I always believe that having a business is similar to living your life every single day. Men and women who engage in different sections of businesses and succeed seem to have different philosophies in life, though, in my opinion if you look deep into it, they have similarities.
I treat my business like a part of me and that, to be able to grow it, there are a couple of things you should look onto and develop (just like in life). Here are some of the lessons in life which can be readily applied to your business.
1. Take advantage of your mistakes
As a kid, we are taught at school to avoid mistakes and always seek "perfection". However, this is not always true in the real world and in business. Someone coined this saying: "if you want to succeed in business, make mistakes quickly." I say, do not avoid making mistakes, treat them as a learning tool for you to grow. They are not bad as you think, in fact mistakes are good if you learn from them.
2. Listen to successful people
Some wise guy said that "you are only strong as your environment" which means that if people around you are fools then intelligent as you are, ever you'll become one of them. So, if you want to succeed in business, learn to mingle with successful business people. You'll absorb their philosophies and learn how they are able to build their wealth. Stay away from negative animals / blockers who only know one thing – the sky is falling.
3. Help Others
Many believe that the word "karma" is not true and is based on pure superstition. I do not put my faith on it entirely either, however, I did experience that the more people I help, the more success I have in my chosen business model. I guess, it is not only the satisfaction of having success in life but also the satisfaction of your soul – that you helped someone. Also, I learned new things from my students and they do help me find better deals. It's a great 2-way transaction.
4. Do not Cheat
I do not believe you'll succeed in life or in your chosen business model if you resort to any malicious means. Again, I do not entirely believe in Karma but I do believe in consciousness. Whenever we did something wrong, and we're fully aware of it, our conscience will bother us and make us feel guilty.
Also, I do not take you'll get away with murder for a long period. One day, someone will figure out your wrong doings and voila! Your business model will be crushed in a snap.
5. Do not Quit
There are several instances when things are not going the way you want them to be, when things look so tough and success seems impossible. This is the time when you should believe in yourself, in your dreams. This is not the time to back out and forget all the things you have made. In business and in life, problems will always occur, they are not catastrophe or insurmountable odds. Think of it as an opportunity to expand your horizon and learn more. If there's a wall blocking you from your dream, go under, over, side or get through it, do everything except that you quit.