What Advice Has Stuck With You as a Business Leader?
Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey comes with a myriad of advice, but some pearls of wisdom stand the test of time. We've gathered insights from Founders, CEOs, and other seasoned entrepreneurs to share the fifteen pieces of advice that have significantly shaped their paths. From letting curiosity drive financial growth to learning from mistakes for innovation, explore the fourteen enduring tips that have fueled their success.
- Let Curiosity Drive Financial Growth
- Build Relationships Before Products
- Solve Real Problems for Success
- Prioritize Genuine Relationships Over Sales
- Risk Everything for True Reward
- Invest in Your Team for Success
- Persistence Leads to Success
- Practice What You Preach
- Client-Centric Innovation Drives Growth
- Build Products People Love
- Contradicting the 'Work on Business' Advice
- Be Ready to Pivot When Necessary
- Be Personable for Business Growth
- Persistence Powers Success
- Learn From Mistakes for Innovation
Let Curiosity Drive Financial Growth
Let curiosity lead you, and the money will follow.
This advice has guided my success as a corporate leader as well as my entrepreneurial endeavors. I have found that when I made decisions purely due to a salary or deal number, I wasn't happy. It drained me, and the work was not something I was necessarily proud of.
When I allow curiosity to lead me, it often leads to growth both in my own development and financially. I have found that with curiosity comes passion and a desire to put in the effort and practice to do it well. From there, the money has followed.
Build Relationships Before Products
A mentor once told me, "Build relationships before you build products." This advice resonated deeply because, in the early stages, I focused solely on perfecting our offerings. However, I realized that understanding and connecting with our customers and partners laid the foundation for sustainable growth. This relationship-centric approach taught me that the true value of a business lies in its community.
Solve Real Problems for Success
One piece of advice that has stuck with me since the early days of my entrepreneurial journey is "Focus on solving a real problem." This advice resonated deeply when I was starting My Millennial Guide, as I reflected on my own struggles with student debt and financial literacy.
This principle has been a guiding light in every decision I've made for the business. It reminds me to always put our audience's needs first, creating content and resources that address the genuine financial challenges millennials face. By staying true to this advice, we've been able to build a platform that truly helps people, which in turn has driven our growth and success. It's a constant reminder that entrepreneurship isn't just about making money, but about making a meaningful impact in people's lives.
Prioritize Genuine Relationships Over Sales
One piece of advice I received early in my career as an entrepreneur was to always prioritize building genuine relationships over making quick sales. This wisdom came from a mentor who emphasized that long-term success is rooted in trust and authenticity. Early on, I focused on understanding my clients' needs and providing real value, rather than just pushing my services.
This approach has been invaluable. For instance, when I started SEO Optimizers, I spent significant time educating clients about SEO rather than just selling it. This not only built trust but also turned clients into long-term partners who valued my expertise and referred others. By prioritizing relationships, I've been able to create a sustainable business model based on mutual respect and ongoing collaboration.
Risk Everything for True Reward
Early in my career, a mentor told me, 'If you don’t risk anything, you risk everything.' This advice came to life when I was knee-deep in debt trying to get my direct-to-home dog product service off the ground. The conventional path seemed safer, but I realized that not taking the leap into entrepreneurship would have cost me the life I truly wanted. That risk led to the creation of Dreamstarters Publishing and, later, The Million Dollar Book Agency, changing my life forever. So, whenever I face a tough decision, I remember that playing it safe can be the biggest gamble of all. It's like riding a motorcycle—sure, there's a chance of falling, but staying off the bike means you'll never experience the thrill of the ride.
Invest in Your Team for Success
The best advice I received—and what I follow myself—is investing in my team, as they are the key to our success. I still remember this advice because I strongly believe in a motivated and strong team. Since I first joined the industry, I have worked on hiring the right people, constantly training, and creating a positive work environment to foster a company that truly embodies my vision and enables me to attain optimal results.
As a result, we have raised overall satisfaction and retention levels among employees, increased productivity, and spawned innovation. We organize team tournaments, celebrate individual and collective achievements, and encourage open communication. Today, a well-maintained, empowered team has become our biggest asset. Work is not just a chore but a happy pursuit, making up for leisure time.
Persistence Leads to Success
'Keep on truckin'' was told to me when I was 19 by a much older man whom I respected. It's a simple and corny expression, but it really stuck with me because it encapsulated perfectly the idea of never giving up. That the only thing you are truly in control of is whether you decide to get up every day and keep going. You are only in control of how much you keep going and don't submit to defeat. It's a constant battle every day, but if you 'keep on truckin',' you are bound to make progress and find some form of success simply because you are doing more than the person who stopped 'truckin'.
Practice What You Preach
The piece of advice that has stuck with me is to practice what you preach. When you're leading a team, you'd want them to do as you say and do. If you want them to practice mindful self-care, then you should do that as well. Whether it's meditation or disconnecting on vacation, it's important to be able to show your team that there is a balance to everything. As someone shared with me recently, "You need to fill your cup first before giving again. You can't pour from an empty cup."
Client-Centric Innovation Drives Growth
In the early stages of my career as the founder of a legal process outsourcing company, I was given essential advice that has strongly influenced our approach to prioritize solving genuine problems for our clients. This guidance has significantly shaped our company's stance on innovation and client partnerships.
For example, when contemplating new service offerings, rather than following industry trends, our focus has been on comprehending our clients' challenges and providing customized solutions.
