06 Unconventional Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs

There are myriad books and discussions debating the traits and skills necessary to become a successful entrepreneur. What are rarely considered, however, are the weird, different and strange elements that people running prosperous companies embody. 

Of all the elements you wouldn't expect, here are an essential six. We could call them themes or elements or what-have-you, but they apply to almost all successful entrepreneurs. 

1. Not knowing is essential

Experience and knowledge are important to running a business, but naivety can be your best friend when starting out.

Most successful entrepreneurs would never have taken their first steps had they known just how long and hard the journey would be. Building a successful business takes a level of not knowing what's involved when starting. 

This element is exclusive to first-time entrepreneurs and allows them a level of mental freedom that can never be relived during latter ventures. Don't take "not knowing" how to start or run a business as a negative held against you. Instead, know this is your one chance to be new to and about the whole process. 

Taking calculated risks is essential to creating a new business. If you're constantly imagining the worst before it happens, you risk becoming paralyzed by fear and never making any progress. 

2. Stay small, and do big things

Knowing that your business is improving the lives of others can bring your motivation to new heights and the success of your business along with it. Whatever the size of your customer base -- 10 or 10,000 -- making a difference for those customers will give you a huge boost in the happiness you get from what you're doing.

For many entrepreneurs, the realization that they're changing the world, even for a few people, is a major turning point. 

As Brennan Dunn of Double Your Freelancing told me in a recent interview for my podcast, when he realized that people’s lives were changed in a significant way because of the services he provided, he felt that was the moment he knew all his hard work was worth it.

It’s not about always building billion-dollar businesses. It’s about changing the lives of the people your business touches.  

3. Check your email while still in bed

We assume that successful people follow all the well-worn productivity advice commonly doled out by business consultants, coaches and gurus.

In my experience interviewing more than 100 entrepreneurs, the opposite is true. All successful entrepreneurs have a unique daily routine that works for them, based on their own way of working and living. Beyond that, each of them is confident that they know themselves best, and they set up their days accordingly.

The fact is that, although we've all read and heard we should never check our email first thing in the morning, we all do anyway -- yes, the successful and the not-yet-successful. The act of checking your email is not what keeps you from building a great business, it's the act of checking your email while believing that you shouldn't be.

To be successful, you need to trust yourself and find what works for you -- no matter what the advice of the day tells you to do. Give yourself permission to check your email first thing in the morning.

It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it. Find what works for you, know that what works will change and then do it confidently.

4. Uncertainty is certain

We're all born with a different tolerance for uncertainty, but it's a muscle that gets stronger the more you use it. No matter your current tolerance level, you can overcome these feelings with practice. Your business depends on it, so take the time and effort required.

Uncertainty will excite you and make you jump out of bed in the morning to see what's going to happen next. Uncertainty is the forward movement that puts you in the path of other people on the same trajectory toward doing cool things. Uncertainty is required because we don't always know what we need to do next, and this is OK.

If not knowing for certain what the outcome will be stops you in your tracks, you'll not be able to take the necessary risks to build a successful business. We can’t always know what's going to happen, but we have to keep taking steps into the unknown to find out.

5. Not knowing is good

If every misstep plummets you into self-doubt, you have to change the way you look at being wrong.

Success rarely happens in a straight line. Taking wrong turns and making mistakes is something that's bound to happen to everyone. So when it does, be prepared to own it completely, shake it off and move on.

Taking ownership of whatever goes wrong in your business is essential to the process of learning and growing. Once you've accepted your part of what happened, don’t let it become a statement about your own worth or ability. Move on confidently knowing that you can and will do better next time because of what you learned from the experience of being wrong. 

6. Work in months

Nothing worth accomplishing happens overnight, and expecting success too soon can burn you out and keep you from your goals. This has been the demise of many would-be entrepreneurs that could’ve gone on to build world-changing businesses. 

With the launch of a new product, blog or podcast, many have the false notion that if it's not wildly successful right away, it wasn't a viable idea. When the initial launch isn't the lottery win they were hoping for, they give up and move on to other things. This isn't to say that the launch was a failure -- it's a testament to the need to think longer-term. 

Shiny objects can't get in your way when you know for a fact that there's no such thing as instant anything.

To find success and build the businesses that will change your and your customers' lives, you need to plan ahead and work in monthly increments. You then eliminate the temptation to quit too soon and failing to work through the dip. 

The harder the dip is to work through, the more rewarding it is on the other side.

07 Elements of a Strong Business Model

Creating a business model isn’t simply about completing your business plan or determining which products to pursue. It’s about mapping out how you will create ongoing value for your customers.

Where will your business idea start, how should it progress, and when will you know you’ve been successful? How will you create value for customers? Follow these simple steps to securing a strong business model.

1. Identify your specific audience.

Targeting a wide audience won’t allow your business to hone in on customers who truly need and want your product or service. Instead,  when creating your business model, narrow your audience down to two or three detailed buyer personas. Outline each persona’s demographics, common challenges and the solutions your company will offer. As an example, Home Depot might appeal to everyone or carry a product the average person needs, but the company’s primary target market is homeowners and builders.

2. Establish business processes.

Before your business can go live, you need to have an understanding of the activities required to make your business model work. Determine key business activities by first identifying the core aspect of your business’s offering. Are you responsible for providing a service, shipping a product or offering consulting? In the case of Ticketbis, an online ticket exchange marketplace, key business processes include marketing and product delivery management.

3. Record key business resources.

What does your company need to carry out daily processes, find new customers and reach business goals? Document essential business resources to ensure your business model is adequately prepared to sustain the needs of your business. Common resource examples may include a website, capital, warehouses, intellectual property and customer lists.

4. Develop a strong value proposition.

How will your company stand out among the competition? Do you provide an innovative service, revolutionary product or a new twist on an old favorite? Establishing exactly what your business offers and why it’s better than competitors is the beginning of a strong value proposition. Once you’ve got a few value propositions defined, link each one to a service or product delivery system to determine how you will remain valuable to customers over time.

5. Determine key business partners.

No business can function properly (let alone reach established goals) without key partners that contribute to the business’s ability to serve customers. When creating a business model, select key partners, like suppliers, strategic alliances or advertising partners. Using the previous example of Home Depot, key business partners may be lumber suppliers, parts wholesalers and logistics companies.

6. Create a demand generation strategy.

Unless you’re taking a radical approach to launching your company, you’ll need a strategy that builds interest in your business, generates leads and is designed to close sales. How will customers find you? More importantly, what should they do once they become aware of your brand? Developing a demand generation strategy creates a blueprint of the customer’s journey while documenting the key motivators for taking action.

7. Leave room for innovation.

When launching a company and developing a business model, your business plan is based on many assumptions. After all, until you begin to welcome paying customers, you don’t truly know if your business model will meet their ongoing needs. For this reason, it’s important to leave room for future innovations. Don’t make a critical mistake by thinking your initial plan is a static document. Instead, review it often and implement changes as needed.

Keeping these seven tips in mind will lead to the creation of a solid business plan capable of fueling your startup’s success

10 Truths About Life We Forget Too Easily

It's surprising how easy it is to lose sight of the important things in life. Busy schedules and weekly routines have a tendency to put the brain on autopilot.

Some of life's essential truths need repeating. Keep this list handy and give it a read any time you need a boost.

1. Being busy does not equal being productive.

Look at everyone around you. They all seem so busy -- running from meeting to meeting and firing off emails. Yet how many of them are really producing, really succeeding at a high level?

Success doesn't come from movement and activity. It comes from focus -- from ensuring that your time is used efficiently and productively.

You get the same number of hours in the day as everyone else. Use yours wisely. After all, you're the product of your output, not your effort. Make certain your efforts are dedicated to tasks that get results.

2. Great success is often preceded by failure.

You will never experience true success until you learn to embrace failure. Your mistakes pave the way for you to succeed by revealing when you're on the wrong path.

The biggest breakthroughs typically come when you're feeling the most frustrated and the most stuck. It's this frustration that forces you to think differently, to look outside the box and see the solution that you've been missing.

Success takes patience and the ability to maintain a good attitude even while suffering for what you believe in.

3. Fear is the No. 1 source of regret.

When it's all said and done, you will lament the chances you didn't take far more than you will your failures. Don't be afraid to take risks.

I often hear people say, "What's the worst thing that can happen to you? Will it kill you?" Yet death isn't the worst thing that can happen to you.

The worst thing that can happen to you is allowing yourself to die inside while you're still alive.

4. Your self-worth must come from within.

When your sense of pleasure and satisfaction are derived from comparing yourself to others, you are no longer the master of your own destiny. When you feel good about something that you've done, don't allow anyone's opinions or accomplishments to take that away from you.

