The Shaker of Salt

May Contain Affiliate Links

(Image Source)

There comes a time for every home when there needs to be a bit of a refresh. After a few years, the decor options you chose in the past will start to age, and it’s likely that the styles will be a little out of date. Of course, combating this is simple, and all you need to do is look for ways to start renovating. This is where things can get tricky for a lot of people, though. Time is always a factor in life, with most people not having enough of the stuff to start working on large projects. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring the easiest possible route to take when renovating your home.

Moving Things Out:

Having furniture and other possessions in your home while it is being painted and decorated will often result in things being ruined. Self-storage companies can help you with this, giving you loads of options when it comes to temporary homes for your items, and a moving company can be used to take everything back and forth. This is quite an extreme step, but it will be worth it to get the job done quickly.

The Tear Down:

It’s unlikely that your walls will still be smooth after a few years, and this can only be fixed by a professional. The type of person you hire for this will depend on the way your home is built. It may be a simple matter of chipping away at the old paint and applying some touch ups. In other cases, though, you could be faced with a bigger challenge, and a professional plasterer can help you in both instances. Along with someone to do the hard work, you may also need to hire a skip company to take away and store the waste.

The Base Layer:

With the walls smoothed out, your place will be ready for the walls to be started on. When you’re painting, it’s important to keep in mind that there may be drips, and flooring should be left until afterwards to avoid new carpet or tiles being ruined. There are loads of companies out there which are dedicated to helping people with these parts of their homes. Depending on who you choose, you may be able to have all of the waste taken away as part of the service, and this will make the whole thing much easier.

New Furnishings:

While you have all of the furniture in storage, you will have a great chance to start looking at new options to add to your renovated space. Companies like Deconovo are perfect for this, providing you with ranges of styles which all go together very nicely. This can save loads of time when it comes to searching for your furniture, as you won’t have to piece together your own collections from different stores. Using Instagram for some Inspiration can also help at this stage.

Cleaning Up:

Before you can bring your new furniture into the home, you will need to think about the mess which has been caused by all of the work going on. Of course, though, in the spirit of this post, you don’t have to do any of this, and can leave it to someone else. There are loads of cleaning companies out there which offer single-time services covering all levels of grime. You will pay more or less depending on how bad the place is, so it could be worth trying to save here by doing as much as you can by yourself.

Moving It All In:

This will be the stage of the job will require the most involvement from you. Using the same moving company which took everything away, you can bring everything back and have it moved back in for you. You will need to be there to make sure that your dreams come true, though. While they are professionals, the people helping you won’t know where your items need to go. The job should only take a couple of hours if you’re there to direct everyone and make sure that things are in the the right places.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start working harder on the time you put into taking the effort out of your home renovations. A lot of people find this sort of work hard, struggling to find the time to sink into their projects. It doesn’t have to be this way, though, as long as you’re willing to get some help.

May Contain Affiliate Links

Flickr

Sleep is one of the most important things that our body needs, yet it seems to also be so overlooked. People are so busy nowadays, always on the move and looking for a way of doing things the quickest possible way. If that means cutting out some hours of sleep – so be it.  We tend to forget that our bodies can’t run properly if they’re not getting the amount of sleep that it needs.

Many people think they can ‘catch up’ on sleep the next day, but that’s not how it works. Once you’ve lost sleep you can’t get it back, that’s why it’s vital you make an effort to get around seven to nine hours of sleep every single day.

Lack of sleep can result in a negative mood that looms over you throughout the day. You may feel stressed or lose your temper easier than you normal. You may not feel social or laugh with your friends. Lack of sleep can also negatively affect your ability to concentrate. As bad as lack of sleep can be on you it’s even worse on a a child who can not control their emotions as well as an adult. If you want to know how to avoid bedtime tantrums, then you need to be getting sleep yourself so that you’re in the right state of mind to deal with these situations with a calm and level head.

There are many different ways that you can better your night’s sleep, you just need to be willing enough to try them. Although some may seem a little drastic, sometimes it’s a necessary act in order to better yourself. So make the effort, and you should have a better sleep within no time.

Stay off your devices.

We live in a modern world full of technology, but it’s actually a very bad idea to be looking at your screen, be it your phone, android, or tv. This is because the light from the screen keeps your brain stimulated and awake, so you when you do finally decide it’s time to sleep and put your device away, your brain will still be active, regardless of how tired you are. Try to keep track of time and an hour before you plan on going to bed turn everything off and rest instead. There is nothing wrong with reading a book if you’re not ready to close your eyes , but do it with the soft glow of a lamp, instead of on your devices.

