1000 Business Lessons Every Businessman Must Know

Chapter 3 Entrepreneurship Preparation: Are You Suitable to Be Your Own Boss (2)
In the field of sales, the salesperson needs to remember such a law: it must hear "no" three times, which really means that the customer does not buy.In anything you do, consider this simple "rule of three times" and try three times in different ways before giving up on anything.To be on the safe side, try a fourth time.

One of the important qualities of a successful boss is: what should be persisted, must be tenaciously persisted; what should be given up, must be given up in time.

010. Entrepreneurs must have an innovative spirit
The so-called innovation or imaginativeness is not just imagining a new product or service item, a new way of doing business or updating the traditional method, it means expressing oneself in a different way, using A new way of dealing with old problems and more.You don't have to be the father of the latest thinking of mankind, you can do small things in different ways, so as to form your entrepreneurial career.

Mike Waverly is the fourth generation CEO of the Wilferly family of companies.This is an international company that manufactures and supplies for use in the mining and chemical industries.

In his office, there are conference areas, meeting areas and work areas, all of which are neatly stacked and can be browsed at any time.In one corner, on a four-foot square of thick plastic, lay the metal parts of the machinery.Six or seven parts lined up side by side, very clean, like you might see in the corner of a mechanic's workshop.

When asked curiously, he explained: "The products we sell are made of these parts, and I look at them several times a day. I often ask myself, how can we further improve these devices? Can we make them Smaller? Could something else be used? Because we see these parts so often, they’re always on my mind. I’m not an engineer, but I run the company.”

Wilfried is full of innovative ideas.The company's continued success under his leadership is a testament to how important his innovative ideas are.

What's the easiest way to improve your ability to innovate?Observe and carefully study how most people normally do it, and you do it differently.You often follow others unconsciously, and you do what others do.Don't be like that, have a new trick, be different, be new, outshine others.Abandoning the old routines and taking a new path, this is how successful entrepreneurs stand out.

011. Entrepreneurs must have a competitive spirit
Shopping malls are like battlefields, if you do not advance, you will retreat.You have to have a certain competitive spirit to thrive in this field.

Competition is a good thing, both for personal growth and professional development.Fighting to the death against your opponents helps build your morale and improve your level.Do not expect easy victories in the struggles you are involved in.Winning, especially an easy one, doesn't teach you much.You learn only by fighting, and when you look back at your achievements in life, the most interesting things to ponder are the victories that were won against all odds.Victory is short-lived, but strong competition brings you lasting joy.It is a good thing to have a strong opponent or a difficult problem, because you gain great enjoyment from winning it.

Remember that competitors help you get to the top, and easy wins weaken you.Only by constantly fighting against your opponents can your fighting spirit be vigorous.

Jerry McMorris, the owner of the Colorado Rockies baseball team, said this: "If I lose, I will be disappointed, but I will review my mistakes and think about ways to improve, so as to ensure future success. Offend again."

Possess and maintain your competitive spirit, never give up in business battles, and you will become a successful entrepreneur.

Three. Entrepreneurs should have the ability

012. Successful entrepreneurs should have good insights

People who are brave in competition and good at grasping opportunities will make great achievements no matter what kind of occupation they are engaged in.Because all industries have to face the market, they must have a market vision to respond quickly to the supply and demand information in the market, and be able to make bold decisions based on the actual situation, and then use careful planning and flexible processing methods to transform ideas into practical actions. Entrepreneurship is bound to succeed.

Regarding the question of why technology startups often fail and technology-based companies are often small in scale, Shi Zhengrong, who started his business relying on technology, believes that whether technology startups can succeed depends on whether they have a strong market awareness. "In the long run, technology is extremely important to the success or failure of technological innovation, but if the market cannot be done well in the short term, no matter how good the technology is, it will fail."

Entrepreneurship means that you have to lead a team to conquer the world, you need to be at the forefront of everything, and you need to deal with all kinds of phenomena.This requires entrepreneurs to be a person who can assess the situation and see the essence through phenomena, and this requires a keen eye to distinguish right from wrong, distinguish true from false, gain insight into the details, and budget for the future.

Most successful entrepreneurs have excellent insight, so as to avoid risks.Just like a driver who drives a good car on a mountain road, he will determine the speed of the car according to the road conditions, and he will wear a seat belt and listen to road condition information at any time.