While it's impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, you don't have to compare yourself to others, and you can always take people's opinions with a grain of salt. That way, no matter what other people are thinking or doing, your self-worth comes from within. Regardless of what people think of you at any particular moment, one thing is certain -- you're never as good or bad as they say you are.

5. You're only as good as those you associate with.

You should strive to surround yourself with people who inspire you, people who make you want to be better. And you probably do. But what about the people who drag you down? Why do you allow them to be a part of your life?

Anyone who makes you feel worthless, anxious, or uninspired is wasting your time and, quite possibly, making you more like them. Life is too short to associate with people like this. Cut them loose.

6. Life is short.

None of us is guaranteed a tomorrow. Yet when someone dies unexpectedly it causes us to take stock of our own life -- what's really important, how we spend our time, and how we treat other people.

Loss is a raw, visceral reminder of the frailty of life. It shouldn't be.

Remind yourself every morning when you wake up that each day is a gift, and you're bound to make the most of the blessing you've been given. The moment you start acting like life is a blessing is the moment it will start acting like one.

After all, a great day begins with a great mindset.

7. You don't have to wait for an apology to forgive.

Life goes a lot smoother once you let go of grudges and forgive even those who never said they were sorry. Grudges let negative events from your past ruin today's happiness. Hate and anger are emotional parasites that destroy your joy in life.

The negative emotions that come with holding on to a grudge create a stress response in your body, and holding on to stress can have devastating health consequences. Researchers at Emory University have shown that it contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease.

When you forgive someone, it doesn't condone their actions; it simply frees you from being their eternal victim.

8. You're living the life you've created.

You are not a victim of circumstance. No one can force you to make decisions and take actions that run contrary to your values and aspirations.

The circumstances you're living in today are your own -- you created them. Likewise, your future is entirely up to you. If you're feeling stuck, it's probably because you're afraid to take the risks necessary to achieve your goals and live your dreams.

When it's time to take action, remember that it's always better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than at the top of one you don't.

9. Live in the moment.

You can't reach your full potential until you learn to live your life in the present.

No amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future. It's impossible to be happy if you're constantly somewhere else, unable to fully embrace the reality (good or bad) of this very moment.

To help yourself live in the moment, you must do two things:

1) Accept your past. If you don't make peace with your past, it will never leave you and, in doing so, it will create your future.

2) Accept the uncertainty of the future. Worry has no place in the here and now. As Mark Twain said, "Worrying is like paying a debt you don't owe."

10. Change is inevitable -- embrace it.

Only when you embrace change can you find the good in it. You need to have an open mind and open arms if you're going to recognize, and capitalize on, the opportunities that change creates.

You're bound to fail when you keep doing the same things you always have in the hope that ignoring change will make it go away.

After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Life doesn't stop for anyone. When things are going well, appreciate them and enjoy them, as they are bound to change. If you are always searching for something more, something better, that you think is going to make you happy, you'll never be present enough to enjoy the great moments before they're gone.

Bringing it all together.

Are there important truths that I've forgotten? Please share them in the comments section. I learn from you just as much as you learn from me.

7 Things You Need to Know to Build a Business That Lasts

Entrepreneurs often believe that building a company is a full-speed sprint to a short-term goal, mostly because they don't have a long-term vision. This lack of vision could make you one of the eight out of ten entrepreneurs who crash and burn within the first eighteen months. It's not too late to silence the noise and create a sustainable business model like this one.

One hundred and twenty years ago, Marie Kirkland of Council Bluffs, Iowa, put an ad in a local newspaper asking women to meet to plan a "social." She wanted to build an organization that would empower women to be the best they could be in a time when women were not supposed to be educated, conduct business, own life insurance, vote, or assume leadership roles in the community. Eight women responded to her ad. By 1895, Royal Neighbors was one of the first organizations to insure women. Today it remains one of the largest women-led insurers, with nearly 180,000 members.

Although she built her company in an entirely different era, Kirkland knew that she needed a well-defined company culture if she were to build a business that lasts. I find that too many entrepreneurs don't place enough importance on developing values, vision, and culture. Yet without them, you may never have a viable business model. So stop, breathe, and consider these fundamental keys to long-term success.

1. Develop and communicate your vision.

As Kirkland's social circle evolved, the women became aligned with a unified vision designed to protect women financially and empower them to improve their lives, families, and communities. That foundation has remained well intact as Royal Neighbors grew beyond its life insurance offerings. Today they provide member benefits that include scholarship opportunities, health and retail discounts, and participation in volunteer activities that give back to communities through the organization's local chapters, all of which help women achieve their goals.

2. Build a collaborative environment.

By 1905 Royal Neighbors was one of the only insurers in the U.S. to have an all-female sales force. Since then they have developed their womenLEAD program to collaborate and work hands-on with their independent female agents. "Through these collaborative efforts we teach our agents about Royal Neighbors and its history," says Cynthia Tidwell, the company's president and CEO. "But we also cover business basics such as creating a marketing plan, increasing their social media presence, and improving their prospecting techniques."

3. Stay relevant.

Some things change quickly in today's world, some not fast enough. Either way your product or service needs to stay relevant to the needs and desires of today's customer and employee alike. Royal Neighbors was founded at a time when women were not allowed to vote or own property. Today, studies indicate that women and men are nearly equal in numbers when they enter a profession, but only 8 percent of women make it to the top executive roles. There are a variety of reasons that women fall off along the way but Tidwell focuses on helping women expand their capabilities. "That means being willing to take some risks," she says. "If you always do what you've always done, you are not going to reach your potential."

4. Give back to the community.

"Our Nation of Neighbors Program is a nomination initiative for women with a dream, but need a little help financially," says Tidwell. The program has helped women provide transitional housing for other women and their families, establish a maternity home for homeless teens, fight sex trafficking, and create anti-bullying and self-esteem programs. "Approximately $100,000 in grants is available this year," says Tidwell. The nomination process is underway now--more than $1.7 million has been distributed since the program was launched in 2007.

5. Innovate.

Illness, especially cancer, is not only a terrifying experience, but one that threatens financial devastation. To address this issue for the 60 percent of the workforce women represent, the company created a patent-pending Cancer Waiver of Premium Rider. The waiver is designed to protect women under 60 if they are diagnosed with cervical, ovarian, or breast cancer at Stage II or higher. This rider waives premiums for two years and eliminates the worry of making life insurance payments so that valuable energy and resources can be used on what's really important--getting well and spending time with loved ones.

6. Change course as needed.

You probably launched your company intending it to look and feel a certain way, with very specific offerings. Entrepreneurs are often surprised a year or two down the road when they realize their their product has evolved into something they didn't even see coming; often serving a different audience entirely. Just as Royal Neighbors has done with their programs and product offerings, always be poised to pivot as both you and the environment evolve.

7. Inspire others.

"It doesn't matter whether a woman is an entrepreneur, a stay-at-home mom, or a widow trying to survive on her own, the core issues are the same," says Tidwell. "Women need to know their worth, take steps to understand and improve their financial status, and be properly insured so that in the event something happens to them, their family's financial needs will be addressed." With a mindset of whom can I help today, Royal Neighbors currently has 261 chapters nationwide that work within their own communities on a grassroots level. These chapters host women-focused events to inspire and empower others in their communities, and also to encourage volunteerism.

10 Ways Successful People Deal With Stress Differently

Any given day as an entrepreneur is the best or the worst. It's often both.

The day you win a big award could be the day you're struggling to meet
payroll. The day you lose a big client could be the day you get your
biggest one ever. These days can be confusing, and they happen all too
often.

What separates successful entrepreneurs from unsuccessful ones is not
the challenges. We all have them.

A critical trait that separates successful entrepreneurs is the
ability to take setback and after setback without any loss of
motivation.

Rather than being some innate thing we're born with, this is a skill
that can be developed.

I interviewed emotionally resilient, successful entrepreneurs to get
their perspective...

1. Avoid hitting bottom by reflecting on death daily.

Cameron Herold, author of Double Double, CEO coach, and globally
renowned speaker

In January of 2000, I noticed a metallic taste in my throat. Soon
after, I collapsed in an elevator and had a near-nervous breakdown.
That experience taught me to take stress seriously and take business
less seriously. About 95% of what we think is SO SO stressful, really
isn't. We make up that story for ourselves.

So I developed habits that continuously help me keep my life in perspective:

Habit No. 1: Pondering Death. For me, the key is to remember that when
I'm dead, none of this work matters. It's all just a game. It's what I
do to make money so I can enjoy life. Dozens of studies have found
that death awareness can lead to decreased aggression, better health
decisions, increased altruism, and reduced divorce rates.

Habit No. 2: Taking Time Throughout The Day To Do What's Important. I
remind myself of the things that are important outside of business
(things like time with friends, time with family, quiet time alone,
time to pursue hobbies, and exercise). Throughout the day, I remember
to take stock in how healthy my immediate family is. I breathe. I go
to the gym. I went for a 5 mile run this morning. I make time in the
middle of the day to chat with my wife.

