Strategy Toward Success – How to Create your Own Success as an Entrepreneur

Do you have the entrepreneurial spirit? Are you a go-getter with a deep passion? These two buzz words  get tossed around a lot online when you hear about being a successful entrepreneur. But, are they really the key? Honestly, no. Just because you are driven and passionate doesn’t mean you will succeed. There are a few other, less buzz-y, traits and tactics that actually can help you create the success you’re striving for.

Many entrepreneurs base their business off of sales. It’s almost hard to think of a business that doesn’t involve the sale of something. But selling a good or service can be hard, especially as economies across the globe struggle. On the other hand selling benefits can be much easier. Benefits are often more emotionally charged. Selling a car? The feeling of driving off the lot in a new car is so much better than the feeling a person gets when the first payment becomes due. Selling a great vacation experience is easier when you remind people of the memories they will be making. It is this emotional side that some salespeople may forget about  but it can be the key to making a sale versus missing the sale.

Negotiation skills may seem like a no-brainer to some but these skills are sometimes hard to develop and even harder to use. As an entrepreneur, the ability to negotiate is invaluable. From your rental agreement to contracts with clients, you need to have the ability to not only talk costs down but also hold hard on payments. The ability to negotiate down means you can lower overhead costs and afford to invest more in your company. The same concept hold true for holding your ground on payments. If you set a fair price for services rendered and hold to it, you can ensure people are not taking advantage of you. That being said, ensuring the products and services you provide are high quality and worth the price you set also makes sure you become know for being fair. Negotiation skills can be incredibly valuable so take the time to hone them in and be sure to stand your ground when you need to, your business depends on it!

There is a fine line between following up and being pushy. Knowing this line takes time so here are a few ways to know whether or not a follow up is in order.

  • The client, customer or guest told you to call them – Duh! Sometimes people are busy or don’t have the time to fully process what you are telling them so they ask for a followup. Do it. Call and remind them who you are and why you are calling. Don’t be redundant but be clear about the benefits of what you are offering and how these benefits can be attained for them.
  • They pulled the “I have to think about it.” – This is a case where judgement comes into play. If you felt they were genuinely interested but unsure for whatever reason, a followup call may be just what they need to go over the hurdle. On the other hand, if they appeared to be blowing you off, it’s pretty clear they don’t want to talk anymore and a follow up is likely a waste of time.
  • You we’re blown off -In this case, don’t waste your time.

These skills are some of the lesser known but even so, they are a huge part of successful entrepreneurship. Creating connections with members of your target market and pushing yourself to develop these new skills can be invaluable and help to expand your business in the long run. There is no magic bullet that will work in every case but these suggestions can give you a basis on which to build you business. Good luck!

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