Have a warm shower or bath.

Taking a warm bath or shower in the evening is a very comforting thing to do that will greatly benefit your body. Not only is the warm water nice, it also allows your muscles to relax and remove any tension that they have been holding from that day. When your muscles are tense, you may not even notice it, but it can really affect the way you feel all over because there’s an underlying weight that you’re carrying around with you. But by easing that away by bathing yourself, you are able to release everything, and get into bed with your body feeling soothed and nurtured.

Invest in a good mattress.

Your mattress can be what lays between you and a good night’s sleep. There are so many different types and styles out there, each giving something unique. The easiest way to figure out the mattress that works for you is through trial and error. If you’re looking for a new mattress, don’t be afraid to go to a bed store and lay on all the beds. This is the only way that you can know what your body requires. Some people like a solid mattress that stays firm at all times, while others prefer one that molds around them. Just because your friend may like something doesn’t mean that you will.

Create the environment.

Your bedroom is that secret sanctuary where you go to reside and have the perfect ending to your day, so it needs to look the part. If your bedroom is dull and boring, then it’s going to make you feel that way too. You need to decorate it in a way that fits your personality and creates the vibe you want for unwinding in. Think about warm colors that you can indulge in. Dark red wines and chocolate browns are very good for this, but essentially it’s all down to your own personal preference. Lamps are also good for setting the tone and creating depth within a space, while also giving off a subtle glow until you’re ready for lights out.

Eliminate the noise.

You will find it very difficult to try and fall asleep if there’s noise around you, so make sure that you turn all of your appliances off so that there is no background noise or hum that keeps you awake at night. Another way that you can ensure you don’t get distracted is by putting in earplugs. While it may feel a little strange to begin with, you will soon get used to it, and the instant peace that you will be greeted by will change the game entirely. A lot of people actually sleep with these in, more than you would imagine, and that’s in fact the only way that they are able to drift off, so try these and see if they help to focus your mind on sleep as a pose to the random noises during the middle of the night.

May Contain Affiliate Links

If you’ve already tried and failed to invest in stocks before, you might have turned your back on it and assumed that investing in stocks is simply not something that’s for you. However, if you learn a bit more about the most common reasons for investing failure, you can find out how to do it right next time. Don’t rule out this possibility completely because you could make some money if you get it right. Here are the most likely things holding you back from finding investing success.

A Lack of Time

It’s understandable that you might fail due to a lack of time because we all have jobs to go to and families to spend time with. It’s about making time for your investing and using modern techniques. For example, you can usually use your phone to manage your portfolio wherever you are and whatever time of day it is. It does make the burden of investing easier to deal with.

The Wrong Strategy (or No Strategy at All)

There are so many strategies that you can make use of as an investor, so you should find the one that works for you. It’s a mistake to dive in without having a strategy in place at all though The ichimoku cloud strategy is one that many people believe to work very well, so that’s certainly worth exploring. It’s up to you to consider the options and choose the one that’s right for you.

Emotions Taking Over

Investing is one thing that shouldn’t really involve your emotions too much. If you allow your emotions to override proper assessment and analysis, you’re probably going to make mistakes. You should try to put your emotions on the backburner and instead focus on what matters in terms of the stocks that you’re weighing up. That way, you’ll make better investing decisions.

Image Source

A Narrow Portfolio

Portfolios are always more successful when you make them a bit more broad and diversified. You will find that when stocks do fail you unexpectedly, it won’t matter so much because your portfolio will be diverse and able to cope with one or two failures if other stocks are doing well for you. So try to make your portfolio wider and more diverse as soon as you can.

The Herd Mentality

Following the herd never serves you well when you want to make money as an investor. Of course, it can be tempting. When everyone is heading in one direction, it seems to make sense to follow them. But there are many reasons why the herd develops, and it’s often not because that’s where the money is. You should stick to your strategy rather than following the herd.

As you can see, there are so many reasons why people fail when they start investing. It’s something that you can avoid if you take the right steps, so don’t assume that past investing failure means that you’ll be condemned to failure in the future too. It’s not as complicated as you think.

