I’m here to talk about the 3 most valuable business lessons that changed my life. Despite my young age, I grew up in a world of business. I spent more than half my life learning and experiencing the trials, hardships as well as the successes of being in one. Because of poverty my parents never really finished school. Life was relatively easier back then. Yet, as they met, fell in love and started a family, the need for finances led them to start a business. Without much of an education they had to learn their craft the hard way. Mistakes were made and lessons were learned.
I do not claim to be the best person you can get advice from. I hardly even cared about business myself growing up. There was just something about it though that kept me coming back. Maybe it was a need. I grew up in a place where employment would rarely get you anywhere in life. You get to spend decades of your life trying hard for something that’s no assurance of making your dreams come true I guess being in business was both an accident and a blessing. The time I’ve spent learning and growing in our business helped me mature.
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We were never really affected during the period of recession. There always been seasons of ups and downs. However, if you’re reading this and fear that a recession might affect your hard work, then you should probably check out the 11 Recession Proof Businesses You Can Start Now.
What lessons did I learn in business? There are so many to mention and it’s hard to find the three things that I value the most. I hope you get something out of what I’ve experienced in life:
3. Never Stop Improving
Stagnation can be one of the deadliest things in business. The only true failure in life is the one where you stop being better than what you are now. I learned that the hard way in my relationships and I learned that the hard way in business. When you become content with what you get and what you have, you’ll soon fall behind on trends and your competition. That’s why I’ve made it a guideline to never stop improving. Take all of the things that people have been criticizing about you and make ways to make those criticisms into strengths. Then take all the things that people have been praising about your business and refine them. Make them even better. When you continue to improve your results will improve as well. It’s like learning a musical instrument. You start out just learning the notes, and then you get to play well. Eventually, you’ll get to make your own music.
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2. Take Risks
As cliché as it may sound, most of us are content with living in our safe shells of comfort. We’re afraid to try something we’re unfamiliar with. We’re afraid of other people’s judgement. We fear things that don’t seem to fit with what we’ve been used to. In the end what will only matter for you and your business is how you’ve made the most out of it in your short time. A lot of the successful business people I know spend the money they earn to make more money. You have to learn to make money work for you and not the other way around. Never be afraid to try an opportunity. In this world, nothing is ever sure. Anything can become a reward.
1. Be with the Best
To be the best, you have to be with the best. It’s important to keep the best people employed and to make friends with the people you conceive as the best in their craft. You’ll gain valuable insight that can only be shared by people who’ve been there. They may not necessarily have the same insight as you do. Having people and connections like these can multiply your knowledge and improve your business faster than any trial and error can. To put it in another words – if you spend too much time with people who do not understand the business, or with those who are negative and doubtful, you’ll most likely vicariously learn their bad habits.
Business is always about being the best against yourself and your competitors, to always be a step ahead. Yet, it’s amazing how these principles can also apply to different aspects of our lives. I’ve learned that business is a practical insight on how to go through life. Take away the money, the popularity and the ambition and what you have is a man working his heart out to become better than what he is now.
Hopefully, the 3 most valuable business lessons that changed my life have also helped you to acquire a different perspective of your current situation.
