In this video Robert Greenberg, CEO of Skechers, puts the absolute bottom line on being successful in business. What's nice is he does it in a little over 1 minute. This key to success is so important in my opinion if you were to know everything else about business but this, you will most likely fail. Conversely, if this were the only thing you knew about business, I'd give you better than 50/50 odds for success.
So what is it, what's the key?
Persistence
Just don't ever stop trying! Hopefully you don't feel let down that this piece of advice is so basic, but it is everything you need to know to be successful. I can hear some of you saying "Well, you've got to know about sourcing product, or cash flow, or at the very least a little about financing". Nope, you don't need to know anything about all of that going in. The only thing you need to know is, without fail, you will not give up. You'll learn the rest along the way, it will be hard at times, but as long as you promise yourself persistence the rest will fall into place.
KeyTakeaways
- When you have to come up with an idea, you will.
- Just keep doing something. So many people plan a business and they decide they just can't get past a certain roadblock, so they drop the whole idea completely. It will be very difficult for those people to ever find success.
- Eventually preparation leads to opportunity.
- When in doubt, just do...
- Struggle is what you learn from. Approach struggles and roadblocks as learning opportunities, you actually NEED to struggle a little bit in order to take yourself to the next level in business.
A Thought on Failure
Some people are so afraid of failing, it keeps them from ever trying, yet any successful business person will tell you about the many times they failed. Why do you think you will be the one successful person who has never fallen flat on their face at least a couple times? In fact, look at failure as the prerequisite to getting into class with the big boys (or girls). Once you fail at business you then have something in common with some of the greatest business people ever. Did you know that Thomas Edison invented concrete furniture? Big dressers and stands made entirely out of concrete. Look around your house right now...how much concrete furniture do you have? That idea was an absolute, utter, and complete failure, yet Edison keep working and trying ideas and we all know how that worked out.
If someone as brilliant as Edison can fail and still be successful, why do we think we should never be exposed to the same failure in our business. Wear failure as a badge of honor, learn from it, and for heaven's sake don't use it as an excuse to stop trying.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
This post is right on; I struggle at least once a week with feelings that range from sheer panic to calm resolve. Also, it is good to keep doing something and work through the doubt and fear. I can’t hear this advise enough thanks for the post.
I think Ross Perot once said that most people give up just as they are about to achieve success, one yard short of a touchdown.
It’s this one yard that separates the winners from the losers. I know where I would rather be.
Hey Matt.
True words. Part of it is the whole culture of instant gratification we live in today. Someone gets fired up, doesn’t see results, moves on to the next fix. Too bad for them, better for those of us who are going to stick with it no matter what.
Cheers!
George
Capitalist culture is geared toward avoiding failure, disappointment, pain and uncertainty.
How is this living?
I am an adventurer and my business is just one of the mountain ranges I explore, discover and share in my life.
find me in the fuzzy whitespace
@ George
I agree, everything has to be “NOW” or we loose interest. How many people have been an inch away from the big time only to quit because it was taking too long?
Matt
@StevieBoy
If people could only see the forest for the trees. It amazes me that so many give up, and if they would just keep pushing a little bit farther they’d make it.
Thanks for stopping by,
Matt
@Marcy
I think being an entrepreneur is finding complete satisfaction living within the extremes of panic to calm resolve. For some reason most people think it’s going to be easy and never allow themselves the opportunity to experience the highs and lows.
Matt