You probably already know that one of the most important attributes for a successful entrepreneur is to be original. To really make your mark in the business world, you need to stand out and be different. Obviously not too different, or you could have other problems to face, but different enough that you don’t just blend into the thousands of other competing businesses.
You also need to bear in mind that being an individual doesn’t mean isolating yourself. The more you do that, the harder your work will become.
For inspiration on how to give your business the best chance of positive growth, I consulted one of Britain’s leading experts on entrepreneurship, Reuben Singh. If you have never heard of him before, that’s probably because he hasn’t set out to make a name for himself with crazy stunts or hostile takeovers.
Singh values humility, good grace, and fair play. Some will see these traits as a weakness, but let them think it! Singh’s wealth can be measured by more than just his tangible assets.
To date, Singh has been involved in some highly successful business ventures and while he has also had his fair share of failures, he will cheerfully tell you that he celebrates these with even more passion than his successes, because when we fail, it is what helps us become greater.
On the point of why it is important to be an individual, Singh says that being different from others is a strength (while some will tell you it is a weakness). He states that if you just copy others, then it is an acknowledgment that you believe they are better than you and that you cannot rise above the standards they have set. This kind of negative thinking can drag you down and prevent you from being all you can be.
But even though you have to run the business your way and innovate as an individual, you will still normally need help from others. There could be many different kinds of people… investors, partners, employees, and even mentors.
When Singh talks about mentors, he doesn’t just recommend them—he says they are essential. But how do you go about finding a good one? “An effective business mentor is someone who understands the problems you face because they’ve been there too,” Singh says.
“The main reason why people don’t ask for help is that they hate admitting they don’t know it all,” he continues. “People still don’t always have the confidence to ask for guidance; they believe other people will see them as weak.”
Singh has also won praise for his innovative employment policies, and they have been an integral part of his continued success. The two things you need to do to get fantastic results are to choose the right staff and to treat them well once you have them so that you keep them.
“When you hire someone, you’re not only doing it to build your business,” Singh cautions. “You’re also going to be providing for the new member of staff and for their family.”
When deciding how to reward his staff for their work, Singh involved them in the decision-making process. “A healthy, happy, motivated workforce is the number one driver of customer satisfaction,” he said.