For over 10 years I’ve run my own business after quitting my job as an Account Director at one of Canada’s top PR firms.
The day I handed in my resignation I had no idea what kind of life I was really signing up for. All I knew that day is that I couldn’t return to work after my maternity leave and it was time to pull the ripcord.
It was time to make my dream of working for myself a reality.
I had my entrepreneurial debut at age 7. It all started with charging neighbourhood kids 10 cents for a ride down a hill in my little red wooden wagon.
While this partnership with my sister was shut down within hours due to safety concerns, I learned a valuable lesson: with some creativity and hustle you can make your business happen.Many ventures and years later, the same rules apply. Even if you weren’t born with the drive to start businesses and execute on your big ideas (what some call the entrepreneur gene) you can #BeTheBoss.
Here are four big lessons from 10+ years running my own business (and all those years of plotting starting at age 7):
#1. Do What You Say You’re Going to Do
This may seem like the most obvious piece of advice, but in a world full of fake experts and exaggerated results, your ability to deliver as promise stands out.Whether you’re a freelancer or run a start up, your reputation is everything and you’re only as good as your ability to execute on your promises. Too many failed promises or sloppy executions will eventually catch up to you.
The truth is, people may never say anything to you but they won’t recommend you or hire you ever again. Never take silence as approval of what you’re doing or of your customer’s happiness.
#2. Hustle Hard
Every single day more and more people are starting businesses, and what separates the success stories from the struggles is the willingness to hustle.If you’re going to #BeTheBoss, you need to be ready to do what it takes.
Especially as you’re starting out. You need to do the work required to get you where you want to go. This may be working extra hours, calling more prospects or putting in time to learn how to actually run your business.
If entrepreneurship was easy, more people would do it. Those who “make” it are the ones who show up and hustle on their way to their dreams.
#3. Master Your Craft
Being a business owner means you’re often going to wear a lot of hats, so it’s easy to lose touch with what your real area of expertise is. As you’re out there hustling, don’t lose touch with your craft or outsource your zone of genius.Lapsing into teaching or business owner mode can quickly erode your craft as you’re not in touch with what’s working right now.
As a writer, I have no plans to stop doing client writing projects anytime soon. While I’m busy running various aspects of my business, writing for clients is what gives me relevance and insight - and that ultimately makes me masterful at what I do.
#4. Practice Kindness
Is this an entrepreneurial trait? It’s not a typical one, but it’s one that great leaders and entrepreneurs tend to possess.The practice of kindness starts with you. Because amid all that hustle, things are going to go wrong. The plan will come crashing down around you. In those moments it’s easy to blame yourself. Yes, you need to own your failings, but be kind to yourself in the process. (And be kind to your mind and body on a day-to-day basis, otherwise you’re going to burn out.)
As a boss, you need to make a concerted effort to be kind to your team and your clients and be empathetic to what’s happening in their lives. From kids that don’t sleep to ailing parents to relationship issues, it all impacts us professionally.
It’s all too easy to lose sight of the fact that every single one of us are simply people doing our best when deadlines are looming and things needed to happen yesterday.
Practicing kindness will save you from having a “sky is falling” reaction and help you find a measured, practical way of dealing with things even when your most critical employee drops the ball on a big project or needs to take personal leave without notice.
Kindness matters when you’re the boss, because while your first reaction may be to lose your mind, kindness will help you find the best possible solution for everyone.
Are you ready to #BeTheBoss? Give some thought to what factors will help make you a success, and if you’re already the boss, it’s always worth hitting pause and seeing where you may need to give a bit more focus on your road to success.