2. Give yourself compelling reasons not to quit.

Doug Conant, former CEO of Fortune 500 company Campbell Soup Company
and founder and CEO of Conant Leadership

In the stormy seas of decision making, I refer to my personal mission
statement often. It should include a clear and thoughtfully crafted
intention that guides all your actions and specific bullet points that
define how you will fulfill that mission. Research shows that without
a good reason to keep pushing through tough times, we quit.

I have mine prominently placed near my desk so I can refer to it in
moments of adversity. I share it with those closest to me so I am
accountable to them as well as to myself. When thorny issues present
themselves I can refer to the promise I've made myself and then
compare my actions to the behaviors I've explicitly outlined.

After over 35 years in the corporate arena (most recently as a Fortune
500 CEO), and as a husband and father, I can't emphasize enough the
power of a personal mission statement.

The Franklin Covey Mission State Builder is a great resource for
building and refining your statement.

3. Trigger a mindset reset with a little help from YouTube.

Benji Rabhan, founder of AppointmentCore

I personally like watching 5-6 short YouTube comedy videos that get me
laughing out loud. I've found that this is enough time to take my mind
off bad news and regain my positivity.

I call these my dopamine breaks. In a related and fascinating study, a
Stanford research team found that funny cartoons activated a cluster
of areas in the brain deeply involved in the regulation of dopamine,
which positively impacts motivation and mood.

In order to find videos, I recommend going to YouTube's most popular
videos page, which shows newly trending videos. It has many categories
so you can view based on your mood. If you like funny, there is funny.
If you like music videos, they have that. It also serves to keep you
in the loop of the current events from a video perspective.

4. Plan out your motivation so it's there when you need it.

Sevetri Wilson, CEO of Solid Ground Innovations

I'm single. I don't have any kids. Both of my parents are deceased,
and I'm the CEO of a company I started. So having a source of daily
inspiration that affirms my journey is critical.

I create 30-90 day inspirational themes that I rely on a daily basis.
I find it's less taxing when I know where my inspiration will come
from so it becomes a fixed part of my day rather than something that's
ad hoc. Different examples of themes I've taken on are:

Reading daily affirmations for 10 minutes before I start my day.

Reading a few pages out of motivational books. I have a 50-day
motivational journey book, Strength for Every Moment by T. D. Jake.
Each day it reveals a question.
Following inspirational social media. I like Beats Reloaded,
@drtiffanybrown, and @joelosteen.
Participating in community projects. In January, my base church went
through a time where the entire congregation fasted and prayed 3 times
a day for 30 straight days.

5. Smile to boost your energy. It's easy.

Jason Duff, founder and CEO of COMSTOR Outdoor

In the last year, there were a lot of reasons I didn't want to smile.
I lost a key mentor in my life. I've been dealing with health issues
with family members. Still, I think the easiest and, therefore, first
thing that anyone should do when life gets challenging is to smile.

It transforms both the person smiling and people who see that smile.
In fact, smiles can even predict longevity.

Smiles also serve as an indicator of how things are going in company
and in my life. It's a red flag if I notice that people in my
organization aren't smiling at each other or I'm not smiling at other
people. That's when I know it's time to do a gut check and find ways
to light that internal fire again.

One of the first books I read when I first became an entrepreneur is
Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, and its principles have stuck with me. If
I can't smile, I know that I'm probably taking life and business a
little too seriously.

6. Smile at the beginning of meetings.

Aaron Steed, CEO of Meathead Movers

Similar to Jason, I believe in the power of smiling. Smiling is the
simplest, easiest and fastest way to deal with stress. So why isn't
everyone doing it all the time? Remembering or wanting to smile is
unnatural if you're feeling stressed. That's why I do the following
three actions to make sure I'm smiling:

Have Accountability For Smiling. It may sound silly, but I've asked my
employees to hold me accountable on smiling. I've told them, "If you
don't see me smiling, call me out on it!" This has worked on multiple
levels. It has turned into a fun little game around the office. I
smile more, and my employees smile more. A research study analyzing
real-life behavior of over 1,000 males and females shows that more
than half of people smile back at a smile.

Smile At The Beginning Of Meetings. I smile when I start new
conversations. If I'm smiling, I project a friendly presence and
demeanor, which inspires the other person to reciprocate, which then
loops back to me. All of a sudden, we're in a positive feedback cycle.
So, 10 seconds of smiling can have a huge impact on a meeting. Given
that the average person has 5.6 hours of meetings per week, you can
begin to see how this small change could have huge consequences.

7. Do multiple 1-Minute meditations daily.

Ryan Simonetti, co-founder of Convene

The benefit of meditation is widely known.

What's hard for most people is consistently doing it.

What's helped me is doing 1-minute sessions throughout the day and on
commutes rather than one long session. Research by Stanford Professor,
BJ Fogg, shows that when hard activities are broken into smaller ones
that are easier, people are more likely to take action.

Here's the process I go through:

Visualize myself standing alone at the summit of a tall mountain. See
the clear blue sky and feel the sun beaming down on me.
Focus on feeling only the bottoms of my feet grounded to the floor.
Take 5 deep breaths. 3 seconds in--3 seconds out.

A great app to use if you're just getting started is Headspace.
Headspace helps you consistently meditate through guided programs and
exercises.

8. Use The WOOP Framework To Visualize

Rohit Anabheri, founder of Circa Ventures

I do 10-minute "Guided Imagery" sessions every two hours throughout
the day and have been doing so for years. I visualize using the WOOP
framework, which is backed by 15 years of academic research:

1. Wish. I imagine the future state of the business' success.
2. Outcome. I visualize the biggest benefit of that future state.
3. Obstacle. I identify the main obstacle to achieving my wish.
4. Plan. I think through a key action I can take right away to
overcome the obstacle.

This approach recharges me and moves me toward my vision of success. I
can then share that positivity across my team. I specifically like the
WOOP framework because it grounds my vision in reality and immediate
action.

Contrary to popular opinion, positive thinking about the future, by
itself (i.e. positive fantasies), leads to poor performance and
success. This finding is based on 100 studies performed by NYU
psychologist, Gabriele Oettingen.

On Gabriele's site, you can listen to a 5-minute audio that walks you
through the process.

9. Visualize What You're Grateful For Now And In The Future

Brian Scudamore, founder and CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, You Move Me, and
Wow 1 Day Painting

I visualize two things in vivid detail:

1. Now. What I'm most grateful for, such as my family doing fun things together.

2. Future. Our company's Painted Picture, which is a brilliantly
detailed snapshot of what the business will be like in three years. It
includes what the company will look, feel and act like in every
aspect, from revenue down to the way the company trucks will look.
Creating a painted picture is purely a visionary process that does not
focus on the how.

It's a simple, quick exercise that always reminds me of what is most
important and keeps my perspective in the positive realm, no matter
how challenging the day might be.

Taking the time to visualize what you're grateful for with all of your
senses has a much larger impact than simply listing what you're
grateful for. In one incredible study, it was found that simply
visualizing yourself doing exercise had a measurable impact on muscle
strength!

10. Take Very Deep Breaths

Kay Koplovitz, founder, USA Network and Syfy

I close the door to my office, lean back and take deep breaths for
several minutes. It's very calming, and puts things in perspective.

Breathing is our body's built-in stress reliever. It can profoundly
impact our physiology, and several studies have shown that it affects
the heart, brain, digestion, and the immune system.

7 "B"s of Successful Businessmen

1. Build Trust

2. Better Your Benchmarks

3. Beam a Charisma

4. Bar the Barriers

5. Block the Diversions

6. Balance your Diet

7. Bake your own Style

5 Reasons You Should Hire Someone Who Has Been Fired

Hiring the right person is hard. It's truly difficult to judge someone's value based on a two-page summary of her career and a few interviews. Therefore, hiring managers use something called "proxies" to help determine someone's potential. One of these proxies is a college degree, another is current employment. Many managers reject anyone who is not currently employed because--the logic goes--if they were truly good employees they would not be unemployed.

While it's true that bad employees are more likely to be unemployed than good employees, it's absolutely not true that all unemployed people are lousy. In fact, some of them are fabulous. Strike that--many of them are fabulous.

Now, there is big difference between someone who is unemployed because they were laid off, took time off to raise children or take care of ailing relatives, or is recent grad and someone who was fired. A layoff is a business decision where someone loses a job because the position is going away. A firing is a where someone loses a job because that person isn't the right fit. You should considered laid off people equal to their currently employed counterparts. You should be more cautious about fired people, but here's why you should strongly consider hiring someone who has been fired.

