network with Fellow Entrepreneurs
Networking with other entrepreneurs has been a key element of my success as an entrepreneur over the past 20 years. As a solopreneur, it can be lonely working alone. Connecting with other entrepreneurs enables you to share experiences, gain insights, and achieve a sense of belonging. Your network can also bring new opportunities in the form of referrals, partnerships, and keeping up-to-date with the latest developments.
Lisa LaRue, Career Coach, The Career Happiness Coach
Leverage Personal Strengths and Passion
One thing that has helped me to be a successful entrepreneur is understanding my strengths, weaknesses, and what my passion is. Understanding our personal limitations and assets is extremely important. This helps me not waste time and focus on things I excel at and enjoy. To succeed as an entrepreneur, you have to have passion. And not just passion for money or freedom, but passion for the work itself. To succeed, we need to put a lot of time in, and without the passion for what we do, we either won't stay the course, or we'll be unhappy doing it.
Gabriel Bertolo, Creative Director, Radiant Elephant
Trust Your Team for Longevity
For me, picking your team wisely is a key differentiator, and trusting that team as you would trust yourself is essential. But for that to work, you need to play the long game because trust is the connective tissue that takes time to grow. Working long-term with an aligned team and a blend of complementary skills is a hard-hitting advantage.
I've witnessed that first-hand with my team of four co-founders. We've been working together for over 15 years, navigating through the acquisition of our first startup to building our new startup, which just went out of stealth last month. For me, entrepreneurial success is not a solo act; it's a team journey built on trust.
Conno Christou, CEO & Co-founder, Keragon
Focus on Your Unique Journey
It is an ongoing battle, but one thing that has helped me is to throw out any preconceived notion of how a business "should be" and focus on what I can do, with what I have, where I am. Every entrepreneur has wildly different paths, constraints, resources, and sometimes it's easy to forget that—at least for me. The focus on my own journey has helped me compare less and disregard expectations, both self-imposed and societally imposed, and to enjoy and be grateful for my unique experience as an entrepreneur.
Hannah Ryu, Co-Founder & Director of Strategy and Operations, Oak Theory
Employ Trustworthy Family Members
Being able to employ select family members has been a game-changer for me and the growth of my company. There is just a level of trust, faith, and commitment that is invaluable and has made the process so much more manageable. It comes with strings and isn't always easy, but it definitely has given me an edge in building a business.
Jessy Klein Fofana, Founder and CEO LaRue, LaRue
Plan Weekly for Clarity
Make a written plan every Friday. I start by writing out (yes, on paper) the things I know I need to do in the coming week—for both my life and my work. After that, I fill in the gaps with the things I hope to complete during the remaining time—for both my life and my work. Finally, I utilize digital reinforcement (like sending a calendar invite or email reminder) to support my plans and communicate important information to others. By making my plans a full week in advance, we are able to see what is coming and ensure we are prepared instead of stressed. This practice has helped me to be present in my life while increasing productivity in my business.
Samantha Lane, Time Management Consultant & Keynote Speaker, Origami Day
Seek Mentors and Advisors
One thing I've done that has helped me be successful as an entrepreneur is to maintain a circle of mentors and advisors around me who were also entrepreneurs. During the first five years of pursuing my entrepreneurial journey, I mainly focused on creating the business and paid little attention to cultivating deep relationships with those who were more experienced than me. Though I felt like I was making progress, I was basically busy and getting nowhere fast. It took some time, but I eventually realized that many of the obstacles I faced were avoidable, had I had someone in my circle who had "been there and done that."
Mentors and advisors can save you tons of time and wasted energy when you're intentional and invest in the relationship with them. They can give you insight into strategies for success, warn you about upcoming roadblocks, and advocate for you to get you in the right rooms. I would advise every early-stage/new entrepreneur to invest in a mentor or advisor. Meet with them on a monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly basis, and most of all, listen to them!
Terrence Hight, Jr., CEO, Hight Health
Start Before Ready
One thing that has significantly contributed to my success as an entrepreneur is starting before I felt completely ready. This principle may seem daunting, but it has been pivotal in my journey, teaching me that waiting for the perfect moment can often lead to missed opportunities. It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that more preparation or waiting for the 'right time' will ensure success. However, this pursuit of perfection often becomes a form of procrastination. I learned that there is no such thing as a perfect moment to start a business; conditions will rarely align flawlessly. The business landscape is ever-changing, and the knowledge required to succeed evolves constantly. Instead of waiting to feel completely equipped, I accepted that learning is an ongoing process that continues well beyond the initial launch.
Inessa Vike, CEO, VIKE BEAUTY
Interact Directly with Customers
One of the most impactful strategies I've employed as an entrepreneur is the consistent and direct interaction with my customers.
By engaging in regular conversations with customers, whether through calls, emails, or direct messages, I get to know about their needs, desires, and pain points better. And in any line of business, such knowledge is power.
For instance, I've been able to learn about needs and preferences that were previously overlooked, allowing us to develop better product positioning that resonated well with them.
Moreover, direct customer feedback has served as a powerful validation tool. By observing how customers respond to our product and its messaging, I've been able to test and refine my hypotheses about its benefits.
