7 Useful Skills To Survive in the Entrepreneurial World
In the present times, it’s so easy to get lost in the world of distractions. There is a lot of digital noise everywhere. This is rather difficult especially if we have a distinct goal or vision in mind. Let’s face it, there’s no perfect equation that will bring us there. We have to rely on our personal knowledge and experiences to get to the destination. We can’t rely on other people to work their magic for our dreams to appear right in front of us when we want to. No, it doesn’t work that way. Instead, we have to be responsible for our thoughts and actions. Somehow, we have to take the initiative and discipline to endure through it all. That moment starts right now. Thanks to us, reading this listicle will point you in the right direction. These are 7 useful skills you’ll be needing to survive in the entrepreneurial world.
1. Be Confident and Speak Up
There is no easy way to say this. But, one of the most important skills you can ever pick up in this lifetime is to build up your confidence. Trust us when we say this. That’s because you need someone to tell you to believe in yourself. You will need this to convince others into believing your business or startup. We’re not saying that you have to become a natural extrovert in that sense. Being confident becomes natural once you are comfortable in your skin. Your abilities will follow as well. Developing and having power will get you to your ultimate goal or vision. If you want to go after what you want, you have to keep the fire burning within. This means you can’t obsess with or be caught up with the tiniest details. You can’t go out there copying business strategies that may have worked with others. You have to pave your route to success. You will be able to tell apart people who have a lot of confidence. Confident people view problems as opportunities. With these opportunities, they try to find the best solutions to any problem. Developing your confidence will become a habit. As you can do this, you will be able to move forward and achieve more in life.
By being confident and comfortable in your skin, speak up by voicing out your ideas. As you do this, you are making a statement and getting your ideas across. For many, it’s a common fear to speak in public. Speak slow and clear in a concise manner. Overcome this fear by looking at the person you are talking to right in the eye. Don’t let your eyes wander somewhere else if you’re talking to someone. If you’re talking to a sea of people, focus your attention and speak to different sections of the crowd. As you do this more often, you’ll become more comfortable with public speaking. Of course, don’t forget to speak at an appropriate volume. Observe popular vloggers on how they engage with their audience. They look straight into the camera. It’s as if they are communicating with their viewer. They can make the viewer’s presence known.
2. Be Honest
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to lie to yourself. You can make all kinds of excuses but pretending to be something that you’re not is not worth it. Be true to yourself. Few people can do this because they tend to lie or believe in lies that will make them feel better. It will mean a lot if you can recognize your strengths and admit your weaknesses. Doing it this way means there’s always time and ways to improve weaknesses. That way, your weaknesses will transform becoming your strengths! If you are honest to yourself as well to others, this is a real big step to making it big. Let’s face it, no one should know your startup better than yourself
3. Listen & Have Empathy
If you look up to some of the greatest leaders, you’ll learn that they share this common trait. That is they have mastered the skill of observing and listening. The next time you are in a board meeting, practice being the last to speak. Before you speak out your opinions first, it’s better to wait. Hear from everyone else first before you allow them to hear yours. This practice allows others to be heard and that their opinions matter. By speaking last, you have the benefit of hearing from each person in the room before you spill your opinion. Don’t be afraid to take it all in first. Then, you can start asking questions. You will understand why they have that opinion and where they’re speaking and coming from.
Another quality that you can develop is empathy. This is recognizing the presence of other people’s emotions other than your own. If you put yourself in the shoes of others, you should be able to see it from their point of view. The thing about emotions is that they are fleeting so when they come around, don’t be afraid to feel them. Suppressing emotions won’t help. It makes us weak whether it’s physical or emotional. Having empathy doesn’t make us weak. It is the very essence that makes us human and it powers the best in us.
4. Consistency & Time Management
You may have heard this phrase plenty of times but it’s true. Success is not a destination but it’s a journey. Everything that has happened in your life happens for a reason. It could be positive or negative. Yet, never let your failures determine who you are. Stop mourning over failures because it’s a waste of time. If you have achieved success right now, you will know it’s one rollercoaster ride – it’s full of ups and downs. Success cannot be achieved overnight. Be consistent in what you do and success will unfold. Continue to work smart, persevere, and see what the results will be.
