I am often asked at seminars by small business owners how the great leaders of the FTSE 100 companies make it to the top and what we have to do to succeed in our small businesses.

Taking Action or Just Dreaming

The simple answer is winners will do things that losers do not like doing and don’t see as important, but winners know that they have to be done no matter what.  More businesses fail at what I call the ZERO stage of their life, they are a dream in their owner’s eyes and the owners toy around with the ideas forever a day but never take action to do anything to get it started. As Tony Robbins puts it these people all live on someday Island, someday I will start my business, someday I will look for a better job, someday I will do something about studying to improve my chances of success and the list goes on and on…..

Giving Up or Going The Distance

The next stage where they fail is at stage ONE, this is well before they smell, taste or even see success.  They simply give up and quit when things get tough, even though success might be only one more step away, one more day away, one more phone call away and so on…. Too many people are looking for the magic pill of a magic formula that will make them successful overnight without any hard work. I do not think I have met any leaders in the FTSE 100 companies that I mentor, who just woke up or found a shortcut to success, they all worked hard to get to where they are and continue to work hard for the success of the companies they are running as great leaders. Just think where we would be if Thomas Edison gave up after 900 attempts, we would be living in the dark without lights. Where would we be if the Wright Brothers had given up a few attempts at flying, do you get my point?

You are the Average of The 6 People You Hang Out With

Simply put, be prepared to work hard and start working smarter by surrounding yourself with people who know more about your business than you do, so you can pull yourself up to their level. If you can’t afford to employ them start hanging out with them in their social circles and start learning, you are not expected to know everything. We all need help in some form or other. Take me for instance I spend more money every year with my mentors and coaches than 80% of coaches, mentors or consultants make in two years. In order to stay at the top of your game you have to be prepared to invest in yourself, don’t see it as an expense, see it as an investment in yourself. If you change, I promise your business will change and the people around you will too.

Running But Going Nowhere

If you find yourself going round the block to find yourself arrived only next door, then find someone who has been on that journey already to guide you, like a mentor or join a mastermind group, in fact I would say mastermind groups are far more powerful than one on one mentoring. The power and synergy of like-minded people in the group will help you grow your business with much less risk.

I wish all you small business owners a very successful life but be prepared to make changes by working on your business rather than working in your business for long hours without success, it’s not how many hours a day you work, it’s how much you put into the hours and what you get from the day that count. Your input must produce productive output every day in order for your business to succeed.

Moe Nawaz. Strategic Advisor & Mentor to FTSE 100 Leaders