© vectortone | stock.adobe.com

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur in today’s white-hot environment? It seems it gets tougher and tougher as more people are competing for the same scarce resource called time from prospective buyers. It used to be easy. You could produce an article, or better yet, a video, and it would grab attention.

A while back I had the opportunity to meet and introduce former heavyweight champion of the world, George Foreman, as he spoke before 2,100 people attending live and about 50,000 via the Internet. He is an entrepreneur who teaches people to overcome problems and keep going even when knocked down.

Many of us in the Steemit community are entrepreneurs. (Steemit is a social media platform where everyone gets paid for creating and curating content.) Today you have to go over and above what was just commonplace a short time ago. Here’s some steps that can help you, as an entrepreneur to achieve success.

• Never Stop Adding to Your Knowledge

I have had the honor and privilege to visit 38 countries (and counting!) in my work as a professional speaker and a journalist. I have found it amazing that successful people throughout the world are those who continually saturate their mind with good, quality material. I like the way Zig Ziglar told us that when we’re moving we should be listening, and when we’re sitting we should be reading. I also like what Brian Tracy said when he observed that rich people often have very large libraries while poor people often have very large TVs. Do you think there’s a correlation?

• Successful Entrepreneurs Constantly Improve What They Do

Make it your practice to always get better. I like what Cal Newport talked about it in his book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You. The title of this book is based on the saying from the great comedian, Steve Martin. In this book Newport said that successful people practice not just so that they can be good, but they practice until they will not fail. Most people aren’t willing to pay the price to achieve excellence. Most people settle for “good enough.” Make it your practice to excel in those areas that matter the most to your customers.

• Dazzle the Socks Off Your Customers!

This one is very important. I see so many people around the world in business offer what they feel is good quality. They sincerely believe they’re offering value to their customers. In fact, what they offer is not bad. But, you want to take it to a higher level. I love the way that marketing guru Winston Marsh, from Australia, says, “Make ‘em say WOW!” You want customers who not only like what you’re doing, but become raving fans because you achieve excellence in helping them.

• Don’t Forget Your Health

Yeah, I know you’re busy. Yeah, I know you don’t have time today to put in that extra run, or swim, or calisthenics. From one entrepreneur to another, “Just shut up and do it.” You are going to live in the body you have now for the rest of your life. Take good care of it. Get the stretching, aerobic exercise, calisthenics, and other medically-advised exercises to maintain health. My grandma always told me that if you have your health you have everything and if you don’t have your health you don’t have anything. Listen to my grandma. She was right.

• Successful Entrepreneurs Learn From Setbacks

Face it, there are going to be times in life when, try as you might, you’re going to fall down and get hurt. I wish it were going to be all sunshine and rainbows, but it doesn’t work that way on this planet. There are some people that are going to try to knock you down just because they get jealous. Sometimes things aren’t going to work right just — because. Sorry that’s the way it works. However you don’t have to let the setback be your failure. I like the way my friend, Willie Jolley says it, “A setback is just a setup for a comeback.” Look at each setback that you face (and you will have them in life) and view a setback as part of going to school in this game of life.

• The Most Successful Entrepreneurs Reach out to Help Others

One of the things I like best about using Steemit is the community support we have. I have benefited greatly from comments and advice from many others who have helped me, encouraged me, and given very specific advice on how to improve. This is a model of what you want to do both here or on Steemit and in real life.

• Successful Entrepreneurs Are Always on the Lookout for Valuable New Ideas to Help Others

It is human nature to resist change that we don’t understand. Those who are successful entrepreneurs are the ones who push beyond the fear, uncertainty, and doubt and acquire valuable new skills that are relevant to paying customers. Make it your point always learn “new” that is beneficial to others and for which they are willing to pay.

These are some of the principles that I have found that help successful entrepreneurs to achieve the lifestyle they want by serving others.

MANA welcomes your comments on this article. Write to us at [email protected].