May Contain Affiliate Links

If you have just decided to buy a derelict home and don’t know where to start modernizing and beautifying it, you have your job cut out for the next few months. Whether there is a special charm in the building itself or you fell in love with the surroundings, you will have to make the space (interior and exterior) work for you. From checking the wiring to improving the curb appeal, you will have to pay attention to several details to get your renovation project right. Below you will find a few tips to get started.

1.Safety 

While it is common that realtors provide you with a property check and survey before you would buy the house, you will need to look out for risks once you are in the position to claim the real estate. With old buildings come certain hazards, such as pests, especially if the house was left empty for a long time. You will need to get a professional deep cleaning and disinfection company to take care of chemical and bacterial hazards. You have to get the electric and heating system tested for damage and leaks, so you don’t end up with some nasty surprises when starting to work there.

2. Energy Sources

The next thing you need to check out is energy sources. There might be an outdated oil furnace that will have to be replaced. You have to choose your energy sources carefully. If you are far from the main road and other houses, you might not get access to mains natural gas, and have to either get a tank installed, or use renewable energy sources. This might be the right time to get wind turbines and solar panels installed, so you can be self sufficient and have a reliable source of energy without having to pay companies for access.

3. Heating and Air Conditioning

If you moved into a derelict home, you might find that the heating and air conditioning system is either non existent or outdated. You will have to talk to a contractor about your options. Keeping the old AGA going might be tempting, but once you have the first bill, you will find out that it is not the best idea after all. Invest in a modern and efficient heating and air conditioning system. If you bought the real estate in a moderate climate area, you might want to give air pumps a thought.

4. Weather Damage

It is also important that you look out for weather damage and make sure that you don’t have huge cracks in the walls. When winter comes and the house is not heated, loads of structural changes can take place that you need to address if you want to safely enjoy your new home. There might be warped windows and doors that you have to change. You can shop around to find the right Replacement Windows so you can improve the energy efficiency and the look of your home at the same time.

5. Roof

One of the most common problems with derelict homes is leaks in the roof. If you decided to buy old instead of investing your money in a new built, you need to be prepared for this issue. If you need a new roof, you need to treat this as a priority, as you will want to keep the water out of the house. However, leaks on the roof are only a part of the problem. If you have old pipes and gutters that are leaking into your walls, you will have to get them replaced at the same time as your roof. Choose a system that is easy to install and comes with at least 15 years guarantee, so you can rest assured you don’t have to touch the drainpipes and gutter for a long time.

6. Insulation

Image via Mari Madriz

Of course, insulation technology has improved a lot in recent years. If you would like to make sure that you don’t have to put up with a cold home in the winter, it is important that you add some secondary insulation to the house. From Polycell rolls to insulating sheets that can be fitted on the wall and decorated later using wallpaper or plasterboards. You shouldn’t forget about floor insulation, either. You lose a lot of heat through the roof and the floor, so pay attention to these problematic areas.

7. Curb Appeal

Image via Rafaela Biazi

Once the house is livable, waterproof, and comfortable, you will have to start focusing on the curb appeal. If you have old and cracked stairs and rails, you will have to fix this. Give your new home a coat of paint. If you have cladding installed, make sure that you use a weatherproof paint that helps you preserve the condition of the wood. In case the house is built of bricks and has exterior paint coating, try a weatherproof and paintable solution, such as Rhinoshield.

8. Landscaping

Image via Florian van Duyn

Once the house looks like someone owns it, it might be time to take care of the garden. If you have a front yard, you might want to opt for easy maintenance solutions, such as paving stones and slabs. To add colors, you can have a couple of stone planters that you can fill with seasonal flowers. Chances are that you will have a lot of work to complete before you can feel at home in the backyard. Get a contractor to level the ground and lay the turf, fix the fencing, and add a patio. Talk to a landscape designer to get help with designing your rustic garden that will match the style of your new home.

Whether you are interested in creating something beautiful or decided to repurpose an old chapel and turn it into a unique home, you will need to pay attention to the details. Start with the basics, such as waterproofing and insulating the house, and move onto the smaller tasks, such as decorating the front and the back garden or painting the exterior, so you can move in as soon as possible.

May Contain Affiliate Links

Once you start your own business, set up a new side hustle, or launch a career as a freelancer, you will find that you become heavily reliant on your laptop. It will be the main tool that you use for work; without it, there would be no way of making any money!

