What some call faults can actually be advantages
if leveraged in the right way. The key is finding that sweet-spot between
youthful enthusiasm and the more “old-fashioned” values that have served as the
backbone of business for generations
Here’s what I’ve learned about striking that
balance:
1. Stay energetic. Starting a successful
business requires tireless enthusiasm. You have to be excited about the product
or service you’re providing. If you’re not, no one else will be. On the flip
side, enthusiasm is infectious. Your excitement can help you secure business
leads and build a committed, energetic team. Your older counterparts can
attest, you will never have as much energy -- and stamina to work through late
nights -- as you do now.
2. Take risks: Launching a successful business almost always requires
risk taking. Lucky for you, that pill is pretty easy to swallow right now. When
you’re young, you have less to lose from a failed business attempt than you
will ever again. If you think you have a good idea, give it an honest try. At
the very least, you’ll learn something. Now is the time to be bold.
3. Be impatient: Ironically, sometimes the
same people who tell you not to be so impatient will remind you that the early
bird catches the worm. What they don’t realize is that your impatience stems
from your desire to get that worm! Take that impatience and run with it. When a
problem arises, don’t wait around hoping it will get resolved. Take action to
fix it immediately. Speed and your drive to produce immediate, quality results
will serve you well
4. Seek help and
advice: Smart
entrepreneurs know how and when to ask for help. Talk to business owners you
admire, read about successful innovators, and seek out a mentor.
5. Stay social: Do your parents ask you
for help with “the Twitter?” When you’re done rolling your eyes at them,
consider what an advantage you have as an entrepreneur. Social Media is
indispensable for expanding your network, increasing product awareness and
building your brand. While older business owners may be struggling to learn the
latest social protocol, it’s already second nature to you.
6. Hire experience: There is something to be
said for life experience. Consider hiring someone older than you when it makes
sense. You’ll set yourself up with a team that has the benefits of youth and
the advantages of experience. Mark Zuckerberg hired Sheryl Sandberg, a woman
with 15 years more experience than he had. Both of them contributed differently
to create a company balanced in youth and business expertise.
7. Stay social, for
real: Forming real,
personal relationships is good business, and this is often best done
face-to-face. I love social networking, but it’s not a replacement for getting
to know someone in person. Take your hand off the mouse, move your eyes away
from the screen, and go meet someone. What are you waiting for? Your next
client is out there waiting for you to find them.
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