Entrepreneurship is the idea of owning a business or a brand. The profession as a whole is all about embracing risk, having big ideas, and making major innovations that change how others do business.
While anyone who starts a business has a bit of the entrepreneurial spirit but true entrepreneurs are distinguished by a certain visionary quality. Take Steve Jobs, for instance, he renovated our interactions through phones and computers, or Mark Zuckerberg, who transformed how we stay connected with friends and family and absorb the news.
Most entrepreneurs know the importance of investing in themselves and building valuable skills which would improve their strengths over time. Your business plan should include growth targets to achieve, products to launch, new markets to enter, events to participate in and relationships to build. If you have these types of clear targets and milestones built into your plan, that’s a great start. However, it is equally important to have certain soft skills that will ultimately only help you become more successful in your business. Whether it’s setting aside time to improve on your weaknesses, or hire a coach to help you push into a new playing field with one of your strengths, investing in your skills is never a bad move. So, the next logical question you should ask me is which skills do I need to be the game changer?
Here are the top 7 skills entrepreneurs will need to master to be able to make a name for themselves:
1. Personal Branding
Everything is moving towards the gig economy where entrepreneurs, freelancers and even career professionals now jump between ideas, startups and employers faster and more frequently than ever before. Tenure hardly matters, and what matters the most is your personal brand, a name and identity for yourself. The overarching message about yourself, as gleaned from your online presence, professional reputation, circle of influence and the trust you command from peers, followers, customers, employers and general public. You wouldn’t want to enter the market without a strong personal brand, and you definitely afford to loose the good brand image who created to negative comments. Bad online reputation will definitely damage the business. So bear in mind, create a good impression without trying too hard.
2. Authenticity
Authenticity has become a minimum requisite for providing morale and trust and also to achieve excellence in today’s world of business. Especially among millennial and across social media channels, being true to yourself without trying to be someone else is the main objective. Being labeled duplicitous isn’t something you’ll be able to recover from anytime soon. So, it important to always be creative and come up with new and exciting contents and ideas for your business rather just replicating what is already out there. Also, remember to take every opportunity that you can to connect with your audience and show that you’re genuinely in the game to help.
3. Persuasive Writing
While visual contents like images, infographics or hi-resolution videos are becoming staple contents for website and even more to most social media platform, written communication still reigns its wow factor. Written documents are extremely handy when it comes to highlighting your leadership thoughts, crafting compelling copy for sales pages and inspiring people to take action. Without persuasive writing skills, you won’t stand out from other skillful and media-savvy professionals. Plus, your own written article about your brand or your business would give you more confidence in selling yourself and also the reader would feel more engage and have a better image of you than of you sharing something irrelevant. Moreover, you will need an excellent writing skills for email marketing, blog posts, on-page copy, business proposals and more. So, brush up your grammar, learn new vocabulary and start writing!
4. Sales
Sales is what keeps the business alive. It is how the cash flows in, which is what you run the business for. A company that cannot sell its products or services Will for sure is quickly going out of business. Regardless of your craft, even artists, software developers, writers and just about everyone needs selling skills to get by in the business world. If you need funding, you have to sell your idea to investors. If you want to be a successful painter, you must compel people to buy the aesthetics of your craft. Whether you’re a job applicant or hoping to close a new freelance client, you simply have to sell yourself. It is crucial to have sales strategies and proper sale planning before even venturing into the business. You cannot expect people to invest in your product or brand without you trying to convince them into the idea of buying.
5. Stress Management
Stress is a common problem in all industry. To be honest, though it is not good to stress over things but nothing worth pursuing in life is easy. So, expect episodes of disappointment, struggles and stress. The are going to be pitfall along the way but the key is to remain calm and push yourself further. Stay afloat and win your game by learning how to manage stress and re-channel it towards a positive outcome. Whether you do that by being more organized, changing your mindset, or through prayer and meditation, learning how to deal with stress will keep both your business and your health in excellent condition.
6. Sharing and Collaboration
The willingness to commit yourself to achieving your goals will get you a step closer to that. Business partnership with competitor is rapidly growing in today’s business. It’s no accident that information sharing, crowd funding and open source are key terms describing pillars of the new economy. Wikipedia and Shopee is a great example of how sharing and collaboration have created industry-changing products and services. As an entrepreneur, sharing your goals, progression and challenges on different channels can lead to surprising solutions, strong relationships and groundbreaking business.