So, as you can probably tell, any downtime due to issues and problems with your laptops can prove to be very expensive for you. Not only will you need to probably pay an IT professional to take a look at your laptop and try to fix it, but it will also mean that you will be out of action for a period of time. No work means no money, so you could see your income damaged by all this downtime.

If you are worried about the potential damage that downtime could cause to your income, you might want to make a note of these ways you can try and minimize it.

Image Source

Get The Laptop Insured

It’s super important to insure your laptop. That way, you should receive a payout if the machine ever gets damaged or breaks in an accident. There are lots of companies that will insure your laptop, but it’s worth checking your home’s content insurance before you take out a new company as some content insurance will also cover laptops.

Save So You Can Always Afford A Replacement

There will be some cases in which your insurer refuses to payout to replace or fix your broken laptop. So, just to be on the safe side, it’s worth saving up so that you always have enough money in the bank to buy a replacement laptop as soon as you need one.

Keep An Old Laptop Handy

When you do come to replace your laptop, don’t be so hasty as to throw it out! If there is still some life in it, it is worth keeping it as a spare. You can then dig it out of your cupboard and start to work on it if your newer model starts to display some issues or gets accidently damaged. The old laptop may not be perfect, but it will help you continue to make some money as long as it is still usable.

Find An IT Support Firm

It’s always a good idea to find some outsourced IT support services so that you know who to call as soon as you notice some problems with your laptop. Most of these types of firms will have a helpline that you can call and then speak to someone who can help you get your laptop up and running again. If that doesn’t work, they should be able to send someone out to take a look at your machine.

Get Things Checked As Soon As Possible

Don’t delay if you do notice an issue with your laptop. If you do wait too long, the problem could develop to the point where it is unfix-able. So, get it checked in the early stages when the issue should be cheap and easy to fix.

Hopefully, you don’t need to worry about downtime again!

May Contain Affiliate Links

Think of a skill you really want to master. Imagine how you’ll feel when you get it down. What will you be able to do? What direction could life take you in? How happy would you feel? Imagine if you could feel that way in a matter of months. Wanting to develop as a person is great, but actually taking the steps to learn new skills and things is a must – you aren’t going to wish them into existence. The time will pass anyway, so you may as well start working on that skill right now!

Here are some pointers you can use to master any skill in a master of months:

Come Up With A Solid Plan

First of all, you need a solid plan. What do you think you need to do to begin mastering this skill? How will you get started? It doesn’t have to be too detailed, but you should write it down. Do some research if possible on the resources out there that can help you to get to where you want to be.

Break It Down Into Baby Steps

The skill may seem overwhelming at first, which is why you should break it down into baby steps. Rather than looking at it as one big task that you have to master, instead, look at it as lots of smaller tasks. This should make it appear more manageable to you. Providing you work your way through the steps each day, you will quickly begin learning the skill you’ve wanted to master for so long.

image

Start Teaching Yourself

You don’t need to go and pay for a class or take a course. You can start teaching yourself the skill. There are sites like YouTube that offer free instructional videos, and you can even find free courses online to help you. Sites like Easyukulelesongs.com are designed to give people free resources so they can teach themselves things themselves. Remember; start small! If it’s an instrument you want to play, work on mastering one chord or note for a week. Just one. Easy!

Get Lessons Or A Mentor

When you feel like you’re struggling to progress on your own, get lessons or a mentor. There are plenty out there, so make sure you do your research and find one that’s well suited to you. Some will offer free sessions!

Practice Every Single Day

You need to practice every single day, especially if you want to master a skill in a few months. Do it and commit to it, even if it means getting up early or going to bed late.

Know That Your Progress Will Not Be Linear

Don’t be disheartened if you feel like you’ve mastered something one day then lost it the next. Your progress will not be linear. That’s completely normal! However, your progress will improve over time, so just enjoy the journey and do your best.

You can master any skill in a matter of months; you just need to believe that you can do it!

May Contain Affiliate Links

If you are wondering why your website is not making any money, and are thinking about closing your business, you might need to take a step back and identify the most important problems to address them one by one. There are several reasons why your site might not get visitors or customers; from low visibility to poor design. Below you will find a list of the most common causes of no sales and some easy solutions.

Image via PXHere

Low Traffic

If there is an average conversion rate of five percent in your industry, you will need to get twenty people on your sales page to sell something. If it is anything lower than that, you will need more. Therefore, you will have to focus on getting targeted traffic, genuinely interested in what you have to offer. You can make use of various sales techniques, such as paid display ads, guest posts, feature articles, or Facebook advertising to get more people to visit your site.

