Five Important Actions On Your Journey To Business Success

Though I started a multimillion-dollar marketing company and have a lot of experience as an entrepreneur, I was once almost a high school dropout. Making all the wrong decisions and going nowhere at an alarming speed, I was seemingly heading for disaster. When I look back at that reckless 17-year-old, I think about what has changed in the decade since then and how I might be able to help others going through a similar battle. 

The truth is, I’ve learned that some success principles are universal while others are somewhat circumstantial. For that reason, it’s challenging to identify the be-all and end-all business tips for success, but I have done my best to compile five essential pointers that made all the difference in my journey from failure to fortune. 

1. Find A Vision 

During my senior year in high school, after another troubling expulsion and during a heated lecture from my principal, I finally asked myself two quintessential questions. The first was, “Where will my current choices lead me?” and the second was, “What kind of future do I really want to have?” My answer to the latter question brought incredible clarity into my life; I wanted to be a successful businessman.

This path, though seemingly impossible at the time, led me to make different choices, work hard in school and try to do my best. Without that initial goal, I’m not sure where I’d be today. Thus, the first lesson I learned is the value of finding a vision. If you don’t have something to work toward, you’re less likely to work at all.

2. Overcome Instant Gratification 

When I think about how I was living my life before I caught the vision, I realize I made several choices based on what I now deem to be the enemy of productivity: instant gratification. Instant gratification kills productivity because, 80% of the time, you won’t feel like being productive. If you want to be successful in business and life, you have to learn how to do things you don’t necessarily want to do — and I’m not just talking about getting outside your comfort zone. You may prefer watching TV over engaging in a networking event, but I encourage you to ask yourself which choice will contribute to, lead to or develop your vision more. As you overcome those instantaneous desires and focus on your goals, you’ll find yourself growing in ways you never thought possible.  

3. Never Lose Sight Of What You Love

Not giving into every base desire does not mean you should completely forfeit everything you love. In my experience, having hobbies outside of my vision has kept me sane and helped me regain focus when the strain of building my empire becomes overwhelming. I love to be outdoors. I love to spend time with my family. I love to take time to refuel. I believe that a balanced life requires you to take care of four primary aspects of your life: health, spirit, relationships and work. 

If you are an entrepreneur, taking care of work probably comes naturally to you. But when you’ve caught the vision, remembering to make time for health, spirit and relationships is sometimes a challenge. So, yes, get outside your comfort zone, but not just in a business sense. Take the time to learn how to eat right and exercise often. Take care of your mental health. Try meditation, prayer, yoga, fasting — anything that keeps your spirit in tune with your body. And love: love your team, love your friends and, most importantly, love your family. The relationships in your life can serve as fuel for motivation to achieve your goals.   

4. Never Stop Serving

If you are fortunate enough to be successful (meaning you’ve worked long enough and hard enough toward your vision to see results), I believe you have a responsibility to give back. Serving others keeps you humble, grounded and focused on the most important things in life. While kindness is something I value as an individual, it’s also good business sense. If you want to attract new clients, make new connections or turn over a new leaf in your business, generosity is a great place to start. 

This concept is multidimensional. In addition to helping communities and causes, serving your team is also essential. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about leadership, it’s the importance of keeping yourself on their level. Always remember: A happy team is a productive team.

5. Keep The Dream Alive

How do you know if you’ve “arrived?” In my opinion, there is no such thing. Whether your business is related to marketing, research or healthcare, there’s always more room to grow, more clients to serve, more goals to set. Expand your vision and don’t be afraid to set goals that scare you. Some successful businesses stop growing because they’ve reached a limit. The only solution to this problem is to get a bigger dream. Your company has spread across your city. What’s next? The state? The country? North America? The world? You decide. 

One of the things I love most about entrepreneurs, visionaries and successful business moguls is that they are entirely future-focused. Nobody seems to care about where you’ve been, only about where you’re heading. While this prospect excites and exhilarates me, taking time to look back on my years as an almost high school dropout provides me with clarity, perspective and a framework from which to build a life as the man and business owner I want to be. My final lesson is this: Never be too focused on the future that you forget about the past.