7. Financial Management
Knowing how to manage and grow your finances is key to success both in your business and in your personal life. Lack of the ability to manage finances exposes you to the risk of becoming unsustainable, which often leads to bankruptcy, regret and going back to a full-time job. Develop discipline and prudence, especially when it comes to purchases for personal and business purposes. Learn both technical and practical techniques that’ll help you increase your income and re-invest in the right strategies to keep your business pushing forward into the future.
Are you a female entrepreneur trying to make it big in the field or a fresh graduate or stay at home mom looking to start your own business?
If yes, I am pretty sure you are worried and have a lot of questions running through your mind wondering if the business plan going to work? Are you on the right track?
What strategies would work for you and so on? To answer these questions, I sat down with Ms Joanne Chew, the CEO OF ABC Ideal Partners.
Before going into the article let me brief you through about Ms Joanne and what she does.
So, Ms Joanne along with her husband is the founder of ABC Ideal Partners Sdn Bhd a company that disturb and supply corporate and premium gifts around Malaysia.
The company’s main goal is to provide top notch products and services to our customers.
Since starting small in 1999, they are now the top supplier and distributor of corporate gifts in Malaysia and the region with over 1,500 clients.
Adding on her company is certified as ISO 14001:2004 company, which means they are a firm believer in sustainability to protecting the environment by investing in technologies and products that are eco-friendly and share this vision with our clients.
Their products are free from toxins, pollutants and any other substances that may be harmful to the environment.
Wanna surprise your partner with a customized gift, or need a bulk of trophies for office annual event? Check out ABC Ideal Partners for more all these gifts you need.
So, now let’s see what you Ms Joanne has got to share:
1) Tell us more about yourself and why you choose this field?
Hi, I am Joanne and I am the co-owner of ABC Ideal Partners along with my husband.
We are in this business for more than a decade now and took us some time to be where we are now but the journey was a good learning experience for us.
To answer why this niche market is simply because I like to see people get surprised and happy when receiving gifts I believe most people will be happy when receiving gifts so why not turn that emotion in business and that has been working well for us.
The success of my clients what drives me to be honest.
Seeing the services we are providing has helped our client in their event of the campaign and achieve their sales or marketing target drives us to do better and be better. The secret is success leads to success so work for progression.
3) What are the key qualities for a leader in business?
Hard work is the first and also you need patience.
You also need to show some compassion towards everyone around you and always be open to criticism because without it there is no room for improvement.
Also always avoid gossiping and have the passion to keep learning.
4) What are you advise for the young entrepreneur?
Be patient and keep trying and keep learning. Stay in a healthy lifestyle. Great health leads to a great mind.
Apart from personal questions, we also discussed a lot on the market, business and sales strategies as well.
I believe Ms Joanne’s vast experience and kowledege will be really helpful for start-ups.
Below is the interview:
1) Based on your observation and experience, what are the marketing strategies that you think would work in the business?
Word of mouth from clients. The more people that talks about you the better. Get the words out there.
Secondly, repeating sales from clients. In other words, build trust with clients is a key strategy in maintaining a good reputation of the company and increase more client.
Lastly, and the most important to date is social media. It is a NEED now.
You can’t run a business without a proper social media page to support you. Digitalization has opened up a lot of new windows so use it wisely.
2) The biggest struggle in business is to survive and be ahead of your competitors. How do you handle that?
As said, just be hardworking and keep trying.
Look out for new competition and what their moves but no need to replicate them instead focus on your own business and try to make it stand out by working hard.
3) Lastly, what are your business goals?
My personal goal would be to build and grow together.
For example, my staffs to be in a better stage in their life, just growing successful with your staff, colleagues together. And also to improve self values and career values.
Love Note To All My Fellow Ladies Out There.
Love yourself, choose the right path and let your dreams take you high.
Are you a woman who wants to start your own business and become an entrepreneur?
Let us know in the comment section below. We will equip with exclusive wealth resources and knowledge that will definitely take your business to the next level.
We at WMA would help you attain your goal by empowering people with the right skills in order for individuals to attain financial freedom.
Over the years, WMA has coached thousands of individuals from all walks of life and have guided them with powerful knowledge and proven skills and strategies towards the path of financial freedom.
WMA will continue to grow and remain committed with our aim to assist people towards their dreams.
For more information on comprehensive business plans by WMA, check out our main page, call us at +60 10-234 4913 or chat with us via Facebook or Whatsapp.