013. Successful entrepreneurs should have the necessary management skills
Management is not easy. It is not a matter of managing people without using words or hands.Running a family as small as running a country requires scientific management.How can internal resource utilization be maximized?How to maximize the efficiency of an enterprise?This is directly related to scientific management.It is even more important for an enterprise. A good and rigorous management system can make the enterprise exude vitality and be full of vitality. This forms the corporate culture and can lead the enterprise to carry out team battles. Its role can be imagined.On the contrary, an enterprise led by an entrepreneur without scientific management ability is like a gang. If there is a fire, it will be rescued, and if there is an accident, it will die, so there is no need to talk about combat effectiveness and vitality.

In addition, entrepreneurs must have good academic qualifications.Most successful entrepreneurs have better learning ability than others and have a high degree of innovation.Because they are good at learning in practice, there are countless examples of these successful entrepreneurs who have a positive learning ability and a high degree of innovation for new things.Management skills can also be acquired through learning.

014. Successful entrepreneurs should be good at work

Successful entrepreneurs do their job well: assess business conditions, plan reorganizations, fire employees, change sales rep compensation, build strength for expansion, resolve labor disputes, manage complex relationships, and so on.So much work needs to be done well by the boss, which requires the entrepreneur to be good at the work.That is to say, both experts and generalists.

1. Become an expert in one or two fields
Expert means that you have to be extremely proficient in one or two areas that are extremely important to the business, such as finance, marketing, law, engineering technology.If you don't know which aspects are critical to your company, find them.If possible, choose a major that you like and is needed by the company, get into it, and learn deeply. "If you don't drill into a profession, you will lose your way in the sea of ​​business." A boss said this, and he compared a company to sailing in the sea.Know as much as you can about something and make yourself an expert.

2. Have a certain understanding of various things in the company
The so-called generalist means that you must not only understand your own major, but also have an understanding of other majors.As a boss, many of the decisions you make every day involve things outside of your profession.If you don't know a little bit about all kinds of things, then you don't even know how to ask questions.

To be a successful entrepreneur, you must also maintain a balance between the two: on the one hand, you must give full play to your generalist characteristics, and on the other hand, you must perform very well in your professional field.

015. Successful entrepreneurs should be willing to lead

Some say leaders are born.Others say that leaders are formed by learning.Anyway, you have to be willing to lead, to step up to the front, to take risks like a real boss.

To be willing to lead, you must first do the following:
1 Set clear goals

Entrepreneurs should appear to have a clear idea of ​​the future of development, which can instill confidence in the people below.Be clear: "I want (or I don't want) you to do this now." There is no ambiguity, there are clear boundaries between what to do and what not to do under your watchful eye, Make people find no excuses.

Appropriate criticism and praise.Learn to criticize constructively and correct when goals are not being met, but refrain from finger pointing and personal attacks.If you hurt someone's self-esteem, it will make them lose their heads or turn against you behind your back.It goes without saying that entrepreneurs should be praised if others have completed the scheduled tasks.Smart leaders often allow subordinates to overhear such praise from a third party.

2. Appropriate body language
Entrepreneurs often use non-verbal means of communication.They deliver good news and bad news with an easy smile, a relaxed, confident, sure-fire look that says, "I'm leading, and I want you to go with me. I need you all. Please Believe me, I’m firmly in control.” The capable entrepreneur has a confident, easygoing smile, and even if he can’t, he has to because he knows it’s necessary to lead.

A person who is willing to lead is willing to show affection with his hands.For example: Entrepreneurs pat subordinates on the shoulder or on the back.A leader's proper movement of the hand is the most powerful action he can take.

3. Show up more, talk more

Walk around the office building, talking and chatting with the people you meet.Don't sit in your own office all the time, that way, you won't be able to discover the company's problems.

If you do this, I believe you will become an entrepreneur who is willing to lead.

016. Entrepreneurs should master legal knowledge

A free society is also a society ruled by law, and a market economy is also an economy ruled by law. Entrepreneurs and the companies they establish live in an increasingly legalized society.If the entrepreneur does not have the necessary legal knowledge, he will be like a driver who does not understand traffic laws, driving around and running around, stopping at red lights and not green lights, even if fortunately no injuries occur, he will still be criticized , fines, suspension of license, deprivation of the right to drive freely.When that day comes, not only will the entrepreneurs suffer, but even the businesses they run will be affected and traumatized.

