Heart of a Champion
If you want to be an entrepreneurial champion, act the part! Here are five tips to projecting that winning attitude.
By Romanus Wolter •
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Entrepreneurs who want to be taken seriously must act likechampions, maintaining positive attitudes as they pursue theirgoals, no matter what the circumstances. Knowing that we can andwill triumph where there is no guaranteed path to success is whatseparates us from everyone else.
Your drive is the magnet that draws others to you, cultivatingextraordinary business possibilities for everyone involved. Youearn the respect of others who trust in your fortitude,professionalism and ability to get things done. Your personal powerincreases when other people believe in and support yourefforts.
Energize your champion spirit by stating, "I can and willfind solutions to any problems I encounter." To increase yourpersonal power so you can continually exhibit the traits of achampion, try these tips:
1. Be bold in your actions. Trust your ability to makethe right decisions based on your intuition, your heart andinformation you have gathered. Hesitation can be highly visible,and your inaction may prompt people to question your authority.Take a step forward, learn, and then decide the next best action totake. Believe in yourself, and others will, too.
2. Listen more than you speak. My grandfather used tosay, "With two ears and one mouth, you should hear twice asmuch as you say." By understanding the circumstances othersencounter in striving toward their goals, you create humanconnections that enhance your personal power. Provide people withideas for the next logical action they can take to succeed. Theywill appreciate your thoughtfulness and will seek your advice forprojects in the future.
3. Take the high road. Champions know to handle bothsuccesses and setbacks with an even temperament and a willingnessto look past frailties. Speak about the positive outcomes that haveresulted from your efforts. Communicating from a foundation ofreal-world experience validates your intelligence and competence.Work with integrity, and success will come to you naturally.
4. Don't take anything personally. We never have allthe information required to make perfect decisions. When somethinggoes awry, remain calm and in control. If someone offers a remedy,don't let your ego overrule your personal power. Find validityin their suggestions. When you value others' opinions, theywill support your success and respect your personal power.
5. Work hard, and persevere. Champions are not madeovernight. The secret of those who accomplish something differentin their lives is their willingness to take continual action towardtheir goals. Success and personal power are not developed from asingle victory, but result from steady diligence. Powerful peoplewake up each morning determined to overcome the obstacles in theirway and to make their experiences positive.
Your actions define your reputation. Power is not how muchleverage you have over others--it is your ability to respect andbelieve in yourself. Share your resources and help others, andthey, in turn, will boost your personal power. The world providesyou with many opportunities to increase your personal power, sowelcome them.
Speaker and consultant Romanus Wolter, aka "The KickStart Guy," is author of Kick Start Your DreamBusiness.