1. Sometimes managers stink. Have you never had a bad boss? Have you never heard horror stories about managers who make unreasonable demands, play favorites, underpay, illegally refuse to pay overtime, mock people for their religious beliefs, and suddenly claim that the star employee is completely incompetent when she announces a pregnancy? Not every fired employee was fired because they were awful. Some were fired because their managers were awful. Don't reject someone because they had a rotten manager.

2. Sometimes the job was not a good fit. If you hired Stephen King to plan toddler birthday parties, he would probably not be a good fit, as the little darlings would never sleep again. This does not mean he's not a fabulous writer. It would just have been a bad fit. For some unknown reason, we expect that people should never make mistakes on their career path. Just because someone failed at one career does not mean that they will be a failure in another.

3. People don't learn without making mistakes. Let's face it. If you never make any errors you're not taking any risks. Sometimes people get fired because the screwed up. But, the question is, did they learn from their mistakes? Are they better now because of the things learned? You'll never know if you don't take the time to talk to someone.

4. Culture matters. You spend a lot of time looking for people who fit your culture. Could it be possible that the recently fired job candidate was a lousy fit for the last company's culture and a fabulous fit for your culture? Just because someone didn't fit in in one company won't mean they won't be a perfect fit for your company.

5. Second chances often turn out great. Someone who has had a rough go of life is often ready to jump in and work really hard. If you've been fired and landed a new job, you know that you can't blow it again. You may find out that hiring someone who has had a streak of bad luck is good luck for you.

Of course, you need to thoroughly vet the references for any job candidate--not just one that's been fired. And you shouldn't hire someone just because they've been fired--but you shouldn't reject a candidate just because the last boss kicked her to the curb.

12 Habits of Genuinely Courageous People

Think of courage and you may first picture physical bravery, but there
are many other forms of courage. After all, "Courage is not the
absence of fear, but the triumph over it." (Who should know better
than Nelson Mandela?)

That means bravery--sometimes an extraordinary level of bravery--is
required in business and entrepreneurship. Like taking a chance when
others will not. Or following your vision no matter where it leads. Or
standing up for what you believe in even though those beliefs are
extremely unpopular.

Or simply doing the right thing, even though the right thing is
definitely the hardest thing.

(Think of courage that way and you may be surprised by just how brave
you really are.)

Here are ways otherwise ordinary people display extraordinary courage:

1. They're not afraid to believe the unimaginable.

Most people try to achieve the achievable. That's why most goals and
targets are incremental rather than massive or even inconceivable.

Incremental is safe. Believable is safe. Why? When you play it safe
you're less likely to fall short. You're less likely to fail. You're
less likely to lose credibility and authority.

Don't be afraid to expect more from yourself... and to expect more
from others by showing--and helping--them strive for "unsafe" heights.

2. They're not afraid to be patient.

When things go poorly, changing course or simply giving up is often
the easiest way out.

It takes more courage to be patient, to believe in yourself, and to
show people you believe in them.

Showing patience in others also shows you care. And when you show you
truly care about the people around you, they find ways to do things
that amaze everyone--including themselves.

Don't be afraid to give other people the gift of patience; it costs
you nothing, but could mean the world to the recipients.

3. They're not afraid to say no.

Turning down huge requests is somewhat easy, but can you say no to
requests for favors or demands on your time?

In those cases, saying yes is usually the easiest move. Saying no,
even when you know you'll later resent or regret having said yes, is
much harder. Yet it's often the best thing to do, both for you and
oftentimes even for the other person.

Don't be afraid to say no.

4. They're not afraid to take an unpopular stand.

Many people try to stand out in a superficial way: clothes, or
interests, or public support for popular initiatives. They're
conspicuous for reasons of sizzle, not steak.

It takes genuine courage to stand out by taking an unpopular stand.

Don't be afraid to take risks not just for the sake of risk but for
the sake of the reward you believe is possible... and by your example
to inspire others to take a risk in order to achieve what they believe
is possible.

5. They're not afraid to ask for help.

No one does anything worthwhile on his or her own. Even the most
brilliant, visionary, and fabulously talented people achieve their
success through collective effort.

Yet it takes courage to sincerely and humbly say, "Can you help me?"
because asking for help shows vulnerability.

Don't be afraid to ask for help; not only will you get the help you
need, you'll also give the gift of respect.

6. They're not afraid to show genuine emotion.

Acting professionally is actually fairly easy. (We all know a few robots.)

Acting professionally while also remaining openly human takes courage.
It's not easy to show sincere excitement, sincere appreciation, and
sincere disappointment--not just in others but also in yourself. It
takes real bravery to openly celebrate, openly empathize, and openly
worry.

Don't be afraid to strike a balance between professionalism and
humanity. That's what builds exceptional relationships--both
professional and personal.

7. They're not afraid to forgive... and forget.

When an employee makes a mistake--especially a major mistake--it's
easy to forever view that employee through the lens of that mistake.

But one mistake, or one weakness, or one failing is also just a part
of the whole person.

It's easy to fire, to punish, to resent; it's much harder to step
back, set aside a mistake, and think about the whole person. It takes
courage to move past and forget mistakes and to treat an employee, a
colleague, or a friend as a whole person and not just a living
reminder of an error, no matter how grievous that mistake may have
been.

Don't be afraid not just to forgive... but also to forget.

8. They're not afraid to stay the course.

It's easy to have ideas, but it's hard to stick with those ideas in
the face of repeated failure.

And it's incredibly hard to stay the course when everyone else feels
you should give up.

Hesitation, uncertainty, and failure causes people to quit. It takes
courage to face the fear of the unknown and the fear of failure.

Don't be afraid to trust your judgment, your instincts, and your
willingness to overcome every obstacle. You can.

9. They're not afraid to earn the right to lead.

Every boss has a title, and in theory that title confers the right to
direct, to make decisions, to organize and instruct and discipline.

The truly brave leader forgets the title and leads by making people
feel they work with, not for, that person.

Don't be afraid to stop falling back on a title but instead working to
earn respect; when you do, you earn the permission to truly lead.

10. They're not afraid to succeed through others.

Great teams are made up of people who know their roles, set aside
personal goals, willingly help each other, and value team success over
everything else. Great business teams win because their most talented
members are willing to sacrifice to make others successful and happy.

Don't be afraid to answer the question, "Can you make the choice that
your happiness will come from the success of others?" with a
resounding "Yes!"

The payoff is worth it.

11. They're not afraid to say, "I'm sorry."

We all make mistakes, and we all have things we need to apologize for:
Words, actions, omissions, failing to step up, step in, show support.

It takes courage to say, "I'm sorry." It takes even more courage not
to add, "But I was really mad, because..." or "But I did think you
were..." or any words that in any way places the smallest amount of
blame back on the other person.

Don't be afraid to say you're sorry. You'll gain, not lose,
respect--and in the process repair a relationship that might have been
damaged.

12. They're not afraid to take undeserved blame.

A customer is upset. A coworker is frustrated. A supplier feels
shortchanged. An investor is impatient.

Whatever the issue, the courageous people step up and take the hit.
They support others. They support their teams. They willingly take
responsibility and draw negative attention to themselves because to do
otherwise is not just de-motivating and demoralizing, it also
undermines other people's credibility and authority.

Don't be afraid to throw yourself under the bus; and if that's too
much to ask, at the very least never throw other people under the bus.

6 Behaviors People in Business Loathe

Our success is often defined by the things that we do and less by the
things that we say -- I really do believe it can be that simple. This
often comes down to the trust that is built by our actions when we
interact with others, yet we're constantly surrounded by people that
just can't seem to figure it out -- whether intentionally or not.

I've taken the liberty of creating a small laundry list of actions
that, if you find yourself doing, you really should stop -- right now.

1. Don't do what you say you're going to.

Here's the deal: If you can create one rule in your life that has the
capacity to tremendously alter outcomes, it's this one. Just do what
you say you're going to do. The benefit of this seemingly simple ask
is that the vast majority of your fellow human beings just won't or
can't. They'll make promises and commitments that they either don't
have the intention or purely the bandwidth to follow through on -- so
when you do, you'll look like a superhero.

2. Constantly looking at your phone.

Yes, we're all guilty of this from time to time -- or all the time in
some extremely inconsiderate cases. The reality is, what you're
telling those around you is that they're not important. What is
important is the gadget in your hand that has you so transfixed it's
as if its mere use is extending your life by rewarding you with
credits to the lost fountain of youth. Guess what, it's not.

Do yourself a favor and put your pocket computer on silent in your
pocket when you're engaging with others -- whatever is happening on
Candy Crush can wait.

3. Your lack of eye contact.

I know, this is pretty simple, but I'm going to take it in a bit of
different direction. I'm not referring to the first introduction,
"it's nice to meet you" type of eye contact -- although that's super
important too -- I'm referring to when we're sitting at lunch and
you're having a hard time focusing, which is represented by your
incessant looking about the room or at the TV behind me.

