Top tips for business success!

Everybody aims for success, whether that be in work or life (or both). There have been countless books written on the topic, and whilst everybody is different and their goals unique, there are common themes that occur in the pursuit of business success. Here, we highlight 18 top pieces of advice for businesses big and small.

This may seem like an obvious point to make, but it is probably the most important. Although planning and preparation are essential, you will not get closer to your business goals if you don’t start. Successful people do not hesitate. They understand the power of action and don’t allow themselves to lose momentum.

Triumphant people are idealists. They focus on the positives in their plan and are confident in their abilities. But this doesn’t mean that they’re fantasists. They understand that a positive mental attitude is more productive than a negative outlook.

Write down concrete and achievable goals and set deadlines. Clearly explained objectives will help you to stay focussed and achieve tasks by a predetermined date.

In other words, take action! If you have data or information, act on it. Don’t wait around for answers that might never come. People who endlessly question what they know and who want to wait for more evidence tend to miss valuable opportunities. Sure, you might get it wrong sometimes, but that’s ok. Change, adapt and make new decisions. At least you took action!

Success takes time and those stories of overnight success often neglect to tell you about the countless failures that lead to that ‘eureka moment’. Approach each task one step at a time while keeping your final goal in mind.

Sometimes, we can become intimidated by the tasks that lie ahead. They seem immense and unachievable. But they are all made up of small jobs that are totally within your ability to complete. Everyone gets nervous about the future, but you will be one step closer to your goal each time you tick a job off your list.

Be a role model to those who work with you. Rather than force your knowledge or experience on others, demonstrate professional and motivational workplace practices. Listen and learn from those around you but also be firm in your decisions. Always remember that successful leadership can motivate and inspire those around you and lead to fantastic achievements.

After making and acting on a decision, something might happen that causes you to question yourself. Don’t quit the moment a challenge occurs. Sometimes you have to ride the rough path in business. Keep your goal in mind. Remind yourself why you made that decision and try to stick to it.

Business tycoon Warren Buffet offers this advice to small businesses. To him, satisfying customer needs isn’t enough. You have to go above and beyond. He says that no company ever fails that is wholly dedicated to delivering excellence to its customers.

Again, this seems like an obvious point, but in a world of online gurus promising huge pay cheques with minimal input, it is worth stressing. You will never be satisfied from putting in a small amount of effort. If you commit to each task, no matter how small, then you will go to bed each night feeling happy about your accomplishments.

Can you explain what your business does in one sentence? If not, then it may mean that you have an unclear business model. A clear description of your business helps provide you with direction. And it also helps others understand and engage with you.

Find people who share your passion and dedication to the business. Skills can be taught but enthusiasm cannot. When you interview people, ask why they want to work with you. If the candidate shares your vision, then that makes working together far easier. Even if they lack specific skills, that shouldn’t matter in the long run. This leads us to our next point…

Training is an excellent way to build a team with the skills you need. It also solidifies your employees’ loyalty to the business. Of course, you will want to hire people with relevant skills and experience for your business but if particular skills are lacking then they can be taught.

Building upon your existing skills and knowledge could help take your business to the next level. Vocational courses such as certificates and diplomas could modify your way of thinking, build your confidence and help you make new business connections. Central Australian College offers several business and marketing courses that help company owners and entrepreneurs expand their horizons.

Listen to those who have experience and have been through what you have. However, you don’t need to take everybody’s advice on board. Nobody’s business is exactly like yours and nobody’s background is the same. You know your business better than anybody else, so trust your instincts and take action on what feels right to you.

Starting or growing a business can be like stepping into the unknown. No matter how much research or preparation you have done, you can’t be sure whether it will pay off. That is where bravery comes in. Don’t shy away from the task. Embrace the challenge and give it everything you’ve got. If you never try, then you’ll never know. And if you do experience a failure, your ability to keep going will prove your bravery in the face of adversity.

To successfully run a business, you have to keep your finances in mind. Thorough monitoring of the financial situation will allow a company to see how they are performing against their targets and make changes where needed. It is crucial to have a well-managed budget that identifies available capital, regulates expenditure and accurately predicts profits.

The Diploma of Leadership and Management at CAC addresses how to manage budgets and financial plans.

No matter how big or small your business, technology can help. Don’t shy away from social media, digital ads, email marketing and websites – they have proven their worth time and again. Creating websites and social media accounts can be cheap (or free), and you can operate tools like Google Ads with a small budget.

By engaging with digital technology, you will stay relevant and reach new audiences that you never previously imagined.

From Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to Apple’s Steve Jobs, some of the world’s most outstanding entrepreneurs list passion as an essential tool for success. Steve Jobs says that without passion, any rational person will give up the moment things become challenging. Your passion will drive you to weather the storm and stay true to your vision.