Lack of Engagement

Even if you manage to get people on your site, they might not find it relevant to them. You have to create a unique web design that will talk your potential customers’ language. Remember that the first thing they will ask is “what is in it for me”. If they don’t get the answers, they will click on the next link and your bounce rate will go up, making it harder for your site to rank high for the relevant search engines.

Not Making the Most of Your Branding and Marketing Channels

Image via Flickr

You might be focusing on one source of traffic, instead of using them all. Multi-channel marketing is a great way of getting people to visit your site and measuring your results from various traffic sources. You might get visitors to one type of content, but there is no sales pitch on the site, and you are missing your chance to advertise your offers. You have to focus on various marketing channels to increase your visitor engagement.

Low Conversion Rates

You might also have a problem with your landing page. If you are directing loads of visitors to the particular page and the conversions are still low, you might want to change some things around and give your site a re-vamp. Either use variations of the headline or the design and do an A-B testing in Google or other services to see what works for your market. If you are using WordPress for your site, you can check out unbounce.com/integrations/wordpress to find an attractive and interactive sales page design that might work better for you.

Lack of Reputation

Chances are that if you have a new business nobody knows about, you will have to build your reputation before you can get higher conversions. Ask your customers to write ratings and reviews, share your page, and submit testimonials to help you build your credibility in the marketplace.

Not every website set up will make money. You sometimes need to take a step back and analyze performance issues to address them effectively.

May Contain Affiliate Links

Nobody sets out in business with the mindset to fail, yet that is exactly what is happening to many small and large businesses today. Whether it’s the refusal to leverage modern technologies or failing to keep up with the modern consumer, many business leaders are having to shut the doors of their operation for good. This frightening reality needs to be a wakeup call to any of us who are currently running a business today.

What about you and your business? Hopefully, you will be seeing success and raking in the profits as a result. On the other hand, there may be factors that are preventing you from seeing the fruit of your labours. If this is the case, what is holding your business back? The truth may lie in some of the following examples.

(image)

Nobody sets out in business with the mindset to fail, yet that is exactly what is happening to many small and large businesses today. Whether it’s the refusal to leverage modern technologies or failing to keep up with the modern consumer, many business leaders are having to shut the doors of their operation for good. This frightening reality needs to be a wakeup call to any of us who are currently running a business today.

What about you and your business? Hopefully, you will be seeing success and raking in the profits as a result. On the other hand, there may be factors that are preventing you from seeing the fruit of your labours. If this is the case, what is holding your business back? The truth may lie in some of the following examples.

You are not utilizing modern technology

What once was science-fiction has now become a reality. We are living in a world where modern technology is to be welcomed rather than feared. From the advances in cloud technology to increase productivity to the rise of blockchain and bitcoin to revolutionize commerce, we either play catch-up or fall behind our business rivals if we resist these latest technologies. To keep up with the latest trends, research is key. Where do we find the information we need? For starters, you should…

• a) Stay abreast of the world’s media to learn of the latest inventions that could impact your business. This means following news websites, as well as those sites that specifically cover the advances in tech. Take Cnet.com for example.
• b) Keep an eye on how your industry is utilizing tech, speaking to the appropriate people and recognizing services that can help you. Those in the real-estate industry, as an example, should consider the services provided by Ihtcoin.com when it comes to blockchain. You should also attend the latest industry events, such as conferences and workshops, to catch up with developments.
• c) Speak to people you know, be they staff members or industry leaders, who may be more ‘in the know’ about the latest developments than you are.

3. Your website is letting you down

As we have already discussed on theshakerofsalt.com, your website may be long overdue for a revamp. There may be particular aspects of your website that are off-putting for customers, and you may not be using your site to its full advantage. For example:

• a) Your website may be poorly designed, with an unappealing interface that repels rather than attracts your customers. There may be too many pop-ups for starters, or it may be difficult to navigate, leaving your customers lost and confused when they are trying to see what you have to offer. It’s a good idea to hire a web designer if you struggle with the aesthetic and practicality side of things when creating a website.
• b) Your website may not be optimized for SEO, meaning you are losing the potential to appear higher on search engine rankings. Quicksprout.com has an excellent article for those of you looking for ways to improve your web presence.

• c) Your website is not as functional as it could be, missing a range of features that can aid both you and your customer. Call-to-action buttons, social media integration, and an online chat feature are just some of the additions you should consider including on your website.

