People don’t get to the top of their game in the business world by accident. They get there because they develop their own rigorous productivity routines, set goals, and then work hard to achieve them.
They have help, be it from friends and family members or from business coaches, and sometimes a bit of luck. Everyone is different and therefore everyone has a different approach, but there are also a number of commonalities to be aware of.
So without further ado, let’s take a closer look at what those similarities are.
Reaching the Top in Business: The Main Principles of Success
It’s getting old-fashioned now, but it’s really true that who you know is just as important as what you know. It doesn’t matter what your industry is, if you don’t spend time networking, you will struggle to find allies and make your voice heard in a competitive marketplace. The good news for those who have always struggled with face-to-face networking is that in the COVID era, connecting online is becoming the norm.
You need a certain high level of skill to even consider getting into the business, but some people make the mistake of being overconfident and thinking they’re very good at everything just because they’re great at something are good. Don’t fall into this trap. Instead, get help when you need it, whether it’s an accountant for your tax returns or help with that thesis to get you out of the box with an important professional skill.
You’ve probably heard of SMART goals before, and there’s a reason for that. Put simply, they work. SMART is an acronym to help you remember the different attributes that make a good goal:
- Specific: The more specific, the better. “Generate 100 leads in six months” is better than “Generate more leads”.
- Measurable: The more measurable the goal, the better. “Generate more leads” is better than “get better at marketing”.
- Reachable: There’s no point aiming for the stars if you don’t have a rocket to take you there.
- Relevant: There’s no point in reaching for the stars if you’re not an astronaut.
- Punctual: Adding a deadline helps you hold yourself accountable and pushes you to work toward a deadline.
-
Hold yourself accountable
Business people are always held accountable, whether they report to a direct manager in their first job or are the CEO of a large multinational company reporting on their profits. And sure, you could Rely on these other people to hold you accountable, but you will find that you are far more effective when you hold yourself accountable. I often find myself setting more aggressive deadlines than my clients give me for two main reasons. It helps me under under promise and over deliver, and it also gives me some breathing room so if I miss my own deadline I can still finish it in time for the client.
If you follow the leaders in your industry, you’re going to be limited, and if you really want to position yourself as an expert, you have to take the lead. The best way to do this is to innovate, adopt new technologies when the opportunity arises, and devote at least 10% of your time to trying new technologies and approaches, and then adopting the ones that work.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the approaches common to many of today’s most successful businessmen and entrepreneurs, and in fact many of them have also been adopted by athletes, celebrities and other key figures.
Still, we couldn’t possibly have covered everything, and there’s no shortage of businessmen out there breaking the rules either. Still, I hope that the tips I’ve shared today have been enough to inspire you and get you thinking about how to better approach your own business. Much luck!