Are You Exceptional?

I recently read an article on being exceptional in business. The article went on to say that if you are not exceptional (in their eyes), your business is bound to fail. I disagree with such a bold statement because 1) who defines exceptional and 2) there is something to be said for hard work.

I did, however, agree with some of the traits needed to navigate one’s business past the first year (which is the hardest thing to do these days). Here are the three exceptional traits needed to survive your first year of business.

1. Politics are to be avoided. Don’t get involved in scratching one’s back to get what you need out of a business deal. This may pay off now but it will ricochet later on. Plus, some things can be considered unethical. So, don’t get involved in politics and remain neutral.

2. Think and think some more. While you do have to be a do’er when running your own business, it is just as important to think things through and consider all scenarios before taking any action. Business owners who dive in blindly to certain opportunities will find the water shallow and have no depth with their investment.

3. Good business owners don’t sustain the standard, they reinvent it on the daily. Instead of considering certain rules or procedures or expectations as the standard, exceptional business owners will figure out a way to make things better or more competitive and then move in that direction. They have no loyalty to rules of the past because they are always looking forward.

So, hard work counts but these three steps will help carry your hard work a long way.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett