To Be a Successful Entrepreneur

…you have to channel your inner toddler.

I’ve read books, I’ve talked to successful entrepreneurs, I have built a solid network of businesspeople  – great people that I trust, people who are willing to guide and teach and share their vast experience.

I have spent wasted hours upon hours on blogs and in book stores trying to find that blinding light, the switch to flip in my mind, that perfect formula of x + y – z to equal my success. And all along, I have had the template right in from of me, but I was too snot-covered sleep-deprived busy to notice.

She just turned 4, and yet my little girl has figured out everything an entrepreneur needs to make sense of their world, reach new levels of success, and find happiness along the way.

Strategies for Success: A Toddler’s Guide

Don’t take “no” for an answer.

At least not the first time, or the second, or probably not the tenth. If it’s really really important to you, you can probably hold out longer than they can. Eventually, people cave. And if you’re adorable, they’ll cave and still think you’re the cat’s pyjamas.

A little delusion goes a long way.

You need to be the centre of your universe to be a successful entrepreneur (at least during your working life…which, let’s be honest, is pretty much your entire life.) You have to believe that you are going to succeed where countless others have failed, and you have to believe that every risk you take for yourself, your company, and your family is going to pay off. You have to believe that “no” means “not yet” and that “impossible” means “no one’s tried hard enough.” Otherwise you are destined to a life of spinning your wheels in the muck of self-doubt, safety, and mediocrity. Know you’re the sh*t, embrace that you’re the sh*t, advertise the fact that you’re the sh*t, and be as you as you can be.

Sleep is important.

I’m on a bit of a sleep journey right now (no, not just because this sinus infection has me popping NyQuil like candy after the kids go to bed) and I’ll probably have more to say about this in a few weeks. One thing I’m sure won’t change is that when I’m fried, my work suffers. Being an entrepreneur means being disciplined in how you spend your time – ALL of your time. And that includes deciding to get sufficient sleep (whatever that magic number is for you. I’m good with 6 hours, but YMMV.)

Scheduling is your friend.

So you’re your own boss, you set your own schedules. Awesome! But you’re always trying to pull things out at the last minute, forgetting little details here and there, and getting to the end of the day before you get to the end of your to-do list? Not so awesome. Scheduling is as vital for me as it is for my kids. You wouldn’t schedule a wild birthday party for twelve 4 year olds at 7pm, would you? (If yes, know what I and all the other mothers around actually wish you harm.) Everyone needs routine to help automate certain tasks. Beyond that, know your Circadian rhythms. I know that I am never going to function at peak efficiency between 2-4pm. That’s just not me. I’m a morning person and a night owl – but not much of an afternooner. I set up my schedule accordingly: tasks that are routine and take a little bit of research are best for early morning, tasks that need more concentration are best in the mid morning, tasks that need my full creativity are best done at night. New client meetings can be anytime – adrenaline takes care of the afternoon blahs; but for status meetings where I need to be 100% focused I try to stay away from my zombie hours.

Boredom is your enemy.

If I’ve been working on a given project for too long, I have discovered that it’s better for everyone involved for me to walk away – sometimes physically – for an hour or so. Watch what happens when you leave a bored toddler alone in a room with equipment/clothing/etc. They will ruin it, pee on it, set it on fire, anything to make it different. And that’s fine…as long as it wasn’t expensive, valuable, or NOT YOURS. Breaking up your day, giving yourself the time to refocus, to generate new ideas, or just change your mental scenery is essential – there are no medals for “Person Who Stared at a Screen Until They Wanted to Smash It into Bits and Got Nothing Accomplished the Longest.” Seriously, just walk away for 10 minutes. It will save you hours of wasted time, pounds of frustration, and glasses of wine.

Always, ALWAYS ask “Why?”

The “what” will take care of itself. You will try to tweak and modify and improve and perfect your product or your service every day for the rest of the time you are in your business. This is just part of what we do. But how do we know what to change, how to make it better, how to land that client that rejected us, how to get bigger and better and more badass? We need to know the “why.” Why did that client not choose you? Are they just an idiot? (Answer: probably, you’re pretty awesome.) Why has your field taken a stance that you think will set you back 50 years? Why aren’t you getting new clients when old clients are happy with your product? Why can’t your employee understand the very simple instruction you’re giving them? Why do you need a website? (Yes, that was a shameless plug. My blog, my choice.) The why gives you the direction to make the smartest decisions about the what.

When in doubt – dance party!

You feeling down? Did you just eat candy until you puked? Are people just not listening to you today, no matter HOW LOUDLY YOU SCREAM? Then, you, my friend, are ready for a dance party of epic proportions. Exercise has a gazillion benefits, both physical and mental. Movement to music is proven to enhance mood, creativity, and energy levels. Plus, you’re at work and you get to decide what you’re going to do right now. Isn’t that why we all became entrepreneurs in the first place?

Getting exactly what you want does not always make you happy.

There will come a time when you achieve everything you have ever wanted. You will have a growing, profitable company with happy employees and a positive outlook. And you will be bored silly. There will be no more challenge, or at least, not one you’re willing to invest in here anymore. The risk will look less risky, and, like everything else in life (except love, because love is ALWAYS bright and shiny) the bloom will be off the rose. It will be time to move on. Find a new obsession, a new love, or maybe take this one is a completely new direction. Because entrepreneurs don’t work for companies. They build them. And, like parenting, there will come a time when you have to let go and let your little creation stand on its own, be guided by others, and you will simply stand back and admire what you created.

And finally…

Even if you can do it all by yourself, it’s way more fun to travel the entrepreneurial road with trusted friends.