In our work coaching successful business leaders, we notice many characteristics they share, and actions they consistently take. Modeling people who are achieving the results you want is a sure-fire way to achieve similar outcomes!

Based on our observations, here are five of our top tips for business success:

  

No, not literally, but as Brian Tracy explains in Eat That Frog: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done In Less Time, we all have a limited amount of time in which to get our work done. Whether your work week is 15 hours or 65 hours, there are important tasks that take up large ‘chunks’ of time and mental energy.

The trick to productivity is to tackle your frog – your most difficult task, and the one you are most likely to procrastinate on – at the start of each day. This allows for greater productivity on less important matters later on, when energy and time reserves may be low.

 

Sure, some things happen fast. But real growth and improvement takes time. Building a business from the ground up? Successful people know that it takes five to seven years to get consolidation. Want to become wealthy? They believe in getting rich slow … with sound investments over time, not risky ventures. As many financial advisors will tell you, it’s time in the market rather than timing the market that will get you results. Successful people know that it’s worth taking time to research, and to do things right the first time. They are also willing to put in the work and effort required to get the results they want. They know that success is not a straight line to the top, but a mix of dips, sideways slips, troughs, and trajectories!

Mistakes … we all make them! And it could be argued that the most successful people we know have made some of the most, or biggest mistakes. Truly successful people learn the lesson from every experience they have. They repeat what works well, and when things don’t go as planned they accept it and look for solutions. They don’t dwell on the past and beat themselves up over the consequences of their past actions, nor do they give up after one failed attempt. They apologise when necessary, make amends, and move forward in a different and better direction.

We call it “playing above the line”. Living below the line is playing the victim card … blaming, making excuses, and being in denial. Being above the line is taking responsibility, accountability and ownership of our actions and the results they bring to our lives.

Successful people don’t blame their competition, the weather, the economy, or their ‘lot in life’ for their situation. They control and influence what they can, accept what they can’t, and don’t waste time dwelling on things they have no control over. They recognise that life isn’t always fair, and make the best of every situation they are faced with. Furthermore, they are genuinely happy when other people succeed, knowing that there is no limit to good things in life, and enough for all of us. 

Perhaps most importantly, the most successful people we know are comfortable in their own skin, and happy with who they are. They know they can always improve, but have an in-depth and balanced view of their strengths and areas they can work on. They recognise and appreciate the strengths of others and leverage those for the benefit of their team and their business.

There are many more we could add to the list. What are some traits and actions you’d like to adopt to achieve greater success in your business this year?

 

For further information contact Julianne on (02) 4933 6622

email julianne@yellowcoaching.com.au

or visit www.yellowcoaching.com.au