As an entrepreneur, there are specific skills you need to develop that will help you be successful. At the same time, there are certain habits that can stop you from experiencing business growth. If you struggle with any of the 3 habits I cover in this post, my hope is that you will see how they are in no way, contributing to your success so you can make some changes.
It doesn’t matter how great of a speaker you are or how persuasive you can be. It doesn’t make a difference if you have great sales experience or strategic abilities. The truth is, none of those skills will matter if your habits are not aligned with business growth.
What does matter is if you are able to prevent certain things from interfering with entrepreneurial success.
Are you struggling with these 3 business growth killers?
#1 Focus
You may not realize it but you could possibly lack the focus needed to be an entrepreneur working for yourself. When you are not focused each day on getting the things done in your business that will earn you a profit, you need to make a change.
You cannot continue to operate in the same manner while wondering why things are not changing. Having a lack of clarity and focus will ultimately stunt your business growth.
I often find that the majority of my clients have the most difficulty with being focused. After a little digging, being clear on what needs to be done and prioritizing those tasks is usually the underlying issue.
Lack of focus can cause procrastination which will hinder your business growth. (Tweet This)
Because having focus and clarity is such an important habit for an entrepreneur, it is one of the 5 principles on entrepreneurship, I talk about on the first episode of my Podcast show.
#2 External Distractions
Sometimes, a lack of focus comes from external distractions. This is especially true if you work from home with small children. Having the constant demand of managing a household, caring for kids all while running a business can be a challenge but can be overcome when you learn to manage your time more efficiently.
Do you watch t.v. during the day? Are your Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest tabs open while you should be working? How about your home phone or cell phone? Are the constant blinking notifications distracting your focus from your daily task?
Working from home is not easy but it can be done productively if you take the steps to plan your work around the needs of your household to be more efficient in your business. Close out social networking tabs while on your laptop or computer, shut of the ringer on your phone while working or put your cell in another room.
Managing your time can sometimes be a tough habit to create. However, in order to have business growth, this should be a high priority for any entrepreneur.
#3 Disorganization
If your office or workspace is cluttered with stacks of papers, files and sticky notes, you are sabotaging your business growth by being unorganized. Sure, you may know where everything is and claim the dysfunction on your desk is a “system”, but subconsciously, clutter will prevent you from getting any productive work done.
If you are content with your surroundings being in disarray, you may not have yet developed a mindset for entrepreneurial success. Seriously, do you believe you can focus in a mess? What do you think Oprah or Bill Gate’s office space looks like? I bet it’s not disorganized.
Being an entrepreneur is one thing, but being a successful business woman, making real money from home is not a joke. Take your business seriously. Apply and master the habits needed to eliminate self-sabotage in your business. You must be determined and disciplined so you can stop making excuses, and better manage your business.
There are many powerful women entrepreneurs who have children, are single, work a full-time job or go to school. We all have tons of things going on. But, developing the proper habits for business growth allows us to get things done and make things happen.
If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you’ve got to understand the difference between simply making money online and being a woman who is building a business that will grow and prosper over time.
I encourage you to listen to the first episode of my podcast. The show title is: Entrepreneurship, Are You Willing to Do The Work?
This is your time to experience business growth. The question is, are you willing to break a sweat and do the work?
Great post and I’m glad I took some time to drop by your blog. Finding a balance regarding #2, external distractions is huge! Thanks for some tools to use throughout the week.
Hey Rhonda, I’m glad you stopped by too! External distractions was/is one of my challenges but with a little effort to eliminate the ones I can control, makes a huge difference. Glad you found some useful tools to get you through the week.
My husband and I were just talking about organization and goals. I am starting to make a list and stick to it. I recently created a new pst file for my mail and now empty out mail once a day. I had over 7000 pieces of mail and everyday I was sorting and sorting, never getting anywhere and wasting valuable time. But now its not stressing me out.
Focus is the #1 thing that anyone needs to have success in the home business industry. When you’re double-minded and double-yoked, you lack the intensity required to get your business into the momentum face. This happens because you’re spreading yourself thin. Focus is a must if you’re to have success in business and in life, period.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Tamyka!
Thanks for sharing, Etieno! Focus is so vital to create consistency and momentum in a business.