As an entrepreneur, we must strive to be the best version of ourselves. You should have a desire to continually learn and grow, both as an entrepreneur and in your personal life. Personal development is just as important as anything else you do for your business. Think of it this way…if you are not growing and developing, how will your business grow and develop?
There are tons of things that you can do to develop and grow in your business. I have narrowed it down to five that I think will push you to the top.
- Use Your Calendar
Your calendar can be your best friend…really. As you take on more and more tasks and your business grows, you must organize your time and your days so that you maximize them both. Calendars tell you what you are going to do for the day. You will eventually get to a point that if it’s not on your calendar-it’s not getting done. Utilize this tool to keep you focused and on task. Your time is worth money, so don’t waste it. The saying goes… “If you don’t run the day, the day will run you.”
2. Network and Build Relationships
Networking events are important-not because it gives you a captive audience, but because you are in a room with like-minded people that you can build relationships and business with. You want to connect to the right people. These type of events give you the opportunity to do that. Entrepreneurship does not have to be a solo performance. Building the right relationships can propel you to the next level in your business journey.
3. Attend Seminars and Classes
Learning happens in all kinds of ways. Entrepreneurs should attend seminars and classes that will help enhance their areas of expertise. There is ALWAYS something to be learned. Even if you consider yourself an “expert” in the field-the moment you stop learning is the moment that someone else surpasses you. Find the seminars, events, and classes that will make you the best in your market. It’s worth the investment.
4. Read, Listen and Watch
READ, READ, READ! Zig Ziglar says, “Rich people have small tvs and big libraries. Poor people have big tvs and small libraries.” I would challenge you to set a goal to read more. Read 1–2 books per quarter or better yet…one per month. Reading is like a gas station. It fills you up for the next leg of your journey. Listening to podcasts and watching videos can work much like reading does. There is a wealth of information and training on the internet. Go and find it. The point is to continue learning.
5. Set SMART goals
As a sales coach and speaker, I spend a lot of time sharing, teaching, and motivating others. I also do my fair share of goal setting. You need to set what we call S.M.A.R.T. goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. If we are honest, sometimes we get lost in the goal-setting stage. But, if you will focus in on goals that are specific, can be measured, achievable, relevant and have a deadline you will increase your growth rate because you are building momentum. Lofty goals can be detrimental if you haven’t prepared yourself for what it takes to achieve them. Set goals at the beginning of the year and re-evaluate quarterly to see where you are in the process.
All of these things are vital for staying on top of your game in the entrepreneurial game. Do what you have to do to be the best version of yourself.