You are the problem

(image)

Unfortunately, this is often the case for businesses. While you would much rather attribute blame to any business failings elsewhere, there are times when you need to have a long, hard look at yourself to consider if it is indeed you holding your business back from success. By this, we mean…

• a) You are not managing your team effectively. You may be micromanaging them for a start, breeding resentment and disrespect in your faithful employees. Not only will their productivity take a backseat as a result, but so will yours as you spend too much time focusing on areas in the workplace that don’t adhere to your job description. You may also be struggling to deal with specific problems within your team. Sandler.com have a comprehensive overview on how you should be managing your team, helping you become a more effective manager.

• b) As a business leader, you have developed too much of an ego. Rather than improve yourself with training and extra qualifications, you are relying too much on your so-called strengths and your possibly outdated or misinformed ways of running things.
• c) You are doing way too much, burning yourself out and running yourself into a state of exhaustion. If you have a team of people, you probably need to learn the art of delegation. If there are areas you are weak in, you should use your team or outsource to others who can manage some of these tasks better than you. You aren’t superhuman, and you may need to accept that fact.

• d) As a counter to the above, you may be doing too little. We aren’t calling you lazy, but there may be ways your business could improve if you only put in a little (or a lot) more effort into making things work. This is especially true when it comes to your marketing attempts, which should never slacken, no matter how many sales you are making on a weekly basis.

4. Your customers don’t like you

You shouldn’t take this too personally, but there are reasons why they may not be falling head over heels in love with your business. We have already mentioned one reason why (your website), but there could be others. As examples:

• a) Your business rivals have more to offer the customer. Their products may be cheaper, they may have better offers, and their overall level of service may out surpass yours. Find out what your rivals are up to, plan on beating them to the punch, and win back those customers who had previously jumped ship over to your rivals.

• b) You aren’t keeping in touch with the modern consumer, be that with the product you are offering, or with the services you are supplying. Going back to the issues we mentioned earlier, you do need to stay with the times, such as using the technological processes highlighted on cocapterra.com to improve your customer service.

Finally

If your business is struggling, don’t ignore the issues we mentioned. A few tweaks here and there may actually bolster your operations, or a rethink of your business plan may be in order to revamp the way you are operating and managing your business. Let us know if you have any other useful suggestions. We wish you every success as you move forward with your business.

May Contain Affiliate Links

People often treat entrepreneurship like a hidden natural talent that someone is either born with or not. They think that famous entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg and Warren Buffett are born with this natural talent and ability to make money and generate new ideas, or they think that they were born into the right circumstances and were lucky enough that their ideas were picked up and made them billions.

But the truth is far from that. It’s a very human thing to do–blaming others comes naturally, and making excuses for our own failures can happen all too easily. However, once the anger and denial settle, you’ll find that it’s probably your own fault that you’re not a successful entrepreneur.

Image Credit

Why is it so hard to become successful?

Let’s not beat around the bush here; becoming a successful entrepreneur does require a bit of luck in addition to personal skill. Being born into a wealthy family obviously improves your chances of having a successful business. You’re more likely to have contacts when you’re born into wealth, and you’ll have more savings that you can invest into business ideas to help you grow your wealth.

However, if you’re just starting from scratch (much like John Paul DeJoria, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak) then there are a couple of considerations to think about in regards to your success.

• Successful entrepreneurs don’t know failure. They see their misfortunes as opportunities to learn and gain knowledge instead of being setbacks. Learn to embrace your failures and learn from them. Understand why you failed and what you can do to solve the problem in the future.
• Entrepreneurs that have a sense of purpose are usually always more successful. If you don’t feel like your business has a mission or a sense of belonging, then you’re going to struggle to stay motivated.
• Entrepreneurs that have an open mind are usually more successful. This is because world-class entrepreneurs are more accepting of new ideas. They know that they don’t have all the answers to every problem in the world and that their past experiences have a profound effect on the decisions they make. Other people see the world differently to you, which is why you should always have an open mind and be more accepting of ideas that differ to your own.
• Good entrepreneurs know how to be social. The right amount of talking is required; too little and you’ll find it hard to network and create a list of reliable contacts, and too much and you’ll be seen as annoying to work with and pestering. Utilizing social media is one of the most effective ways to be more social and get in touch with industry figureheads and influencers.
• Entrepreneurs also believe in technology. They believe in hiring software engineers and utilizing IT support companies like ATB Technologies to help them grow their companies. They’re not afraid of adopting new technologies, even if said technology is new and untested. They know that they have to be at the forefront of innovation to stay ahead of the curve, and they accept the risks involved when it comes to trying out new things.