Because sometimes, as founders or entrepreneurs, we are so engrossed in our product that it gets difficult to have an unbiased opinion or a fresh point of view that is actually closer to what the customer would have.
Therefore, I can say that connecting directly with my clients or customers has helped me a great deal to keep myself in check, live in reality, and constantly try to improve my business.
Sergiu Matei, Founder and tech recruiting expert, Index.Dev
Adopt a Customer-Centric Approach
One thing that has significantly contributed to my success as an entrepreneur is adopting a customer-centric approach. By putting the customer at the heart of all business decisions, I've built strong relationships, driven customer satisfaction, and cultivated loyalty, which are essential for long-term business success. This seems obvious on the surface, but many entrepreneurs don't focus as much as they should on this.
A crucial element of this approach is understanding our customers' needs and preferences deeply. We actively seek feedback through various channels, such as surveys, interviews, and direct client interactions. Analyzing this feedback allows us to identify pain points and areas for improvement.
For instance, we frequently conduct satisfaction surveys in our interactions with clients and use the insights gained to refine our product offerings. This has allowed us to develop product features that our ideal customers actually want and need.
Improving the customer experience is another cornerstone of our strategy. We ensure that every touchpoint, from initial contact to post-sale support, exceeds customer expectations. We've implemented a seamless onboarding process for new customers, which includes a detailed walkthrough of our solution, setting clear expectations, and providing continuous support. By streamlining our processes and being highly responsive to client inquiries, we've enhanced the overall client experience, resulting in higher satisfaction and retention rates.
Learn to Say No Respectfully
I learned to respectfully say "no". If I start an engagement, then I will respond until completed. However, just because someone asks me or reaches out to me about something does not mean I have to respond.
Time is precious, as is productive energy. Nobody can do it all. Stick to the most important tasks (MITs) and disengage from everything else. Your business, your family, your friends, and your body will thank you for it.
Bill Douglas, CEO, ResilienceGuy
Address the Weakest Link
First, I take deep breaths. Second, I focus on the "weakest link" in my business operations and develop that until it's no longer holding me back. This has significantly grown my operations, my opportunities, and given me more room to breathe.
A friend told me about Goldratt's Theory of Constraints when I was experiencing a dry spell in leads and opportunities for my business. It's a dense theory, made by and for the wizards and scientists of business and commerce. While worth reading, my takeaway is far simpler: On any given day, what am I, as an entrepreneur, doing to further my goals and my ambitions? Of that list, what is holding me back the most?
By finding your bottleneck (Are you cold-calling the right people? Are you networking with the right groups? Are you doing either of these?), and by approaching it with cold curiosity, you can re-strategize and spend LESS time overcorrecting for all that you're avoiding, and MORE time with peace of mind and a healthy, growing endeavor as an entrepreneur.
For me, I was avoiding outreach, and I was letting my prospects fall into my lap from word-of-mouth. This is a privilege to have. When the less-busy season came around, I wasn't ready. I needed to cold-call, I needed to talk to the right people, and I needed to be able to speak up for myself at a moment's notice.
I attempted 100 cold calls in a week. It was brutal, but I gained several networking events to join, and I met a CEO who saw me cold-calling at a coffee shop. I reached out to peers to learn I wasn't alone in the struggle. I placed flyers on local businesses and I'm receiving callbacks.
That CEO was, by complete chance, the owner of one of the most prestigious design organizations I know. I'm a superfan of their work, and there he was, watching me cold-call businesses on a hot June day. He said he admired the work I was doing. I'll cold-call 100 more times if it gives me a connection like that again.
In short, identify what's holding you back and relentlessly hammer away at improving it. Shape your day around improving it. Once you start noticing results, find the next obstacle, and attack that with everything you've learned. This has been the single most successful skill in my entrepreneurial toolkit.
Chris Rumeau, Brand Expert, Rumeau Design Co
Leverage External Resources
One crucial factor that has significantly contributed to my success as an entrepreneur is recognizing the importance of leveraging external resources. My 18 years of experience as a director for a Fortune 500 healthcare company taught me that no matter how skilled or knowledgeable I may be, having access to a network of resources is a necessity. I continuously expand my list of valuable resources and utilize them frequently to crush challenges and optimize opportunities. This proactive approach has been important in maintaining efficiency, business growth, and success.
MonicaFaye Hall, Owner, The Digital Hall
Stay True to Your Brand
The one thing I've done as an entrepreneur that's helped me be successful is identify my/our brand and stick to it. To illustrate this, I'll share a situation I deal with often.
We provide a personalized, tailored approach to our coaching and are selective with whom we choose to coach. We're often asked if we have a Master Class of executive and career search courses online. Selling an online course for $99 is the opposite of a personalized, high-touch coaching service; therefore, we do not offer it. It's important to know your brand and make decisions that align with it.
Adriana Cowdin, Master Executive Coach & CEO, Be Bold Coaching, LLC
Understand and Delegate Your Limits
Learn your limits. You may have to get something started, but holding on to one activity or one role for too long can stall your ability to grow. Get it going. Define success, and then be on the search for someone who loves and thrives in that role.