In this age and time, there are way too many distractions. We can agree it’s too much chaos. We are bombarded with too many elements that prevent us from doing what we want. This is the busiest yet most ineffective generation. It’s because we spend too much time dilly-dallying on things that don’t have value. 80% of the time, we are surrounded by distractions. 20% of the time is spent on what we are passionate about. Changing this habit will turn your life around. Ask yourself, ‘Are you effective today? What have I done to bring myself closer to my vision? What’s preventing you from being your best self?’. Time is irreplaceable so value your time by managing it well. Use your time by putting it into something that will bring you closer to your goal.
5. Stop Whining
Have you found yourself saying, “I can’t do this!” or “There goes the traffic!”? If you say something like this anytime of the day, you’re already dealing with too much negativity. Whining won’t get you anywhere. It’s a waste of time and energy. Stop complaining, whining, or criticizing. Don’t complain about what’s happening around you. Also, don’t blame others for your misfortunes. If you only complain about what wasn’t done or why is this happening to you, then do something about it! The beauty of it all is that you can start today.
6. Live in the Moment
Sometimes, we forget to live in the moment. Living in the past will only make you feel depressed. It’s because you are reliving those moments and likely, they won’t happen again. Living in the future will make you feel anxious. That’s because you’re anticipating things that haven’t happened to you yet. The only thing that you have control of is the present. Living in the moment or being present is where the real action is. You have more control right now than before. Once you realize this, you will become happy and comfortable. That’s because the present will determine the future. 40% of personal happiness levels are determined by genetics. It is something you can’t control. You are in control of 60% of what’s happening to you! That’s right! Happiness is a choice. In reality, there’s a connection between living in the moment and happiness. It doesn’t matter what happened to you in the past. What is more important is what you choose to do about it.
Happiness is a mindset and it all boils down to your thoughts, attitude, and thinking. People can go through the most horrific experiences. Yet, they emerge stronger than ever. Even if you cannot control what you are feeling at the moment, you are 100% in control of your thinking. Control the way you think. You will be able to control the way you feel because your thoughts determine your feelings. Sharpen your thinking skills of being present and you will have more control. You will gain a sense of power over your life. This particular skill needs to be repeated many times over. Catch yourself being distracted and being worried or drifting in and out of the past or future. Go and refocus your attention on the present!
Try to appreciate and savor the moment you are feeling and thinking right now. A great example of this is eating. When you sit down and eat, you are savoring and absorbing all those wonderful flavors. It makes you slow down and savor the food you are eating. You appreciate the company you’re with and how you feel about them. These are the special moments you can’t miss. Take it a step further by saying “Hey, this food tastes delicious!” or “I’m glad we’re sharing this beautiful meal”. Everyone involved deserves to be acknowledged. Once you are able to, you’ll feel a sense of gratitude. You’re expanding that internal happiness right at the moment. It’s something that can’t be replaced with anything else. Keep practicing this useful skill. The moment you catch yourself thinking of the past or future. Think of savoring something at present and acknowledge gratitude. Take control of your life by seeking the information that you need. Better yet, collect the information that you need to be a step closer to your vision.
7. Get Enough Sleep
Our parents were right ever since we were children. They would tell us to go to bed early. Sleep early and you wake up feeling better. Get proper rest to reenergize your body. It will do wonders for your mental and physical state. As you grow older, you should keep prioritizing sleep. Say no to things that take away time that can be spent resting. Lack of sleep and being tired will keep you from doing things that you want to do. Nobody wants to work with someone who woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
These are the most essential and practical skills you’ll ever need in this lifetime. One day you’ll master these qualities. There no stopping you from becoming the best version you can be. Be you, believe in yourself and your goals. Trust your gut and everything else will follow. The only thing standing between you and your vision is one incredible journey. This journey you are about to encounter will be a beautiful one. Expect small bumps (good or bad, that’s all normal) along the way. This is all part of the process. Believe us when we say that you can do it and you’ll get there no matter how long it will take. Now that you’ve read these important skills that can be applied anywhere, what are you going to do about it today? Whatever it is, we hope that your life will change for the best. We wish you the very best of luck in all your future endeavors!
Community
Congratulations on reaching the end!
Check out our podcast Impact Talks, where you can listen to high-profile experts from various backgrounds!
Join our Facebook Group Community with over 4,700 entrepreneurs, innovators, and creators by Startup Funding Event, where you get access to free live training, daily Q&As, design templates to get your business started, and support from the SFE team. Join here!
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!