Who Wants To Be An Entrepreneur – 12 Qualities Of Success
If you are an entrepreneur ,or want to be, then here is a list of important characteristics to measure yourself against. Anyone can be a successful entrepreneur, it takes hard work, determination and unwavering persistence to name just a few. Here are the essential entrepreneurial qualities that anyone who is interested in great success should work on:
1. Independence. This is the most common denominator. Entrepreneurs want control of their future; and they decide to become their own boss instead of working in a thankless job. They have a strong sense of independence and will keep moving forward with a purpose to accomplish something great and meaningful on his own.
2. Visionary. An entrepreneur has a vision for the future. This vision is for both the short term and the long term great ideas and accomplishments that are next on the horizon. They are always dreaming up new ideas.
3. Persistence. An important quality of a successful entrepreneur is the persistence to continue pursuing a goal despite some setbacks and obstacles that may be encounter along the way. Persistence is demonstrated with action and is then followed up with more action.
4. Determination. Persistence needs a best friend and Continue reading »
Filed under Flagship Posts | Tags: action habits, business success, entrepreneur skills, Helen Rappy, Helen Raptoplous, moving forward | Comments (3)Motivating Yourself
There are things we want to do and things we know we need to do. The only difference is that one may be more fun, but really they both are on our minds and need to be completed. What can you do to create motivation for yourself so you can be more efficient at tending to all the tasks and ideas that need to be accomplished?
I started a list and thought I would share that list with you. These are ideas to help you create your own motivation to get something done.. something that is really important to you.
- Set up a challenge with someone else who has a similar task or goal. Whoever gets it done first is the winner and receives a set ‘prize’ that both agreed upon up front.
- Send an email out to your list (or family and friends / coworkers) that you will be doing ‘set task’ and wanted to share that it would be done and complete by ‘set day’.
- Share your project on your social media sites and declare your accountability. Ask people to check in with you and ask about your progress.
- Set up an ‘escrow account’ with an amount of money you just could not bear to lose and the person who you gave access to that account would get to keep the money if you did not do what you committed to do. (to add to the pain, the money could go to someone you are not too crazy about)
- Make a promise that if you do not accomplish a set task or project that you will have to do something that is far worse then the project you want to complete. Like post a video on youtube about why you didn’t do what you said you would do or wear a sign all day at the mall that says “I don’t keep my promises” (crazy stuff, I know.. but you get the idea I hope)
- If there is something you have been wanting.. like a new CD, book or a laptop computer, make it a reward for yourself. Don’t allow yourself to go get it until you have crossed that goal or task off your master list.
On a personal note, I was very determined to lose some weight and get in shape. I lost 20 pounds in July and was really proud of myself and more so for sticking with the commitment. August is here and almost gone and I have kept up a healthy eating routine but I have completely dropped the exercise ball (no pun intended). I have not worked out nearly as much as I had decided I would.
Motivation is needed! Before, I was motivated just by the fact that I didn’t fit in my clothes anymore and I was always tired. Now, I am back at the task of working and sitting at my desk all day and not making the time I need to go work out. So here is what I am doing to motivate myself. I told my husband that I will work out for a minimum of 30 minutes every single day for the next 14 days (that is when I leave for a business trip to Atlanta). and that if I miss even one day then I can’t go.. that I will cancel my trip. I want to go more then anything in the world and have already paid for the non-refundable tickets. Am I motivated? You bet!!
What do you need or want to do? What can you do to increase your motivation? (Leaving a comment on a blog post about what you will do counts as accountability… just saying!)
Filed under Action Habits | Tags: Helen Rappy, Helen Raptoplous, Motivating yourself, moving forward, taking action | Comments (3)Productivity From Idea To Project
Your business needs a step by step action plan for each new project that you’d like to implement. Don’t get buried by your ideas to the point that you do nothing. Put a plan together and then take action on each new project at the most opportune time. What would that even look like? Here is an example that will help you organize the information, ideas and overwhelm as it comes up.