If you can't focus on a discussion, how are you to be trusted to focus
on a considerably more complicated project, task or job?

4. You talk about yourself, non-stop.

When you're engaged in conversation and find yourself out of breath
whilst deep into a series of self satisfying stories about
you-know-who, what you're really saying is that you care only about
yourself and likely possess an ego that has may never be tamed. Guess
what? You'll get a lot further in life by asking a few questions,
closing your yapper and just listening intently. Try it and watch
magic happen.

5. You're late.

There's not much worse than dealing with someone that can't keep track
of their own schedule and, as a result, is late to scheduled calls or
meetings. All you're really telling the world, or at least those that
are waiting for you, is that your time is more valuable than theirs
and you're completely incompetent when it comes to managing your own
schedule. I know, things happen. Here's a solution: plan accordingly.

6. Using acronyms.

Every business and industry is fraught with top-secret jargon and
confusing acronyms. When you find yourself spouting them off while
amongst those that aren't in your industry or may not understand them,
it's often perceived that you're posturing with the intent to show the
world how smart you are -- and by default, how stupid they are. It's
OK to use your code words, but just be sure to be conscious of those
around you and take the time to explain what they mean.

Never Say These 7 Things in Sales

Disagreements come in more ways than just saying "no." And if you are
disagreeing with someone, you'll never close the sale.

Agreement is vital and is the single most important and violated rule
of selling! I'm not saying you should mislead the customer. There's an
art to telling the customer, "I'd love to make that happen to you,"
rather than, "I can't," "I won't" or "That's not my job."

Here are seven things not to say in sales or business:

1. "That's not my department."

You must take responsibility for everything, whether it's in sales or
your personal life. Don't blame the economy, don't blame other people,
and don't blame any external conditions, because blaming is something
you do to become a slave.

The greats gave up the blame game long ago. They are big on
accountability and responsibility to get the job done. If you are
willing to take the credit when you win, be willing to take the credit
when you lose.

2. "You can trust me."

Have you ever noticed when a buyer isn't fully listening to you? This
occurs because the prospect assumes that since you are a salesperson
they cannot trust you. The media constantly runs broadcasts of scams
and cons that make consumers skeptical of salespeople. Losing
credibility will add time and this lack of trust from the prospect
will cost you sales.

Saying "trust me" to a prospect isn't going to build trust and may
even have the opposite effect. To properly handle your buyers trust
you must understand that people believe what they see, not what they
hear.

Always, always show written material to support your presentation or
proposal. Make sure to use third-party materials when collecting facts
for your customer that support what you're saying -- this adds
external credibility to your claims. And you must write down
everything you have said, offered, proposed, promised, suggested and
implied during the proposal.

3. "I don't use this myself."

Others will never agree with you until you are convinced of the value
yourself. If you're working for an auto dealership and you aren't
driving the kind of cars you're selling, you lose credibility and
trust -- and no one buys from someone they don't trust.

Conviction will make or break you -- and your sale is made only when
your belief in your product, service or idea is stronger than your
prospect's objections. The moment they give up a bit of their
conviction is the moment the sale becomes possible.

You must be in 100 percent completely and entirely before you can
maximize your opportunities. Don't even attempt selling someone else
until you are completely sold yourself.

4. "It's a company policy."

Nobody ever wants to hear this, ever. This is a perfect opportunity
for you to practice the golden rule, because you know you hate hearing
it. Nobody cares about a company policy, they care about the service
they are provided, so don't use it as a way to justify why you can't,
or won't, do something for a customer.

If you have a policy that conflicts with the comfort of the client,
either break it, don't bring it up or come up with a solution before
you propose a problem.

Sell the reason. Here are a few startup examples: "Sir, just wanted to
let you know, this may not be the best place to…" Or, "Ma'am, I
understand you don't have a receipt and I want to help you with this.
I can exchange it for you, would that help?"

5. "We're competitive."

The idea that "competition is healthy" is meant for consumers, not
salespeople. Don't compete -- dominate.

When Steve Jobs wanted to get into cell phones, the people at Apple
told him to stick to iPods and to leave the phone alone. The iPhone is
still the single most popular smartphone on the planet. That's how you
dominate a space -- you need to become an expert in your field. Use
LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, Facebook and any other means to be the
first thing people see or think of when they look for your type of
product or service.

6. "This might be out of your price range."

Always treat the buyer as a buyer, because in sales anyone who
believes they have the ability to pre-judge the ability of a buyer is
costing themselves a fortune. I have been told in countless situations
that there was no way this would be a sale, but because I treated the
buyer like they could do a deal, guess what: they did!

Regardless of them saying they have no money, no budget, they don't
want to pay taxes, they aren't the decision-maker, can't, won't --
whatever they tell you, always treat the prospect like they can and
will buy.

7. "I'm off today."

You must always be open for business. Have you ever received an "out
of office" auto-response when trying to contact someone? It's so
impersonal and drives me nuts! Never announce you are closed off to
opportunities! You need to do whatever it takes to be open for
business, no matter when, no matter what.

Look, I understand, I'm a father and a husband, and there are plenty
of times I'm in 10X mode giving full attention to my family. However,
business is still getting handled. Tweets and Facebook posts are going
out and people who are trying to reach me have no idea I'm on the
floor playing with my daughters or on a trip with my wife. I'm still
always connected.

6 Toxic Beliefs That Can Ruin Your Career

There is nothing wrong with making a mistake. It's what you say to
yourself after you mess up that matters. Your self-talk (the thoughts
you have about your feelings) can either magnify the negativity or
help you turn that misstep into something productive.

Negative self-talk is unrealistic, unnecessary and self-defeating. It
sends you into a downward emotional spiral that is difficult to pull
out of.

All self-talk is driven by important beliefs that you hold about
yourself. It plays an understated but powerful role in success because
it can both spur you forward to achieve your goals and hold you back.

As Henry Ford said, "He who believes he can and he who believes he
cannot are both correct."

TalentSmart has tested the emotional intelligence (EQ) of more than a
million people and found that 90% of top performers are high in EQ.
These successful, high EQ individuals possess an important skill—the
ability to recognize and control negative self-talk so that it doesn't
prevent them from reaching their full potential.

These successful people earn an average of $28,000 more annually than
their low EQ peers, get promoted more often, and receive higher marks
on performance evaluations. The link between EQ and earnings is so
direct that every point increase in EQ adds $1,300 to an annual
salary.

When it comes to self-talk, we've discovered six common, yet toxic,
beliefs that hold people back more than any others. Be mindful of your
tendencies to succumb to these beliefs, so that they don't derail your
career:

1. Perfection = Success

Human beings, by our vary nature, are fallible. When perfection is
your goal, you're always left with a nagging sense of failure, and end
up spending your time lamenting what you failed to accomplish, instead
of enjoying what you were able to achieve.

2. My Destiny is Predetermined

Far too many people succumb to the highly irrational idea that they
are destined to succeed or fail. Make no mistake about it, your
destiny is in your own hands, and blaming multiple successes or
failures on forces beyond your control is nothing more than a cop out.
Sometimes life will deal you difficult cards to play, and others times
you'll be holding aces. Your willingness to give your all in playing
any hand you're holding determines your ultimate success or failure in
life.

3. I 'Always' or 'Never' Do That

There isn't anything in life that you always or never do. You may do
something a lot or not do something enough, but framing your behavior
in terms of "always" or "never" is a form of self-pity. It makes you
believe that you have no control of yourself and will never change.
Don't succumb to it.

4. I Succeed When Others Approve of Me

Regardless of what people think of you at any particular moment, one
thing is certain?you're never as good or bad as they say you are. It's
impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, but
you can take people's opinions with a grain of salt. That way, no
matter what people think about you, your self-worth comes only from
within.

5. My Past = My Future

Repeated failures can erode your self-confidence and make it hard to
believe you'll achieve a better outcome in the future. Most of the
time, these failures result from taking risks and trying to achieve
something that isn't easy. Just remember that success lies in your
ability to rise in the face of failure. Anything worth achieving is
going to require you to take some risks, and you can't allow failure
to stop you from believing in your ability to succeed.

6. My Emotions = Reality

If you've read Emotional Intelligence 2.0, you know how to take an
objective look at your feelings and separate fact from fiction. If
not, you might want to read it. Otherwise, your emotions will continue
to skew your sense of reality, making you vulnerable to the negative
self-talk that can hold you back from achieving your full potential.

05 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Do Daily

There is a saying that there are only three types of people in the
world: those who watch what happened, those who wonder what happened
and those who make things happen.

Entrepreneurs fall into the last category, of course. They are change
agents, people who don't see the world as it is but as it could be.
Entrepreneurs don't sit on the sidelines and wish for a better world.
Rather they go out and create it. They don't wait for things to be
different. They are the difference.