This strategy not only bolstered client confidence but also propelled our expansion through the cultivation of enduring partnerships.
It has taught me the enduring importance of placing customer needs at the forefront, which continues to be a cornerstone of our entrepreneurial journey.
Build Products People Love
One piece of advice that has always resonated with me is, "Focus on building a product that people love, not just one that works." Early on, it’s easy to get caught up in the technical aspects and forget the end user’s experience. This advice shifted my perspective towards user-centric design. At our company, we prioritize user feedback and continuously iterate our products to enhance usability and delight our customers. This focus on creating a product that truly resonates with users has been key to our success, ensuring we not only meet but exceed customer expectations.
Contradicting the 'Work on Business' Advice
The one piece of advice that has stuck with me since I started out as an entrepreneur is, "You need to work *on* your business, not *in* your business." The reason it stuck out to me is because it ended up being advice that was 100% dead wrong. Sure, many entrepreneurs are building products and services that function without them: technology, apps, devices, etc. But as a consultant, my business *is* me. I am selling *my* expertise, my personality, my take on communication.
Following this inaccurate advice, I hired a few other trainers to deliver my materials to organizations. And it utterly failed. The other trainers weren't me. They didn't have my humor, my sarcasm, my entertainment factor. The companies I sent them to never hired me again. Here's the thing about being an entrepreneur: you are going to get a lot of advice. Some of it will be good, and some of it will be bad. You can't really know because everyone who offers you advice thinks they know something that can help you.
But in hindsight, the person who told me that I wasn't essential to my business was dead wrong. I am both the executive and the product. There is no business without me. Now that I understand this, I've been able to leverage my personality and style as central to my brand as a corporate consultant—it's not the same as an influencer, but it's not that different either. The information I am providing as a corporate trainer is already available, but my style of delivery, my connection to professionals, the way I explain content to make it actionable: those are things that can't be or simply aren't repeated by other trainers.
Those are the things that make me both special and successful. For me, there is no difference between working *on* and working *in* because I *am* my business. And that's why I contradict this advice every day.
Be Ready to Pivot When Necessary
One piece of advice I received early in my career as an entrepreneur that has truly stuck with me is, "Be ready to pivot when necessary." This advice has been invaluable in guiding my journey and has significantly shaped the way I lead Rail Trip Strategies.
The essence of this advice is about staying agile and adaptable in the face of change. In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, market conditions, customer needs, and technological advancements are constantly evolving. Early on, I learned that rigidly sticking to a single plan or approach can limit growth and lead to missed opportunities. Instead, embracing flexibility and being open to change can position a business to better navigate uncertainties and capitalize on new trends.
A concrete example of this in action was during the early days of Rail Trip Strategies. Initially, we focused heavily on a specific set of lead-generation services. However, as we closely monitored market trends and customer feedback, we realized there was a growing demand for more comprehensive sales process optimization. Recognizing this shift, we decided to pivot and expand our offerings to include a wider range of sales support services, such as developing unique sales resources and optimizing sales processes.
This pivot required us to quickly adapt our skills, retrain our team, and modify our marketing strategies. While it was a challenging transition, it ultimately paid off. We were able to meet the evolving needs of our clients more effectively, which not only strengthened our relationships with existing clients but also attracted new business.
Staying agile and adaptable has also meant continuously learning and staying curious. We regularly invest in professional development and encourage our team to keep up with industry trends. This mindset ensures that we remain innovative and responsive, allowing us to deliver the best possible solutions to our clients.
This piece of advice—being ready to pivot when necessary—has helped Rail Trip Strategies thrive in a competitive landscape. It reminds me that flexibility and adaptability are key to sustaining long-term success and growth in entrepreneurship. Embracing change has not only kept us relevant but has also allowed us to seize new opportunities as they arise.
Be Personable for Business Growth
The best advice I received was to be personable. This means you have an agreeable or pleasing personality. You are sociable and amiable. Businesses grow based on word-of-mouth. You are an extension of your business. No matter how good your product is, if you are not personable, your business will not grow and flourish. Network in your community and meet as many people as you can.
If you meet a person who does not need your services, they may have a friend who does. Networking is key. People may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel. We always remember people who made us feel good. If you do not have this skill, put your pride aside and get a life coach to help you embrace this attribute. There are restaurants I go to and shops I frequent because I like the experience. I like how I am treated.
People remember their experiences. Be willing to shake hands. Give people eye contact. Give the person you are talking to a compliment. Find a way to make people smile. If you sell paper cups, make sure everyone wants to purchase them from you. A business can literally fail because the person had a great product but is known for being rude. The saying is that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Persistence Powers Success
One piece of advice I got early on that's really stuck with me is to never underestimate the power of persistence. In the industrial and commercial property game, you're going to hit a lot of bumps, but what makes a successful entrepreneur is just keeping at it, no matter what. This advice has been super important for me because it showed me how crucial it is to stay tough and determined. It's helped me get through hard times, keep my eye on the prize, and find success in this competitive field.
Learn From Mistakes for Innovation
A mentor told me, "Don't be afraid to make mistakes; be afraid of not learning from them." This advice has stuck with me because it reframed my perception of failure. I remember launching a product that completely flopped, and instead of dwelling on it, I dissected what went wrong and used those lessons for future projects. It was like finding gold in a mine of mishaps. Embracing mistakes as learning opportunities has allowed me to innovate and grow without the fear of failure holding me back. Plus, it's led to some unexpectedly brilliant ideas and success stories along the way.
