If you were to ask Elon Musk what the most common question he is asked, he would probably say the title of this blog. His answer might be to ‘be in the right place at the right time’ but there’s more to it than that, a whole lot more! It takes a special kind of person to create an organisation from an idea, which develops into a concept and a vision is formed, then comes a lot of research and planning; crunch the numbers to see if it is doable and if all lights are green, a business plan is next on the list.
Unlimited drive
Every single successful business owner had heaps of drive when they started out, which always carried them through tough times. The desire to reach your goals is something that should never leave you and where there’s a will, there’s a way, or so the saying goes – you have to want success so bad that you’re prepared to work 24/7.
Analytical mind
A good entrepreneur can analyse; market forces are constantly changing and critical decisions have to be made at specific times. Thinking outside the box is often where the solution lies and not everyone is able to perceive things from every angle; it is a skill that can be picked up over time, with the right tuition. If you are looking at the wholesale coffee market, for example, you need to source many samples and by a process of elimination, end up with the best.
Attention to detail – awareness
If you don’t pay attention to the small stuff, it will have an impact on the organisation; others will subconsciously pick up on this and it would become part of the culture. Being aware of situations and looking for solutions ahead of time helps you make informed decisions and making time for employees is essential.
The ability to delegate
You can’t do everything, even though you might want to; a good entrepreneur knows what to delegate to whom and when. Giving employees responsibility allows them to flourish and with careful guidance, a worker can be groomed for a supervisory role, which could lead to management further down the road. If you are setting up a website, here is some web-hosting advice.
Problem-solving
Without a fair dose of problem-solving, your new enterprise would probably grind to a halt; things crop up on a daily basis and how you respond is critical. There will be times when you need to brainstorm with your team and the more heads working on an issue, the quicker solutions are found. Be flexible and everything should be on the table until such time as it is not, and leading by example is the only way to go – people notice what you say and what you do.
Excellent communicator
This one is non-negotiable; you must be able to accurately convey meaning and persuade customers to buy your product/service and this is a skill that you can learn; talk to a business coach who can certainly point you in the right direction. A person who doesn’t have communication skills is unable to connect with the team and this can lead to serious issues; lack of communication is often the cause of conflicts.