Being forward thinkers, entrepreneurs continually push themselves to
become better and do better. They are game changers. They ooze
confidence and inspire greatness.

Today is a great day to become an entrepreneur because the price of
admission into this elite club is free and yours for the taking.

Do you really want to succeed as an entrepreneur? Follow these five
steps and you'll be well on your way to developing the leadership
qualities it takes:

1. Willingly fail and reflect. "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter.
Try again. Fail again. Fail better," goes Samuel Beckett's line. It's
not always easy, the trying again part.

Another important thing is taking time to reflect on what went wrong.
In the book The Call of Solitude, Ester Schaler Buchholz says, "Others
inspire us, information feeds us, practice improves our performance,
but we need quiet time to figure things out."

In his book, Fail Up, radio broadcaster Tavis Smiley recalls lessons
he has learned through reflection. He sheds light on these so-called
failures that were, in hindsight, his best teachers.

You'll only learn by failing over and over again. When you do this,
you're able to grow. And in spite of life's inevitable setbacks,
you'll come out the victor.

2. Embrace and confront your fears. According to author Brendon
Burchard, fear can be categorized in three ways, which all relate to
pain. The first is loss pain, which happens when you're afraid to move
ahead because you fear you'll lose something valuable.

The second is process pain, which inevitably occurs every time you try
something new. You have to go through the process of learning to deal
with it.

The last is outcome pain. This involves not getting the outcome you desired.

Burchard insists that people need to overwhelm their fears. Just as an
army invades its enemy from every side, a person should do the same
with fear, attacking it from every side, as if going to war.

For Shark Tank host Barbara Corcoran, public speaking was her
Achilles' heel. But she overcame it by going to war. She volunteered
to teach a real estate night course in front of a small group of
students to overcome her fear.

3. Practice self-discipline. This is the ability to delay instant
gratification and the ability to work hard now to reap benefits later.
When Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx was a boy, his grandmother
routinely made him take piano lessons even though all he wanted to do
was go outside to play. He had no idea that those lessons would lead
to his eventual success. To this day, he continues to hone his craft
and disciplines himself to practice playing the piano for two hours
many a day.

No one sees the years of hard work you might put into an endeavor.
They only see the outcome. If you want to reap the rewards of
tomorrow, you must put in the work today.

4. Get some sleep. Shortly after the debut of her eponymous news site,
Arianna Huffington collapsed from exhaustion and lack of sleep. She'd
been working 18-hour days because she was so committed to growing her
company. When she collapsed, she hit her head against a desk and found
herself lying in a pool of blood.

In her book Thrive, Huffington details the ordeal and says it was a
painful wake-up call. She knew she had neglected sleep and took steps
to correct it.

When you get the sleep you need, you'll feel more energized, charged
and ready to tackle any problem entrepreneurship throws your way.

5. Give to others. In his book, Give and Take: Why Helping Others
Drives Our Success, Wharton Business School professor Adam Grant
teaches the idea of generosity in a professional setting.

For centuries, people have focused on the individual drivers of
success: passion, hard work and sheer will. But things have changed.
Success is increasingly dependent on how we interact with others and
how much we give them.

According to Grant's research, the most successful people are those
who consistently give. Grant takes this to heart so much that he not
only puts in long hours as a professor, but also as many and sometimes
even longer hours giving and helping others.

That ancient book, the Bible, was right all along: Happiness comes from giving.

7 Essential Habits of a Healthy Entrepreneur

So there I was, exhausted at the end of a long work day, frustrated by
a particularly stressful drive home and contemplating pouring a stiff
bourbon and withering away on the couch for a couple hours.

Then something happened.

My habits took over.

You see, I had "programmed" the habit of exercising every day at 6
p.m. into my brain.

And once the clock struck six, it was as if a magical pumpkin whisked
me into my closet to grab my workout gear and head downstairs to burn
off some steam.

Turns out entrepreneurship and taking care of your health are quite
synonymous.

A big part of that is because both require habitual actions. And
according to Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, these
habits comprise 40 percent or more of the daily decisions we make.

Here are seven things entrepreneurs can do to stay on top of their
business AND their health.

1. Learn something new every day. Healthy entrepreneurs are lifelong
dreamers. They work hard, play hard and think harder. They love to
read, listen to audio books and absorb as much knowledge as they
possibly can. Not only do they educate themselves about topics
relevant to growing their business, they also seek knowledge about
what it takes to be healthy. They know healthy behaviors have a direct
impact on their business.

2. Set goals and create systems to achieve your goals. Healthy
entrepreneurs These folks also understand that knowledge without
application is the quickest path to failure. They go beyond learning
-- they apply. Because they realize the day-to-day journey and
seemingly tiny steps are the only ways to achieve their end goal.

3. Spend your "downtime" wisely. The average person spends around 3
hours a day watching TV. Don't be that person. To stay healthy, focus
on staying busy building your business, taking care of yourself and
your family and trying to change the world. One recommendation is to
meditate or take time to write down your goals.

4. Make exercise a priority. A healthy body will help cultivate a
healthy mind. Yet the CDC says 80 percent of adults don't get the
recommended amount of exercise. The Physical Activity Guidelines for
Americans say that adults should get 2.5 hours a week or more of
moderate-intensity aerobic activity and two strength training sessions
per week. Even if you're crazy busy, find 10 minutes here and there.
It will help with alleviate stress and get those endorphins pumped up
to take on startup challenges.

5. Eat less junk food. Think of food as fuel: The higher quality fuel
you put in your tank, the better you'll perform. You don't need to
diet or cut foods out to eat healthy either. Just eat more real food
-- stuff that comes from nature -- instead of processed junk and fast
food. By doing so, you could help improve your energy endurance (no
sugar crashes) and mood, among other benefits.

6. Sleep more. All entrepreneurs experience the grind of late nights,
early morning meetings and last-minute deadlines. But healthy
entrepreneurs know that sleep is vital to their success. Whether you
rise early and tackle your important projects first thing in the
morning or you're a night owl, find a consistent sleep routine and
stick to it. And never underestimate the power of a good power nap to
recharge your brain.

7. Create balance in your life. Healthy entrepreneurs treat health as
a lifestyle. You can't put a Band-Aid on a bad business plan, just
like you can't eat healthy for a week and expect to lose weight.
Successful entrepreneurs wholeheartedly embrace healthy living: They
work smarter, not harder.

Entrepreneurship and health go hand-in-hand. Each will teach you
valuable lessons about the other.

Aside from family, friends, and relationships, there are few things
more important in your life than your health and your career. When you
passionately pursue both of these things you can experience a longer,
more fulfilling life.

5 Things To Do Before Bed That Will Jump Start Tomorrow

Being effective as an entrepreneur is often about hard work, but even
more importantly it's about smart work. Great entrepreneurs know that
time is limited and valuable, so they need to make the most of each
waking hour.

There are many factors that contribute to working smart -- but
planning and proper sleep are among the top performance increasers.

To maximize your time and efficiency, here are five essential and easy
things you should do before bed that will make help transform your
waking hours into super productivity.

1. Take a look at your calendar. As the saying goes, failing to plan
is planning to fail. By reviewing your calendar the night before,
you'll know what's ahead for the day so you can be prepared and plan
for the best method to tackle your objectives. You'll sleep better
knowing that you've already planned for the day ahead and you'll rise
in the morning knowing that you've already taken care of the leg work
to get a jump start on the day.

There's another old saying, "If you don't use your head, you'll end up
using your feet," and that proverb goes a long way for productivity!
Come up with a strategy the night before on how to tackle tomorrow.

2. Get the gym bag ready. Whether you go to the gym, run in the
neighborhood or walk your dog, have your exercise gear out and ready
to throw on for when you wake up. Getting your clean clothes together
and ready is a life hack lots of entrepreneurs use to minimize the
risk of skipping their workout.

It only takes a minute to lay out your gear, but it's a great shortcut
for making sure you get your fitness in every morning. Taking care of
your health is an important part of the entrepreneurial lifestyle.

3. Turn off your phone. Sleep is a crucial part of the successful
entrepreneur's healthy lifestyle. Once you've checked your calendar
and you know what's ahead for tomorrow, put the phone on silent or
turn it off to ensure it doesn't beep, chime or ring and disturb your
REM cycle. Disruptions to your sleep will leave you tired and slow
your performance.

To keep your productivity at its highest level, make sure you
eliminate any hindrances to your sleep cycle. That email or text
message can wait until tomorrow. Turn off your phone or put it on
silent to ensure a good night's sleep.

4. Write in your journal. No, not the "dear diary" kind of entries.
Keeping a journal is a practice that can help you process the day and
make sense of your thoughts. Keep your journal in the nightstand and
every night take a few minutes to review the day's triumphs and write
down what you're grateful for that day.

