Oct
5
Written by:
christy
10/5/2010 8:44 AM
I have learned so many lessons and great tidbits of information over this past year–about myself, running a business and so many other things. I mention in an earlier post about Matt Cheuvront and hearing him speak about the lessons he has learned in the last year and half after being fired and blogging and starting his own company. I really enjoyed listening to the lessons he learned and many of them were similar to the ones that I have learned ... I usually can pick up something from each person that I hear speak that I can relate to either personally or professionally and I wanted to share a handful of the lessons I have learned over the past 15 months or so....
1. Just do it... Leap out on faith... Trust your instincts... believe in yourself. BUT PLAN IT... make it a calculated leap. You have to have goals and writing them down and figuring out where you are and where you want to go is so important. You need to know what you are working towards.
2. Attitude is everything. Everywhere I turn I hear this... from speakers and in books that I am reading... and it is true. You have to believe in yourself, be positive and know (not TRY) that you can do anything.
3. Ask for help... work with others... collaborate. I have met so many great people in the past 15 months in my networking adventures. Some that I know we will be working together for years and it has been a relief to find people that I can collaborate with so we can focus on what we love to do and help the other person with the thing that they love to do.
4. Keep learning. I have read more books this year about business and it has been an important part of me becoming a better business owner and person. I really recommend that you continue learning and make it a priority to read a book about your industry or about business in general. I read at least 3 books a quarter and I read design blogs and magazines... all have been beneficial.
5. Relationships are key. This is how I have been doing business all along, but have read and heard this so much. Building a friendship and trust first, be a resource to people and then a salesperson. I enjoy getting to know the people in my business community, if I can help them out in any way I want to and if we can work together even better. I have learned that if someone trusts you and values you as a person as well as the work you do that they will refer you over and over.
What have you learned about running a business or working with people? I would love to hear your stories.
Copyright ©2010 christy