To many beginner entrepreneurs, their company is their baby. They will shape how (and when) it grows, what’s best for its future, and demonstrate near enough total control of its operations. Parents do this with their children, but then parents only raise their children to a degree; it’s other people, teachers, friends, and society as a whole who also play a role. Business is the same way. You might be the one at the top, but you should be ready to embrace external voices.
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Letting Go Of The Ego
Everybody has an ego; it’s simply part of being a human. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, either, as ego can produce good things (it might have been the thing that made you start a company in the first place). However, an ego can also be damaging. If you think that you only need to listen to your own voice, then you’ll be doing a disservice to your company. A business person who blocks out every other voice will be missing out on important opinions that might be hugely beneficial to the company in the long run.
Constructive Feedback
Everybody wants to think that the ideas they’re excited about are good ideas. But the simple law of averages demonstrates that this can’t be the case; even if you hit nine good ideas in a row, there’s nothing to say the tenth won’t be a dud. You’ll be able to avoid getting too deep into your mistakes if you’re ready and willing to listen to voices other than your own. Ask the opinion of your customers, friends, family, and employees. Once you have a variety of opinions, you’ll be in a position to determine the right course of action.
Advice From Other Entrepreneurs
You’re not the first person to strike out as an entrepreneur and build a company from scratch. Many others have tried – and succeeded – before you, and many have something to say about the core values that lead them to success. Steve Voudouris says it was putting customers’ needs first that helped him build three successful businesses. Richard Branson says the key to his success was punctuality; in other words, simply turning up. There are many other words of wisdom out there from people with the record of success – and thus the authority – to know what they’re talking about.
Learning from Others’ Mistakes
On the flip side, it’s always worth taking a look at the mistakes other people have made that lead to business failure. Interesting enough, the long list of individuals who have tried and failed to build a company includes many people who eventually ended up successful. If you know the errors other people made, you’ll be able to avoid them yourself.
Having Your Own Vision
While it’s important that you listen to voices other than your own, it’s important that you don’t adopt other people’s visions. Learn, be patient, and focus on what you want to achieve. With knowledge by your side, you’ll be in a strong position to succeed.