Being a successful entrepreneur is a dream for many people. The one thing that stops the majority of people from striking out on their own is that they do not know exactly what to do to be successful on their own. Being a successful entrepreneur takes more than a great idea, more than hard work, and more than just a dream.

Anyone can be a successful entrepreneur. All you need is the formula for success that so many other people have used throughout the years.

Positive Outlook

You have heard people tell you that you had to have a positive outlook in order to achieve positive outcomes. Zig Ziglar may have said it best when he said “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude”. A positive attitude sets the stage for a positive production.

You have to believe in yourself and in what you are doing. A positive outlook does not mean that there will not be times when it is hard for you. You might have to struggle through some difficult times.

Focus

You have to know what you want to do and focus on a goal. You will have to motivate yourself to do the things that are necessary to create a success out of your idea. Zig Ziglar once made the comment, “People often say that motivation does not last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily”. You must get up every morning and motivate yourself to go out and do your best for that day.

At the end of the day if you did your best then be proud of your accomplishments, and do not beat yourself up if you did not do everything you wanted to do. Be proud of what you did do, and the next day get up and do your best again.

Be Open Minded and Willing to Learn

A successful entrepreneur knows that they do not know everything. You need to have an open mind to other people’s suggestions, and to learning new ways to do things. Just because you take the time to listen to someone’s idea does not mean that you have to do everything they said. But, if you take the time to listen to someone’s idea then you can take the parts of their idea that you like and apply them to your own ideas and create something great. As long as you learn something new every day you will always be growing, and your mind will stay sharp.

Find a Mentor

Successful entrepreneurs will almost all tell you that they have a mentor. Your mentor is someone who you can go to for advice. They are able to help you work through the details of a given situation and find the best way for you to proceed. Your mentor should be someone who you see as being successful, someone that has a positive attitude, and someone that you trust.

Be Goal Oriented

In order to be a successful entrepreneur you have to set goals for yourself and you have to be able to work towards those goals. You have to make deadlines for yourself and complete the tasks you have assigned yourself according to those deadlines. You will be your own boss when you are an entrepreneur but the thing you have to remember is you are the boss and the labour force. You have to make sure you know this and that you give one hundred and ten percent to every goal that you set.

Be Realistic

When you are setting your goals you have to be realistic. Of course you want to make enough money to buy everything you have ever dreamed of in your first year. The truth is that you will probably just make enough money to get by in your first year. Set realistic goals for yourself.
It is best if you start small and then allow yourself a little time before you try to grow. Businesses that sell merchandise are harder to get started making enough profit. If you have a service oriented business you will more than likely have an easier time establishing yourself.

Do Not Overextend Yourself

During the business set-up be careful that you do not spend more money than you can afford to repay. You must be fragile during your first year. Establish a budget and be sure to stick to that budget. You cannot be a successful entrepreneur if you have obligated your finances out so thin that you do not have enough money to do what you need to do.

Keep Impeccable Records

You need to keep a written detail of all expenditures and of all the things you do. These records will help you to establish prices and help you to see what you have accomplished. No job is complete until the paperwork is done.