Therefore, entrepreneurs must be very concerned about the promulgation of laws, study relevant laws carefully, and keep important provisions in mind.Know what legal regulations are in which aspects; which laws are useful for the production and operation of enterprises; what legal protection can be obtained for production and operation activities, etc.

Entrepreneurs should understand the following laws: "Contract Law", "Company Law", "Bank Law", "Securities Law", "Anti-Unfair Competition Law", "Commodity Quality Law", "Labor Law", "Intellectual Property Law" Protection Act, etc.

These laws and regulations are closely related to the professional activities of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs should study them carefully, but they do not need to be as familiar as lawyers.At this time, entrepreneurs may wish to be a "layman" as a lawyer.

017. Entrepreneurs are good at handling interpersonal relationships

Carnegie's "Principles of Relationships" provide you with the means to have good relationships.

Carnegie's "Principles of Interpersonal Relations" are suitable for dealing with various interpersonal relationships.Entrepreneurs should study it carefully and use it frequently.

Basic interpersonal skills include:
1. Do not complain, criticize, or blame

Complaining about others is a sign that the leader is under pressure. Mature leaders usually do not use this method; We must pay attention to methods and methods, and we must not be self-centered and talk about blaming others.

2. Give genuine appreciation

As an entrepreneur, you must be sincere, and sincerity must be aimed at a special performance, otherwise it will be useless.

3. Arouse desire in others

Linking your ideas to the interests of the other party is very useful in business.

018. Entrepreneurs need to win the approval of others

It is not easy to win the approval of others, but to do the following:

1. Avoid arguments
The only way to profit from an argument is to avoid it.Arguing is 90.00 percent emotion, plus [-] percent boredom.Mature entrepreneurs avoid arguing with others when they are engaged in a job that is not guaranteed.

2. Respect the opinions of others

Respect the opinions of others, and never say to him: "You are wrong!" This is a direct insult to the wisdom of others, and it will invite resentment, which will only make the chance of communication smaller.Be respectful of other people's opinions, or simply ask them why they think the way they do.

3. Have the courage to admit your mistakes

If you are wrong, admit it immediately and emphatically.Mature and confident entrepreneurs are not afraid to admit their mistakes.

4. Be friendly
If we don't start with kindness, how can we possibly win the cooperation of others into agreeing with us?
5. Good at listening
Let him talk a lot and be willing to listen.This method can not only get more information, but even make the other person talk about what you have decided to do in person.

6. Help others rebuild their confidence

Let him feel that this idea came to him.What matters is what is right, not who is right.Only by following this principle can you help others rebuild their confidence and make them willing to offer good advice.

7. Sincere
Genuinely try to see everything from another person's point of view.Everyone's perceptions come from where they stand.Perhaps, they see it more clearly than you.

8. Empathize with others
Empathizing with the thoughts and wishes of others is the best way to open the lines of communication.

019. Make most people around you like you

Entrepreneurship needs to communicate with many people. Compared with ordinary people, entrepreneurs especially need to win the trust and favor of others.To make most people around you like you, you must:

1. Remember people's names

A name is the most pleasant voice for anyone.Many successful managers are experts at remembering employee names.It certainly takes effort, but the rewards are definitely worth it.

2. Listen
Listen and encourage others to talk about themselves. Leaders need information to make decisions.Give those who work on the ground a chance to speak and they will tell you a lot of real information.

3. Smile often
Whether the expression on your face is pleasant or not depends not on the external environment, but on yourself, this is your own decision.Ask yourself: what kind of leaders do you enjoy working with, and others will feel the same way.

4. Genuinely care about others

No matter how much capital you have, what will really make you successful is people.If you can get to know them individually, it will not only form a good interpersonal relationship, but also a good investment in life and career.

5. Talk about topics of interest to others
We spend most of our time thinking about ourselves.Let others know, too, what concerns them.

6. Sincerely make others feel important
This needs to be done very sincerely. "Make me feel like my job is important, so I'll take it seriously." This concept is likely to be an important factor in your success, and why your employees will be successful.

(End of this chapter)