Business Changing

Profit and Growth Specialist

How to be successful in business

by Leave a Comment

(As published in the Sunday Star Times, September 27, 2104: www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/10548755/Success-comes-from-work-and-planning)

 

It is really interesting (obvious but worth stating) that all the supposed “great” human beings that have existed have had the same amount of time in a day and a year as you and I. So why were they able to achieve some really great things? They identified what was really important to them – their purpose – and then they did something about it. So many of us sit on our hands and life passes us by and we are left with regrets that we did not do what we knew and felt we should have done. We are left telling our friends and families in the future that we should have, could have, would have – but didn’t. We missed the opportunity to be something great. Why? Because we are not brave enough to get started is probably the main reason.

 

I hate to quote an ad campaign, but Spark is right – sometimes you just need to get started. I’m all for people and businesses to daydream a little bit, musing about what their best self could be. I think it’s important regularly to wonder what you could be at your full potential. Who your customers could be? What NZ could be? What life would look like if all these things aligned? Thinking like this, on a daily basis, is really life changing. But, like the advert says, you just need to get started.

 

So how do you know what direction to get started on? Follow your gut feeling – it’s your best compass around. In my experience (and that of my business coaching clients), your gut never lies and it never stops working. So if you’ve had a thought at the back of your mind for years about something you should do, take time to truly consider doing it – listen to your gut instinct.

 

For many people, their fear of starting comes from their fear of failure. They worry about not succeeding at what they set out to do. How do you get around this? Have a realistic think about what obstacles might stand in your way to achieving that goal. Now get a game plan in place to overcome those obstacles. I know not every obstacle is solvable, however every success story (unless you won lotto or have some extreme luck) in the history of business was pretty much achieved through hard work and perseverance. Most successful people and businesses experience knockback after knockback but it’s how you recover from these setbacks that defines you and your course of success. Get knocked down eight times, get back up nine. (If you’re getting knocked down 100 times, I suggest you rethink and change tack with what you’re doing and go in a new direction.)

 

For some, the day to day to-do list keeps them too busy to even dream or think big picture. It holds them back from thinking of what they could truly be good at. If this is you, take time out to smell the roses. Go and sit by yourself somewhere, phone off, and think in terms of what you should and could be doing differently that would make you both happier and hopefully more successful too. Then give more than five minutes thought to what the gap is between the end successful picture and where you are at today. Work out the (many) steps that you need to take to get there.

 

As we all know, Rome was not built in a day and neither is business (or personal) success. As long as you are doing something weekly about getting to where you need to get to and you consistently think about how to get around the obstacles that will be thrown your way, you are likely to be on the right track. I have found with my clients that getting better and better is not really that hard – it’s just about getting into the process of constant improvement and recognising that not everything is rosy and can be improved. Facing reality, thinking of greatness and what you could be, and then doing something about moving closer to that state is what will make you the success you want to be.

 

So what are you going to start doing? Today!

 

Zac de Silva is a business coach, speaker and director with many award winning clients. For business coaching or consulting, please contact him on zac@businesschanging.com or www.businesschanging.com

 

 

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • "Zac has also become a key enabler and contributor to us working towards the development of both our employee engagement and customer experience roadmaps. Kotahi is a new and fast-paced environment and it has been great to have Zac as a trusted advisor to both myself and the CEO. He has a no-nonsense and solid experience-based approach to his consulting style. I have enjoyed working with Zac and look forward to continuing on our engagement journey with the support of Business Changing”
    Jay Padden, HR General Manager, Kotahi
  • "Zac is incredibly insightful, inspiring and has been absolutely vital in contributing to the growth of my business. He's made me think beyond my goals and really given me the push my business has strived for."
    Bex Riley, Tosca Salome
  • "Great two-day workshop that gives you a chance to reflect on your business, and focus on key points that need to be addressed to maximize your effectiveness and outcomes. The workshop was both entertaining and informative and really helped us to think about how we might navigate Covid / post-Covid, and plan out our next few years to guide the direction of the business. Food and hospitality was also great. Highly recommended!"
    Nelson Raynor, Isle of Eden
  • "Transformational… Revolutionary… Awesome… Take your pick! Our business looks nothing like it did just three months ago – our brand is visible in the market, there’s a buzz about what we are doing, doors are opening and our heads are in the game. Business Changing changes business for the better… I’m very very thankful we met – my only regret is that we didn’t seek you out sooner!"
    Nick Brown, Huffman Sauces
  • "The business planning workshop run by Zac is a great opportunity to challenge existing thinking in your business and take results to the next level. The workshop was well thought out and provided a structured environment to channel ideas and ambitions. Zac has the perfect presenting style allowing for plenty of interaction amongst your team and networking with other business from a variety of backgrounds. Highly recommended"
    Gray Borell, Novii
  • "Zac has given myself and the business a real sense of clarity, and a better sense of day-to-day achievement for myself and the team. Zac’s ability to ask questions that are relative and beneficial have helped me grow the business and my self-awareness and create a more enjoyable workplace. Give Zac an inch and he’ll take you a mile!”
    Mathew Phelan, New World Churton Park
  • "Zac’s business workshop totally exceeded my expectations. The two days are well planned out to ensure your thought process takes you through the various stages needed to question why you are in business, where your business currently is at and where you want your business to be. Provoking questions, explanations, stories, presentations from successful entrepreneurs and of course Zac’s personal attention ensure you walk away with a clear and dynamic business plan. The venue was perfect, the lunch and refreshments sublime."
    Rachel Kann, IQ Property Management