Don't make this a boring, unthoughtful experience. Think of it as a
nightly meditation -- just two minutes of reflection thinking about
the day's highlights and writing them down will transform your waking
and sleeping thought. It's part of a wealthy lifestyle to appreciate
all the great things of the day: doors held open, great conversations
had.

Whatever the highlight, list it and prepare your mind for great sleep.

5. Read a real book. One last thing to contribute to your good sleep
is to read a quality book. You can decide what a quality book is to
you, but reading before bed is a great way to make that final
transition into sleep.

It will also keep you away from bright lights and electronics (hint:
don't read on your phone or tablet, the light might disrupt your eyes
and affect your sleep cycle) and soothe your body into the sleeping
process.

7 Ways To Say No To Your Boss And Keep Your Job

Nobody wants to be a yes-man (or woman), but that doesn't make it any
easier to say no to your boss. Whether you're being asked to increase
your workload, take on a task that you believe is a bad idea, or work
the weekend, how do you tactfully decline?

"People have a hard time saying 'no'––period––and when you introduce
power, it gets exponentially worse," says Joseph Grenny, coauthor of
Crucial Conversations.

Yet, good bosses appreciate employees who have the confidence to say
no, says workplace communications consultant Diane Amundson. "Most say
they're willing to listen to sound reasoning to find a solution," she
says. "It's all about how you frame and phrase it."

Instead of declining the request and walking away, Grenny and Amundson
offer seven tips for delivering an effective, non-polarizing "no":

1. Avoid a Power Struggle

Begin by acknowledging that the decision is ultimately your boss's,
says Grenny. "Clarify that by saying, 'I have strong opinions on what
is the right answer but I understand this is your call,'" he says.
"Otherwise the subject can become a power struggle."

It's not who is right, it's what is right.

Amundson says sometimes a "no" is a battle not a war, and you need to
know the difference. "Ask yourself what the worst outcome may be from
saying 'no' and write this down," she suggests. "Decide which appears
to have the biggest impact on your current workload and future with
the company."

2. Acknowledge That You Ultimately Have The Same Goals.

Members of the military say to salute the flag before you disagree
with a senior officer, says Grenny. The same is true in business. Keep
in mind that your ultimate goal is the same: to further the company.

"Your mutual higher purpose is to serve, and your job is to accomplish
goals," he says. "It's not who is right, it's what is right."

3. Empathize

People are more open to having someone disagree with them if they feel
deeply understood, says Grenny.

"Listen to your boss's arguments and concerns before voicing your
own," he says. "She will feel much less defensive if she felt heard.
If you aren't willing to change your opinion, don't expect your boss
to change hers."

If you aren't willing to change your opinion, don't expect your boss
to change hers.

Amundson agrees: "You can say, 'I understand your perspective, and
here's another way to think about the situation,'" she says. "If you
have sound reasoning and honored their idea, your boss will be more
open to listening."

4. Explain The Consequences Of The Request

People often believe if their boss trusted them, they'd be willing to
take a chance and follow their suggestion, but you shouldn't make a
disagreement personal when it doesn't need to be, says Grenny.

Instead, draw power from the facts. After you've acknowledged the
importance of the request, share how the new task might impact other
projects. For example, it might take away needed resources or burden
your workload. Then ask for a solution.

"Is there something your boss could take off your plate to allow you
the time to take on this project?" asks Amundson.

5. Share Your Facts.

Too often we get into a debate about conclusions, says Grenny. "If you
want to say 'no,' and your boss wants you to say 'yes,' each of you
has information that differs," he says. Start by exposing where your
facts are thin.

"Acknowledge what you know to be true and tell your boss how it caused
your conclusion," he says. "Ask how your boss came to her conclusion.
If you're simply in a no-yes argument, you're arguing conclusions not
facts."

6. Set boundaries From The Start.

When the requests are about your time, Amundson says it's helpful to
establish rules early on.

"If you don't want to be on call during weekends or holidays, make
this clear in the beginning where there is more leeway and where it's
black and white," she says. Then saying "no" won't come as a surprise.

7. Think Through The Timing.

What has happened in the office right before this request? Amundson
says it might impact your ability to say 2no."

"If you have just received a poor work evaluation or have said 'no'
recently to your boss, perhaps it's not the best time to buck the
system," she says. "If your past performance has been praised and
valued, you have more leeway."

8 Steps to Building Your Business According to the Lifestyle You Want

When I first started building my entrepreneurial career, I worked
non-stop, day and night, glued to the screen. Fueled by anxiety and
junk food, I was desperate to do whatever it took to make money and
see success. Those were the days of checking my phone every minute, of
saying yes to everything offered to me even when I knew in my gut I
didn't want to do it.

Nowadays I approach my business in a different way that the younger me
wouldn't have understood. When we start out we sometimes focus on
getting things done more than how we want to feel and who we want to
be.

Here are eight things you can do to be sure you are getting the
lifestyle you want first, and building your business around it.
Because your happiness should be your number-one priority. Because "I
wish I had worked more" is not one of the top regrets of the dying.

Related: 9 Moments the Happiest People Have Every Day

1. Establish your vision.

Without a map, you go in circles. Your vision is that map. When you
write it down, visualize yourself inside of it. Feel it, smell it,
sense it. You may wonder how you are going to know what you will want
10 years from now, but your vision is a living, breathing document. It
changes as you change. The important thing is to let it guide you
every day.

2. Set lifestyle goals.

We tend to focus only on goal setting when it comes to business. But
what about your life? Some of my lifestyle goals are to salsa dance
weekly, to continue my pursuit of being in the Olympics and to visit
Africa this year.

3. Cultivate meaning.

A purpose-filled life is the key to happiness. Each day as I meet
people and interact, I plan to spread positivity and brighten the day
for others.

4. Give back.

I give as much as I can to many favorite charities, but I have a
special love for Pencils of Promise. I am working on building my third
school with them. Giving back is your unique way of adding value in
the world. When we give, it multiplies. You are guaranteed to
generate more prosperity than you could imagine by giving selflessly.

Call it karma. Call it cause and effect. Whatever you call it, it is
the simple truth.

Related: How to Be Happy. (Really.)

5. Strive for balance.

There are plenty of nights when I am up later than I should be and
times when I have spent more hours in a plane than I would like. I
balance these times with eating healthy, relaxing with friends and
connecting with family and loved ones.

I say strive for balance because there will be times when you are
pushing hard for a deadline, or for a championship game, or a launch,
and you will be outside the comfort zone for maybe longer than you
wish. Set up some down time after big pushes to recharge for the next
big thing. If you are playing big in life, there is always the next
big thing, so balance isn't necessarily about slowing down but being
in touch with what recharges you and doing that when you first feel
the need to avoid overwhelm and burnout.

6. Don't forget to play.

I am committed to add an element of play to everything I do. I live
life with passion: dancing, laughing, playing my guitar, listening to
music. I am always encouraging my friends, clients, or strangers to do
the same.

7. Travel.

I am blessed to have been to many amazing places around the world like
Guatemala, New Zealand, Hawaii, Argentina, Spain and more. Travel
keeps life in perspective and pushes me out of my comfort zone,
challenging me to expand my understanding of the world.

8. Say "I love you."

Gratitude and love are the keys to fulfillment. I tell my family,
friends, and employees how much I appreciate them as often as I can.
There is no point in withholding, because you can't take it with you.
Your love is your wealth, so spend away.

6 Truths About Failure Every Entrepreneur Should Embrace

Entrepreneurs do not fear failure.

The typical stereotype we carry about most successful entrepreneurs is
that they approach business with the fearless enthusiasm of an extreme
sports athlete.

Recently, however, I had the opportunity to meet a successful founder
and CEO of a billion-dollar hedge fund, who when asked about his
biggest fear stated that he feared failure above all.

Now maybe failure is a valid fear for a hedge fund manager, someone
responsible for managing billions of dollars in assets, but I found
his reply nonetheless honest and refreshing, especially as an
entrepreneur who has long battled with the fear of failure myself.

Related: How This Olympian Nurtures a Winning Mindset: 'Never, Ever
Personalize Your Failure' (VIDEO)

His comments also validated something I have long believed, that the
fear of failure is not something that should be shamed but rather
embraced and leveraged as a motivator for success.

Accepting fear is not easy, and indeed it can be a significant
obstacle for many when considering the pursuit of new and unfamiliar
opportunities. With the right expectations and an understanding of a
few truths, however, the fear of failure can be a powerful weapon in
your entrepreneurial arsenal.

1. Success can only come from failure.

Much as heartbreak teaches us to better appreciate love, failures set
our expectations of success. It is through failure that we come to
better understand that everybody's definition of success is different
and will evolve over the course of our careers.