If you feel like you don’t possess some of these qualities, then it’s a good idea to start working on it as a way to solidify your position as an entrepreneur. You’ll be surprised at just how effective these mindset changes can be when it comes to being successful.

However, even if you have the mindset, you’re likely missing another crucial component when it comes to being a successful entrepreneur; knowledge.

Image Credit

Stick to your beliefs as an entrepreneur

Learning is a process that everyone goes through when they want to study something new. For instance, you might decide to dive into a new industry that you’re unfamiliar with. You don’t know the audience very well, you’re not sure who to target and you might not have a clue how to design your products.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with trying to tackle an industry that you have no idea about–that’s why you have consultants and advisors to listen to. You see, an entrepreneur has base principals that they apply to everything. Each entrepreneur is different and the style of leadership that they use can work regardless of the industry. A good example of this is how Amazon treats its employees. Since its massive growth spurt and debut in several new industries over the past few years, Amazon’s employees have gone from cherished workers to disposable assets.

The style of leadership that Jeff Bezos uses is unique to his entrepreneurial goals. Amazon is one of the many companies that doesn’t actually make much money. This is because all of the profits are reinvested back into the company. Bezos is using all of his capital to grow Amazon as a business and take over more industries as it goes. It’s all about dominating the sectors that Amazon is a part of, and there’s little that smaller companies can do to fight against such a behemoth of a company.

This is something that others can learn from Amazon. It’s all about sticking to your ideals and keeping consistent. The knowledge you gain will come in handy as you apply your mantra to everything in your business. For instance, you could have an idea to provide excellent customer support above all else. You might decide to give customers refunds without question, or you could offer them extended warranties that other companies don’t offer. If you follow through with this purpose, then you might discover things along the way that can help you tweak your business so that it’s better for the customers.

For example, you might realize that offering a no-questions-asked refund policy can easily be abused, so you’ll learn from that small failure and apply that to your future ideas. You’ll learn that even if you trust your audience, they will still abuse your services and it could cost you money. Alternatively, you might discover that your audience is surprisingly honest even if you offer them no-hassle refunds, and this could teach you that it’s fine to trust your audience and you should give them the benefit of the doubt more.

In short, always stick to your beliefs and don’t stray from them. The last thing you want to show to your audience or even your employees is that you’re unsure about yourself. You’re in charge of a company and people look to you for advice and direction. If you lose motivation or lose sight of what made you become an entrepreneur in the first place, then it doesn’t inspire loyalty and it will quickly spiral out of control.

Image Credit

Learning as you go as an entrepreneur

Failure is actually one of the best sources of knowledge that you’ll find. If you’re able to fight back the fear of failure then you’ll discover that you can learn a lot from your mistakes. Even mistakes that cost your business a lot of money or bring you to the brink of collapse can teach you a lot about how you run your business and how to improve for the future.

However, learning from failures requires you to actually fail in the first place, but no one aims to fail and everyone wants to ensure that their business can survive instead of purposely throwing it under the bus. The best way to balance this is to follow your beliefs and apply new ideas as you see fit. However, always judge your success based on customer feedback. If your customers are really unhappy about a decision you have made, then scale it back and appeal to their needs. If your audience is demanding innovation and something new from you, then deploy your new ideas and watch their reaction.

You’ll soon discover that analytics and other statistical data is incredibly important to both the growth of your business and also your own knowledge. Analytics can empower your decisions and it will also tell you if a decision you made was good for your business or not. By using this data, you can create a much clearer representation of how your customers see your business, and this can teach you many things about their shopping patterns, their likes and dislikes, and also how to deal with many different situations.

So to conclude, it’s entirely possible to learn as you go and still become a successful entrepreneur. However, learning doesn’t just mean sitting in an office or a school room and learning from someone, and it doesn’t mean studying for years by reading books and blog posts.

Entrepreneurship is a journey and in order to become successful, you need to not fear failure. You need to embrace it and you need to be willing to try new things. By sticking to your company ethos and using sets of data to judge whether your decisions are successful or not, you can greatly improve your abilities and experience to help you develop a more successful career.