Learning from other people’s mistakes can make a big difference in your professional and personal life, as it will allow you to save time and avoid the negative consequences of making a mistake. Several entrepreneurs say they were very careful not to make these mistakes, which allowed them to stay on the path to success!
Mistake #1: Indulging in laziness
It’s tempting to be lazy and put off until tomorrow what you can do today. But if you want to succeed in your life and obtain satisfactory results, you must be serious and disciplined.
Michael Ovitz, co-founder and former president of Creative Artists Agency and The Walt Disney Company, admits to having been raised by parents who always gave him the freedom to do what he wanted, as long as he worked and followed through on things. He admits: “ I’m probably working too hard, but that’s exactly what you have to do if you want to succeed. »
Mistake #2: Adopting a negative attitude
Barbara Corcoran, founder of the Corcoran Group and investor on the show “Shark Tank,” explains: “When I hire someone for my business or partner with an entrepreneur on ‘Shark Tank,’ I look for one thing and one thing: a positive attitude. »
She was always convinced that she could change someone whose attitude was bad, but, over time, she understood that the only solution available to her to put an end to it was to fire him. Indeed, it only takes one person to be negative in a group of ten happy people to bring down the entire team. In the same way, no one can argue with someone who is cheerful and encouraging.
She finally concluded: “Even in tough times, you need to be able to bounce back and keep a positive attitude, no matter what. »
Mistake #3: Taking too much time before acting
In life, you only need 40-70% information to make a decision and take action. This is the 40/70 rule of Colin Powell, former Chief of Staff of the United States Armed Forces and Secretary of State.
Shaun Rawls, founder and CEO of Rawls Consulting, which has a turnover of more than $4 billion per year, assures that “If you can apply the 40/70 rule, you will succeed in everything you do in life.”
If you constantly need complete certainty in life to take action, you risk missing golden opportunities. So how to fix this? The solution is simple. According to Rawls, you just have to trust your instincts. Effective leadership is a blend of knowledge and experience. Often, your ability to make decisions in the absence of information can be your ultimate value proposition.
Mistake #4: Not smiling
Holly Parker, founder and CEO of The Holly Parker Team at Douglas Elliman, assures that “the power of a smile is underestimated. A warm, genuine smile instantly creates trust, which is the cornerstone of any business transaction. Not only does it add positive energy to your expression, but it also makes you feel approachable.”
In the business world, people often tend to want to work with people they like and feel comfortable with. But we must not fall into the trap of pretending. The secret is to stay authentic and yourself.
Studies have also shown that smiling can make you happier, healthier and more creative. And what’s more, it’s free!
Mistake #5: Focusing on multiple things at once
James Daily, Partner and Founder of Daily Law Group, advises young students to identify what they are passionate about in life and make it their strength and competitive advantage to differentiate themselves from others. Lots of people have a thousand brilliant ideas and find themselves unable to launch one. Instead, they constantly compare themselves to others and quickly become discouraged.
James Daily admits to leaving a company because the founder was more in love with his next idea than the success of his company. While he was dreaming up new prospects for his next idea, he was starving his current business of resources and attention. As a result, all teams lost many opportunities to break through.
Mistake #6: Blindly imitating the most successful people
When there are many potential solutions to a problem, the most tempting is to choose the option that worked for someone else. But the most important thing is to know if it will work for you.
Luke Freiler, CEO and co-founder of Centercode, a company that helps hundreds of technology companies bring dynamic products to market, says “the best leaders do not blindly imitate the most successful people around them. They know that wearing a black turtleneck every day won’t turn them into Steve Jobs. Rather, they examine the components of success and apply them to their own situation.”
Mistake #7: Wanting to control everything
Alon Rajic, CEO of Review Home Warranties, the world’s most comprehensive home warranty site, admits that the secret to achieving your goals is letting go of the common belief that everything must be under control. “Sometimes you just have to accept the reality of a situation, be decisive and spend your time where you can really make a difference. This is the key to success, both in your professional and personal life. »
Mistake #8: Staying in your comfort zone
Building a business or personal brand requires stepping out of your comfort zone and not being afraid to take on a tough opponent.
James Sixsmith, founder and CEO of Trade Context and co-founder of SpeedUpTrader, encourages young people to apply for senior roles, even if they require many years of experience or unattainable qualifications. He announces: “What’s the worst that could happen?” You might get the job and realize you overextended yourself. But that doesn’t mean you can’t jump in and learn. Even if you don’t get the job, you can still say that you made the move and that makes you better than everyone else who stayed in their comfort zone because they were too afraid to fail. »
To read: Should you apply for a position when you don’t have the required experience?