2. Curiosity naturally leads to failures.

Entrepreneurs are by nature curious. We pursue our interests and
passions through entrepreneurship because we cannot find the answers
we seek through ordinary means of employment or training. This
insatiable curiosity often leads us to pursue a number of
opportunities, many of which will be ill-advised or against the advice
of others.

It is this curious personality that motivates entrepreneurs, after the
continuous warnings of others, to touch the handle of the frying pan
to see for ourselves that it is hot. It means all entrepreneurs get
burned from time to time.

3. Failure is an asset.

Because of their curiosity, one of the biggest regrets entrepreneurs
will have is not trying and hence wondering "what if." This longing
for knowledge and answers provides us with the tools to not only
understand how to run businesses better, but also what to avoid. As
long as we are learning, entrepreneurs become more valuable with each
and every failure.

Related: Why You Should Wear Your Mistakes Proudly

4. Nobody wants you to fail.

While entrepreneurs may fear failure, your stakeholders fear your
failure far more. Lenders, vendors and customers all have a vested
interest in your success, and working with you through rough times as
much as good times means mutual success for everyone.

This relationship requires your mutual respect, however, and being
open and transparent about your goals and challenges assures you do
not burn bridges with your failures that could ultimately come back to
haunt you in the future.

5. Failure should not be confused with quitting.

For many entrepreneurs, the fear of failure is rooted in a fear of
being perceived as a quitter. The truth is that if you have poured
your energy selflessly into an endeavor, only to walk away after
extinguishing all options available to you, you will have earned
infinitely more respect than those who have never tried.

6. Each failure gets progressively easier.

Without a doubt, your first entrepreneurial failure will always be the
most painful and regretful. Much like heartbreak, however, the process
of recovering from failure gets easier with each subsequent failure
and each teaches you something new as you evolve as an entrepreneur.
While nobody should aspire to fail continually, understanding that you
can and will survive only makes you a more effective and confidence
entrepreneur.

If fear of failure is a concern of yours and has kept you from pursing
your entrepreneurial dreams, feel confident that it is a valid fear
and, for the most part, shared by many entrepreneurs. If you embrace
it, understand it, and allow it to motivate you, you will find that
fear of failure is something that will make you a better entrepreneur.

5 Signs You're Ready to Start Your Own Business

Starting a new business is exhilarating. A world of possibility
awaits, including the possibilities of incredible success or
catastrophic failure. The dichotomy between those two extremes leads
many to a purgatory of indecision, making them apprehensive in making
the final push to become an entrepreneur.

Unfortunately, there is never a perfect time to start a business. No
matter how long you wait, you'll never be experienced enough, you'll
never have enough capital, and you'll never have zero risk. There's
always a chance that your business will fail, but there's also always
a chance that it will succeed.

Related: The True Meaning of 'Entrepreneur'

That being said, while there are no perfect times to start a business,
there are good times to start a business. And if you've experienced
one of these five signs, it could be time for you to finally begin
your entrepreneurial journey:

1. Your job is no longer fulfilling.

In every job, you're going to have good days and bad days. Just
because you have a few bad days in a row, that doesn't necessarily
mean the only way out is to start your own business. But if, through
both good days and bad days, you feel like your job truly isn't
fulfilling, it may be time to consider owning your own business.

Typically, people stop feeling fulfilled when they aren't able to do
the work they want to do. Often, this is because someone else is
calling all the shots. If you're thrilled at the idea of setting your
own schedule, delegating your own tasks, and tackling the work you
want to tackle, it may be time to pursue entrepreneurship.

2. You understand the risks of business ownership.

Of course, it's not a good idea to simply jump into business
ownership. There are serious risks involved, and only when you
understand those risks fully should you consider yourself ready to
take the next step.

Before you make any major decisions, do some research. You may already
be aware of some of the more obvious risks (such as losing your
capital investment, losing your current job, running into legal
problems, etc.), but you may find more than you thought existed. It's
also helpful to talk to other entrepreneurs in your area -- especially
the ones who have started a business and failed.

3. You have an idea you're passionate about.

If you're thinking about entrepreneurship, you probably already have
an idea for a business. Is it one that you aren't very interested in,
but you think it could make a lot of money? Is it one that you're
passionate about, but you aren't sure of all the details?

Believe it or not, the second option is a better sign that you're
ready to start a business. Even if you have a great idea on paper, if
you aren't passionate about it, you aren't going to be driven to make
that idea successful. The most successful entrepreneurs are ones who
begin with passion in their hearts, and if you've already found yours,
you could be ready to begin.

Related: 6 Truths About Failure Every Entrepreneur Should Embrace

4. You have a support system.

Very few entrepreneurs are able to go it alone. While you might be the
only person making decisions at the top, you're going to need friends,
family members, resources and mentors who can guide you through the
toughest decisions and be there to pick you up when you inevitably
fall.

Your spouse, children and friends need to know your desire for
entrepreneurship, and even if they're not sure about it, they need to
support you through the process. In some cases, that may mean being
ready to pick up additional income should the business not turn out as
you expected. In others, that simply means being someone to run
decisions by. In any case, having a support system is an important
step before you officially pursue the startup life.

5. You know what's important to you.

Some people go their whole lives without realizing what's actually
important to them. They may think that being their own boss is what
matters to them, but feel unfulfilled when they actually attain that
position. Take a critical look at your motivations for becoming an
entrepreneur. Are they rooted in perceptions you have about how great
entrepreneurship is? Or are they more focused on what you truly want
out of life? Only you can make this distinction.

Don't be discouraged if the first few phases of starting your own
business don't turn out to be what you expected. Entrepreneurship is a
volatile world, but as long as you stay committed to improving your
ideas and continue to work hard, you'll always have a chance to
succeed.

Trust yourself. Otherwise, you run the risk of failing before your
business even gets off the ground.

6 Tips to Build a Business That Will Last Decades

As Crown Worldwide celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, I am
being asked the same question over and over again: What's the secret
to keeping a business alive that long?

It's not that easy to answer. To be honest, it's a huge anniversary
and one I never thought I'd see when I started the company in 1965.

I remember when we first opened, it was from a tiny office -- just a
cubicle really-- in Yokohama, Japan, with very little capital. The
fact we have become an international global business of good size and
strength -- one that continues to grow -- is a real achievement for
everyone at the company.

I don't know if there's a "secret" other than hard work and
perseverance, getting the right team in place, sticking to the
business we know best and doing it in an extremely positive way.

Related: 5 Musts to Prepare a Business for a Major Growth Spurt

But for anyone starting a business in 2015, there are a few points I
can make that I hope will be helpful:

1. Be ready for a bumpy ride.

If anyone is thinking of starting a business, they should be prepared
to deal with all the obstacles that come their way. It is rarely ever
a smooth ride. You have to be the type of person that will persevere
and push through all of those challenges.

I remember when we first started and it was a fragile business -- like
all startups probably are -- we were always worried about whether we
had enough money to pay bills and whether we were doing the job right.
You have to cope with all the ups and the downs.

2. Have a plan and know how much it will cost.

Having a plan and knowing where you are going is key for any new
business, and part of that is having adequate funding. Just how much
you need is difficult to define because it depends on what type of
business you are running. In our case we started out with very little
capital but in the modern era, I wouldn't recommend that.

3. Learn to delegate and choose good people.

It is not possible to do everything yourself in a successful business
-- you need to delegate. Look around and think, "Who can do this
better than I can? Who has the right skills?" Appoint good people --
then trust and support them.

Related: 3 Ways to Retain a Growing Startup's Original Spirit

4. Determination is more important than education.

There are many different types of people in business with different
educational backgrounds, so don't feel excluded. Some successful
people are quiet, some are loud, some are good salespeople or good at
finance. All can make it if they have a good team to help carry
forward their plan.

A degree of formal education is helpful for anybody and I encourage
it. But having a degree is not an essential part of being successful
as an entrepreneur. The qualities you do need are a lot of stamina and
determination.

5. Know your core values.

It is easy to think core values are something you only worry about
when the business is already successful. But in fact the reverse is
true: Core values are what make you successful in the first place.

Having respect for the people who work for you, believing in doing a
good job in the right way, giving the customer a good experience,
communicating with people, giving something back to society -- all
these things are critical. Do things the right way and you'll have a
better chance of success.

6. Don't sell too quickly.

Retain ownership of your business if you can. Don't give it away or
sell too early. So many entrepreneurs today say, "I'm going to run it
for five years then sell it." But I don't think that's what true
entrepreneurs do. Instead, that's being a speculator.

I almost sold once in the early part of the company's history. I had
an offer on the table but had a change of heart and walked away, and
it was the smartest thing I ever did.

Now we have a business at Crown Worldwide with a turnover of more than
$800 million.