Want to be a better business owner? Want to ensure and improve on your success? Try out these ten easy to implement tips and upgrade your business acumen starting today…
- Network with Other Successful Business People
One of the best ways to get better, grow, and stay on top is to regularly network with other successful business owners. Learn from them, problem solve together, share your tips, and create strategic partnerships. They can be other local business owners, those in your industry, or even wider niches. You can do it at live events, small Meetups, and boardroom events.
- Create a Sustainable Marketing Budget & Plan
Consistent marketing is one of the most critical elements in the survival and ability to thrive for every business. Your ability to keep your business alive, keep paying your employees, and seize on opportunities all relies on consistent marketing in all seasons and phases of the market and your business. Yet, so many fail to have a real marketing budget, plan, or plan to scale that budget. If you want others to have confidence in working for you, investing in you, and partnering with you or becoming your vendors, nail this part of your business.
- Exercise Regularly
One of the seven habits of great small business owners according to Forbes is regular exercise. A healthy body and healthy mind go hand in hand. Exercise has a ton of benefits. Chief of all may be a sharper mind and ability to make better decisions. That will profit you in everything else you do. You don’t have to shoot for big muscle gains or get ripped like a young Arnold, but some form of regular exercise that helps overall health can make a big difference.
- Get a Life Outside of Your Business
Forbes also recommends having a real life outside of your business. WHile it’s good to be passionate about your business, be willing to work hard, and engage in sprints to level up, it is important to have a life outside of your enterprise too. For many, the whole point is to improve their out of work life. So, don’t get lost and neglect that on the journey. Making time for a real life will also help you do better in business. You’ll be more objective when in the office. You’ll deal with employees and customers better, and enjoy your work more. Schedule your real life first, and work your business around that.
- Travel Often
Travel is one of the best things you can do on the quest to becoming a better business owner. It keeps you refreshed and energized, provides new perspectives and ideas for doing business, and can open many new doors to grow and scale your business. Need ideas on where to go next? How about Southern California, Phoenix Arizona, Las Vegas, the Dominican Republic, or Cyprus?
- Connect with Customers & Employees
Great business owners regularly solicit feedback from their customers and employees. Do you personally know any of your customers? What are their experiences and suggestions? How do your employees think things could be improved on? This is not only valuable for making smart changes, but for making these groups feel valued and building loyalty too.
- Get in the Trenches for Yourself
Getting feedback from others is great, but one of the areas which really sink even the most successful companies and giants is that executives quickly become too distant from what is going on at the front lines. Some come in and have no idea what customer objections really are on the phone, or what employees have to deal with. When was the last time you were on the front line making sales or handling customer complaints? It can be a huge eye opener. Schedule to do this at least a couple times every year, if not at least once every quarter. You need practical knowledge, not just theory.
- Go Through the Sales Process Yourself
It’s just as important to put yourself in your customers’ shoes as your employees’. Start right from the beginning, and through any levels of support you have. What’s it like trying to find your company, compare it with competitors, checking online reviews, and spending your money with your own company? How is delivery and customer service after the fact?
- Empower, Don’t Just Delegate
Equipped with all this knowledge, don’t just delegate to your team members, but actually empower them with the tools and freedom to make things better.
- Keep Learning
Leaders never stop learning. Read business blogs and books, sign up for new courses, and earn new industry certifications.