Buy a deck of 3×5 cards and also a card file box (or just a decorative box). Each time you learn something new that you’d like to implement or you get a great idea that you think will really move your business forward you should write down the name of the idea, the date and as much detail as you can think of in the moment. The process of writing it down will do wonders for your clarity. You’ll be able to capture the idea before you lose it and you’ll be able to continue with the current project until it is complete.
Depending on your planning time (each week, each month or each quarter), you’ll be able to look through your box of ideas that you’d like to implement and pick out the next one or two that will fit perfectly with the direction you want your business to go. The key is to work on one project at a time until you can get it out there and available to everyone who could benefit. A business with a half dozen good ideas that never made it over the finish line will only drag you, your energy and your business into a big dark hole!
What productivity plan do you have set up for your business over the next 30 days?
Filed under Action Habits | Tags: business ideas, Helen Raptoplous, HelenRappy, moving forward, step by step action | Comments (4)Got Challenge?
A challenge is great for moving yourself forward! Today is the last day of a 30 day blogging challenge that I have been participating in. The goal was 30 blog posts in 30 days. A great challenge to either start a blog or to add a surplus of posts to an existing blog and reeve up the life and energy of it. The additional benefits for this particular challenge were the great relationships that have been building.
The support and encouragement of a group challenge is outstanding and can really be the motivation you need to accomplish a new objective or create a habit that will be better for your life and for your business. I highly recommend the idea of a challenge to take action on something you have been meaning to get to, but just haven’t found the time for. You will never just find extra time.. you have to make the time!
Another idea outside of getting involved in a group challenge is to just challenge yourself. Set up rewards for sticking with it and set a goal for something you want to accomplish and challenge yourself to make it happen! If you need to share your challenge in order to keep you moving forward find a friend or someone you know online and ask them if they’d like to join you in a mini challenge.
Great challenge ideas:
- 100 connection in 10 days. 10 calls everyday to keep in touch with clients and associates
- 7 day kick start get healthy and fit. 7 day to get fitness minded. 7 days only fruits, veggies & whole grain (no junk!) and 7 days of 30 minute exercise (every single day)
- 30 days to accomplish an outrageous goal. Every day for 30 days take at least 1 action step toward your grand objective
- Around the world blog challenge. Within 90 days post on 9 other blogs.
- Product creation challenge. Who can create the most products in 60 days
- Action Habits Challenge (stay tuned for details.. I am working to create this one!)
And, I am sure you can think of many more! Challenges are great fun and really work great to inspire and motivate us to accomplish more or to work harder then we might otherwise. What challenge will you do next and who will you ask to join you? Think big and go make it happen!! You can do it!
Filed under Action Habits | Tags: action habits, blog challenge, challenges, Helen Raptoplous, HelenRappy, moving forward | Comments (2)Breaking Habits That Don’t Serve Your Success
It is no one’s favorite subject but we all have habits that are not serving us or our success. You’re not alone in not loving the subject and you are not alone in having habits that need to be broken. It can be very empowering to take a look at those habits and decide to do a makeover on our habits.
You will want to be willing to ask yourself the tough questions of what bad habits do you have that you need to work on. It is a great idea as well to call upon some friends or associates for feedback. Make a list for yourself of things that come to mind and then be brave enough to call up at least 3 friends and ask them to help you with your list – assure them that you really want their trusted feedback and that there will be no hurt feelings. By now you might be feeling pretty bad about yourself, but don’t. This is an incredible opportunity to make some improvements for yourself and for your business. By doing this exercise you’ll be in the top 10% of successful go-getters.
Take a look at your list and decide on 3 habits to focus on for the next 30 days and set out to make small changes that will support you to break your un-serving and bad habits.
The fact that you are willing to look at the habits you need to change and then implementing a plan to change them says a lot about the success that lies ahead for you and will greatly build your confidence one good habit at a time.
What will you do to hold yourself accountable to the changes you’d like to make?