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One of the best thing about being an entrepreneur is the ability to call the shots in your business. It is solely driven on your shoulder. You have control over your decisions and choice but, that’s also one of the greatest risk which means you’re responsible for all the decisions. This is where you need some ‘black magic’ to step up and be ahead of your competitions.The ‘black magic’ here is Feng Shui (though Feng Shui isn’t really black or magic).
So, what is Feng Shui?
Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement. It teaches how the placement of objects can balance the flow of positive energy around you so that you can be at the most productive and prosperous. The literal translation for the Chinese words “feng” and “shui” are “wind” and “water.” It is through wind and water that chi flows through nature and the universe. Chi should not be impeded but balanced so that any negative forms (sha chi or “poisoned arrows”) may be offset with positive adjustment.
Yin and Yang is both a symbol and belief of natural opposing yet complementary forces that allows a harmonious universe to exist. Nothing can be totally yin or yang; there will always be at the least a miniscule amount of one in the other. Yin, the black side, is characterized as weak, passive, dark, cold, winter and female; Yang, the white side, is characterized as strong, active, bright, warm.
So, now ask yourself: Do you want your business to be more prosperous? Want your workplace to be also be more harmonious? How would you like to think more clearly and be more productive? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you might want to consider the use of Feng Shui.
But how can you put feng shui to work as an entrepreneur?
Worry not. I’ve put together A list of ways that feng shui can help generate more flow and that means more success and more sales for you.
Play with Red – Want more clients? Use red folders. Chinese belief red to be a symbol pride and wealth. Plus, red in general is a very sexy and attractive color. So, when you get a client, label the file and add a Chinese coin to energize the folder for wealth theirs and yours!
Clear the Clutter– According to feng shui, work performance and business wealth can be increased by decluttering and establishing order on your desk. Productive chi cannot flow if all the stuff on your desk is blocking its movement and cluttering up your mind. So, take everything off your desk and clean up any cluttered areas around it. Put back only items that are used everyday, and papers on your desk must be limited to those for one project only. Other items and papers should be placed elsewhere like in drawers, racks and so on.
Surround Yourself With the Greens – Live plants and flowers bring many positive elements into the workplace. Aside from their natural beauty, they improve air quality, unite us with the natural world outside, and their green color encourages personal and business growth. Avoid any cactus or plants with sharp-looking leaves as these as can cause fear or stress .To bring their positive influences, plants and flowers must be healthy and flourishing. If a plant dies, remove it and replace it with another. Keep in mind it better to have a silk plant than none at all. Just be sure to keep it dusted and vibrant-looking.
Aim at the East- In the practice of feng shui, the happiness, success and prosperity you have in your business life is greatly influenced by the position of your desk. The optimal position is one in which your desk is very the sunrise, which is the east side. The eastern side of your room is where your health and wealth grow so position your desk there.
Water brings the cashflow –Water is the most powerful symbol of money in feng shui. Its sparkling chi energy is beneficial for your health and prosperity but care must be taken to keep water fresh and clean. Scaled-down fountains that are designed for a desk or small table are a good choice if space is limited. Another great choice is either a fish tank or aquarium. Consider including goldfish in your tank as gold is a Chinese symbol for money and is thought to attract it. Another great way to incorporate water into your business is the use of any artifact that depicts water
Home is Office too- Feng shui promotes the importance of keeping business and personal life separate when you have a home office. An outside separate entrance to your office is optimal. If not possible, a room near the front or back door of the house or apartment is best.Flat ceilings promote the flow of chi and are best; otherwise hang wind chimes from cathedral or sloped ceilings to offset sha chi. Enhance your personal chi and your professional appeal by dressing well and taking care of your overall health, hygiene and appearance. Resist the urge to work at home while unshowered or adorned in your sweats or pajamas.
Feng Shui your website- Yes, feng shui can even be applied to bytes and pixels! If often see businesses that have websites whose colors conflict, such as red and silver, green and beige, or green and yellow. These are color combinations that fatigue visitors, meaning the website is less sticky and more likely to be abandoned and with fewer repeat visitors. That’s because these color combinations make your website work against itself and that gets you nowhere. Select feng shui compatible color combinations like blue, black, and white or yellow.
