10 Tips for Building a Successful Business

Starting up and building your own successful business can be full of challenges.  You need a solid team and sound policies to guide you.

Earlier this year we sat down to acknowledge our 10 year anniversary as a company and took a look at how far we’ve come and where we want to go next.  There have been invaluable lessons we’ve learned along the way and take-a-ways we have adopted in order to keep our business a success.  We have shared this advice with our clients and received positive feedback so decided to share it more broadly.  Here are the top 10 lessons we learned in the first 10 years as a business.  Whether you’re just starting up or have been around for a decade, we hope you may find these useful.

//1. Trust your gut

This may sound silly but we found time and again it is so true.  If it doesn’t seem right and isn’t sitting well with you then it probably isn’t!⁠  Trust your instincts!⁠

//2. Commit first, figure it out later

Jump in with both feet without hesitation. What does this mean? It means commit to that project, client, work order, etc. then use this to motivate you to figure out how to get it done!⁠ ⁠We found this to be highly successful in motivating our team and reaching our targets.  You don’t really know what your capable of until you give yourself no choice but to win!⁠

//3. Don’t ever compromise with your integrity!

Integrity: ⁠ ⁠definition 1. the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change⁠ ⁠definition 2. someone’s high artistic standards or standards of doing their job, and that person’s determination not to lower those standards. ⁠ ⁠Both of these apply.  Never compromise with your own values and standards. Do good work. Be honest. Be professional.⁠⁠

//4. We are always stronger as a team

A team is a group that works well together and cooperates towards a common goal.  So long as all the players are working together to achieve the goals of the business you have the potential to be unstoppable!⁠ ⁠The team that works well together,  achieves goals together.⁠

//5. Always work on personal development

Take time to learn and study from the greats in your field.  Expand your skills and knowledge.  Take care of yourself – sleep well, eat well, get exercise.  Be the best version of yourself so that your business can be the best it can be.

//6. Always keep business and personal issues separate

For those who are in business with their significant other, a family member or close friend, this is so important. Keep business matters out of the house and home matters out of the office!  ⁠ ⁠Learning to separate these two very different relationships can be hard at first but it can be done and will lead to a happier life on both fronts!⁠

//7. Validate, value and utilize your team member’s strengths

Everyone in your business, including yourself, has their own unique strengths. Fortify these with acknowledgement and continuous validation of what is correct and when a job is well done.⁠ ⁠When you validate excellence you get more excellence!⁠

//8. Trust your business partner 100%

Trust is defined as “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something”.⁠ ⁠When you enter into business with another there is a strong trust that must be present between both parties.   This trust must be continuous in order to have a strong business and succeed. ⁠

//9. Always strive to do better

This one speaks for itself! Never rest on your laurels and become complacent about your achievements.  Always strive to do better and go bigger!⁠ Write out your goals for the year and then break this down into a plan for each month, week or day to ensure you are always working on the big picture.

//10. Keep everything a game and don’t get too serious about it

Life is a game! And having a successful business is just one part of it. Don’t get caught up in barriers or losses.  Keep it fun and don’t get serious! Seriously!

So there you have it.  Try out some of these tips and let us know if you find any of them useful in expanding your business.  We wish you the best of luck!

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