1. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and move out of their way.
If you feel like you know everything, you’re wrong. Understand what you don’t know and then find partners who can teach you. While you may take on different roles in your business and focus on different things, you ideally want to share the same goals and at the end of the day, and work towards the same end.
2. The only constant in business is change. Get comfortable with it.
Your business is changing quickly, and the only way to succeed is to change with it. There is no such thing as a traditional business anymore. It’s about pushing beyond what you are currently doing and finding opportunity where it didn’t exist before.
3. Fail often, fail quickly.
Everybody fails at something, but you’ll never succeed unless you take risks. Big ones. Have a vision and a lot of help from very smart people (see #1). Your business can be stronger and more innovative. You have to lead by example if you want to promote a culture where risk-taking is rewarded.
4. Your schedule makes you dumber.
Force yourself outside of your daily schedule. Be curious and take time to learn about worlds outside of the one you live in. Watch the news, read the paper, educate yourself. Don’t be afraid to call people you don’t know, start a conversation, and ask for things you need. At the very least, you’ll be more interesting. At the most, you’ll take your business in new and bigger directions.
5. You only get one shot – make it count.
Take advantage of each day that’s given to you and do something to move the needle on your business, even if it’s just an inch. You’ve heard it before, but life is not a dress rehearsal. Don’t waste your time, or your families.
6. Good ideas rule all.
In the end, it’s all about creative ideas, substance and perseverance – it’s the lifeblood of your business. Be innovative, have good people beside you, and take calculated risks. Your ideas and thinking outside of the box may well be the difference between you and your competitors.