Beauty pays you– If you’re a work at home entrepreneur, chances are you may have a less than inspiring work area. Invest in your office and make it attractive, organized, and functional. Having a beautiful work space is motivating and encourages creativity. When you are surrounded by beauty and inspiring views, objects, or artwork, you are more likely to think creatively, come up with new approaches to your business, and be more productive and that makes you more money.
Believe in the Power of One- One is the number of opportunity and money iin feng shui. There is probably one thing that you could do to instantly make a difference in your business. What is it? For some, it would be to create that first product, for others it would mean publishing your book, and for others it might be making sales calls. But, chances are you know the one thing that’s standing in the way of your success. Get to work on just that one thing.
Understand the Bagua Map- The feng shui bagua map is one of the main tools to analyze the energy of a certain space. Bagua is the feng shui energy map of your environment that shows you which areas your office, desk or home are connected to specific areas of your life. Stand inside your office with your back to the front door. Now look straight in front of you. The section of your house in the far right corner is the relationship zone. The part in the far left corner is the money sector. And work yourself around the map. This works the same with your desk.
In conclusion, to truly obtain a full and deep education and understanding of feng shui can take years. Visit your local bookstore or library to learn more about this age-old practice that has been enjoyed by faithful followers for thousands of years. Whether you are a novice or a master, there are many applications you can effect to encourage good “feng shui” and in turn affect your work environment, workers and wealth in a beneficial way.
You can use the principles of this ancient technique to help you draw more clients to you, create a harmonious business that attracts business, and builds a financial foundation for your life that gives you more control, greater freedom and feeling of personal achievement.
Entrepreneurship is an a very ‘fancy’ word and a cool job many would say. In fact, it is. It is a word filled with optimism and the prospect of joy and riches. Millennials and veteran careerists view the world of entrepreneurship with strong enthusiasm, hope and energy. It’s their path to freedom and success. You know how it works. Just dream up an idea, package your product, sell it to your target customers and then wait beside the ATM for the torrent of cash to land in your corporate account. Especially, with today’s social media facilities and the world at your tip, entrepreneurship is a dream job.
But it is that easy though? Well, entrepreneurship is a worthy career but it’s a tough career. All the successful entrepreneurs you meet are smart, hard-working people. They toiled to get where they are today. It’s not that getting started is all that hard. In today’s Internet-empowered world, it’s easier to launch a startup than to do a five-minute workout. With few clicks from your bed, you can start your online business. You can run it on the go, with your smartphone. Launching a business is not the problem. Building it into a successful empire is.
Here are a some habits that you can incorporate in your daily life to be better at entrepreneurship:
1.Create a Routine
When we have a routine that we follow daily, it reduces the need to make decisions each day. It enables us to know exactly what tasks we need to do each day without having to contemplate, decide or think too much. When we are finished with one task, we know what comes next without much thought. Activities become standardized and we become more efficient as a result.
2.Keep the mornings for the tough works
Scientifically speaking, people are more likely to operate at a higher level of moral awareness and self-control in the morning. Hence, it is better to get hands on the work in that time of the day for more productive results.
3.Show some self love
This will resolve Mental health issues and most importantly Self-love can keep you from getting lost in your own head and going down a path toward negative thoughts and feelings. It will also reduce Stress and Increase in Performance. Without those last minute doubts about yourself, you can complete projects with all of your energy, rather than wasting some on procrastination and setting yourself up for failure.
4.Plan ahead
Give yourself a head start for tomorrow, Track your progress these are all part of planning. Planning helps you to chart a course for the achievement your personal goals. It helps you in reviewing the current operations of the organization and identifying what needs to be improved operationally. Planning involves envisioning the results that you want to achieve, and helps you to determine the steps necessary to arrive at the intended destination which is success, whether that is measured in financial terms, or goals or customer satisfaction.
5.Discuss solutions rather than problems
Nobody likes a person who cribs about problems all the time instead of focusing on finding a solution. Try cultivating a solution-oriented approach towards everything at work and be adaptable to change. You can overcome any problem, be it with work or colleagues or yourself with a positive attitude.
6. Continue learning
Keeping your brain engaged by learning new tasks and skills is one of the best ways to keep your memory sharp and your mind agile. When you’re accustomed to learning new things you’re also becoming more adaptable to change, meaning you can easily take any changes in the organisation or your function in your stride.Not only will you be able to discuss thoughts and ideas more confidently because you can back them up with new information you have learned, but adding “smarty-pants” to your list of qualities is sure to make you shine.