Entrepreneurs need to become graduates of life.
A few weeks ago I had the great pleasure of addressing graduates from Deakin University, and I felt totally inspired by these young people.
Before speaking I had watched them come to the stage and receive their awards – double degrees, honours degrees – many from distant countries, sent by their families to improve their opportunity in life. As I believe that the issues I spoke about are the qualities we need to succeed in business, here they are.
- Desire, discipline and commitment.
- Be prepared for the unexpected.
- Mix with those on the same journey of success.
- Be open to opportunities and ideas.
- Have a vision and plan to achieve that vision.
- Make sure your plan is flexible and adaptable to changing times.
- Choose a mentor to help you get to your destination.
- Make no excuses:
Remember we all have the same amount of time as Einstein.
- If you believe, you will succeed.
- If you persist, you will get there.
- Be careful what you commit to.
- Be careful about what you fall in love with:
Henry Ford fell in love with cars;
Corey with parties!
- And equally who you fall in love with!!
- The most important personal skill will be your attitude:
Will your cup be half full or half empty?
- Learn to sell your ideas, to persuade others.
- Be prepared to become that thing so loved and yet so derided in our society – a tall poppy (but not at the expense of others).
- Understand that to be trusted you have to be trustworthy.
- Accept that life is a learning journey.
- That failure and loss is part of life -setbacks are an integral part of success.
- It’s not what happens to you, but how you handle what happens.
- Have an attitude of gratitude; for every opportunity, every door that opens, is powerful way to live.
- Take advantage of very opportunity that comes along – even when you don’t think you are up to it, grab it, run with it, and do the very best you can.
- This is your life, your journey:
You will only get one chance at it.
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Marcia’s latest book, High Heeled Success (pictured left), is a frank account of building a business from a solitary sales person to a multi-million dollar business with 4700 sales consultants around Australia and New Zealand. Contact Marcia to purchase. Marcia’s latest venture is skin care company griffin+row.