Evan Kubicek, Chief Impact Officer
Hire Coaches and Build Support Networks
I've hired coaches, experts, and contractors throughout my journey to help me achieve my goals and stay on course. I also seek out other entrepreneurs to learn from and get support from. As a solopreneur, having people I can count on and reach out to has been critical to my success.
Diane Helbig, ChIC - Chief Improvement Catalyzer, Helbig Enterprises
Show Up Consistently
The definition of success looks quite different to all people. In my experience as an entrepreneur, feeling successful is all about the impact and transformation I am contributing to in the lives of those I coach, speak to, and teach. One very important thing I have done in the last 15 years is showing up consistently, no matter what. The more I show up with daily content, posts, social media messages, my podcast, and email list, the more people trust me and want to work with me. I believe that consistency is the key to success in almost any area of life. It also allows your audience to count on you, and this develops trust over time.
Kelley Tyan, Founder, Addicted To The Climb
Spot Market Gaps
It may sound cliché, but what has helped me and my business become successful is spotting the gap in the market. I started my agency 10 years ago, and instead of offering generalist services, I wanted us to specialize in our niche of IT recruitment. Doing so meant that others wanted to work with us because we were experts in a market with many generalists.
Matt Collingwood, Founder and Managing Director, VIQU IT Recruitment
Take Regular Mini-Sabbaticals
I was first introduced to mini-sabbaticals in 2016, but I didn't think my clients would accept it. I reluctantly took my first one at the end of 2016, the week between Christmas and New Year's. And I loved it. Since then, I've taken a full week off every seven weeks, and it's the best thing I've done personally and professionally. I return refreshed with new ideas, and I've never lost a client because of it. (In fact, most are jealous.) I've learned I'll honor the time off if I schedule it, so now it's a permanent, recurring thing on my calendar!
Kiffanie Stahle, Friendly Legal Eage, the artist's J.D.
Compete with Yourself Only
One thing I've done that has helped me be successful as an entrepreneur is to not look at what the competition is doing. For the first nine years that we have been in business, we were sold primarily on our e-commerce site. When people would ask, "Who is your competition?" I would always reply, "We don't have any! WE are our only competition."
What I meant by that was, that without brand awareness and a reason to purchase, we would never be able to drive anyone to our site. As opposed to sitting around looking at what products our competitors were creating or what campaigns they shared, we instead spent our time focusing on how to share the love. We would go back to our "why," and remind ourselves of the reason we exist as a brand, and then we went from there. My advice is to be your own competition—it's a lot more fun.
Andrea Faulkner Williams, Co-Founder, Tubby Todd
Launch Without Perfection
I abandoned the pursuit of 'perfection.' If I'd waited for everything to be flawless—my website, branding, and more—I'd never have landed my first client, or second, or even my hundredth. It turns out, solving someone's problem matters more than whether your website even exists!
Natasha Walstra, Founder/CEO, NearPoint Strategies
Give Back to the Community
Over the last 11 years, since launching our internationally recognized event-design company, one of the best things that I have done to be successful as an entrepreneur is to get involved and give back. It's that simple. Getting active with various nonprofit organizations that I am passionate about has trickled down to all that we do and has become such a focal point of the success of our company with the nonprofit events that we plan. I always say that we give back to the community that gives to us. We're making the world a better place, and it's all through events!
Addie Graham-Kramer, Chief Executive Officer, The Event Company, LLC
Foster Genuine Relationships
Forget fancy marketing automation tools or the latest social media hacks (although, those are cool too). The key to experiencing success as an entrepreneur? Genuine relationships.
Here's the thing: I'm a people lover. Their stories, their dreams, the unique blend of skills and experiences they bring to the table – it all fascinates me. (Maybe it's a side effect of interviewing over 200 successful online entrepreneurs for my podcast. Let's just say, I learned a thing or two… and got a healthy dose of inspiration.)
This genuine interest in others translates to my networking strategy. (Yes, I admit it, I'm a connector at heart.) Whether it's a live event or a virtual gathering, I approach everyone with curiosity. Forget the elevator pitch – I'm more interested in what makes them tick.
It's all about building bridges, offering value first, and fostering connections that go beyond business cards.
And guess what? This "people-first" approach has paid off in spades. Because yes, the entrepreneurial universe rewards kindness.
I've built a network of incredible clients, landed many speaking gigs, and even scored some media features.
See? Kindness is contagious… in the best way possible.
The lesson? To be curious, be helpful, and build relationships based on mutual respect and value.
Fabienne Raphaël, CEO & Founder, Speaking Business Coach & International Speaker
Have Faith and Persevere
As an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience, I have to say that having faith is the key to my success. Praying provides the faith and confidence that are essential to succeed. Having faith in your work, faith in the people on your team, and faith that you will succeed. Faith has led to projects falling into my lap that I never saw coming. Praying provides the faith to take on new and unconventional projects and give it 100%. The best advice I can give to upcoming entrepreneurs is to have faith that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to and don't give up until you surpass your expectations.