I recently met an old friend. She looked miserable. When I asked her what had happened, she said that she was so frustrated with herself, at her business, for not being successful yet, and for not achieving any of her business dreams.
While the main purpose of our meeting was to unwind, I had to dig a little to find out more about her frustration. As many people don’t like to admit, it’s very possible that the main obstacles to their success are to do with their own attitudes and approaches.
I was there in the early stages of my career and have done that. My friend was going through the same thing. She was frustrated, but she didn't put that much effort in her business, so the results she was seeing were normal.
If you find yourself at a similar situation, perhaps it's because of some of these success-killing mistakes:
You’re too comfortable
Stepping into the unknown and taking a risk is scary; but you do know what’s even scarier? Staying in your comfort zone and not realising the great potential that you could be depriving yourself of. What I know about fear is that it’s largely an illusion. Of course there is a risk in everything we do, but for me the riskiest business of all is not even trying because we are afraid.
______________
Read more:
[ Ways to keep your wits when things are beyond your control ]
Tips on building your personal brand in 2018
______________
You don’t even
have a plan
You could visualise and imagine how your life will be in five or 10 years. But all that effort is pointless if you don’t do something about it. I remember that same friend of mine said she didn’t know where to start. None of the successful entrepreneurs had it figured out straight away. That’s why there are books, mentors, and videos out there that can help.
Here in the UAE, organisations like the Paris-Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi, the Youth xHub, Tamakkan and Sharjah’s Sheraa centre all organise events where entrepreneurs can share knowledge and provide opportunities for start-ups to meet experts and connect with like-minded individuals. Start from there. Attend those events. Read business journals and memoirs of entrepreneurs.
You want to manage it all
You're smart, passionate and no one knows your business as much as you do. But you can find yourself so overwhelmed with the amount of work you undertake that you can't focus on product development or your social media page.
This is a pitfall I see many entrepreneurs fall into. It's OK to ask for help, and it won't necessarily break the bank. Instead of trying to learn to take photos or manage your pages, work with interns or freelancers who can help so you can focus on the important things. This takes us to the next point.
You’re a bad time manager
If you’re bad at organising your schedule, then you will not achieve much. Make a schedule, get up early, move things around and write your tasks down. Not only will you feel more focused, but you will also be efficient and get more work done.
You’re not good at sales
I recently met a client who was upfront about his marketing skills. He admitted that he was better at other aspects but not marketing or selling his ideas, and that’s why he approached my consultancy. It’s fine if you feel that way. Public speaking or engaging clients may not be your forte, and it’s the case for many. Consider hiring a business development manager who can help, or hire a consultant to target a specific client.
You don’t want it badly enough
My friend genuinely wanted her business to be successful and she wanted to make good money, but she didn’t want it badly enough. She worked an hour or two on it each day, didn’t do much on weekends or holidays and expected great results. The thing about business is that it’s give and take. Whatever you invest in your business, you will reap corresponding results. In the early stages you will have to work very hard. You will also face sleepless nights, probably some rejections and will have to knock on many doors. But if you’re unwilling to do that, don’t wonder why things aren’t working out.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer who manages her branding and marketing consultancy in
Abu Dhabi
