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5 Habits of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs It takes a unique type of person to successfully become an entrepreneur.

By Jeff Broth

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur South Africa, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

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It takes a unique type of person to successfully become an entrepreneur. Not only do business owners need to be sure of what they want to do in life, they also need to possess the ability to do it well enough to stand out from the competition and grab the attention of their customers. Competition can be found in every business industry; some are fiercer than others – especially in the entrepreneurial circuit, where things can quickly become intense.

If you are thinking of starting your own business, becoming a freelancer, or even launching a new and exciting product, these five habits of highly successful entrepreneurs will help you achieve your goals.

Habit #1. They Take Risks

It's well-known in the business world that good entrepreneurs must also be risk-takers. The ability to consider, weigh up and make a decision regards taking business risks is something that every successful entrepreneur should be able to do.

Risks come in all shapes and sizes; from borrowing a business loan to even telling your parents about your entrepreneurial aspirations. For example, in the case of Gurbaksh Chahal, who describes talking to his father about the business he started aged 16 as "the biggest risk of his life'.

It's important to note that these risks ultimately do pay off for a lot of those who take them. Gurbaksh Chahal, as noted above, has created a hugely positive legacy in his native India and around the world. The risks he took as a young businessman have enabled him to start the Chahal Foundation which was designed to help starting entrepreneurs and child literacy. It is only through taking risks as a 16 year old that he has been able to achieve so much today.

Habit #2. They Rise Early

The most successful entrepreneurs make a habit of starting their day as early as possible. Of course, being your own boss comes with the added perk of taking a lie-in whenever you feel like it, however, effective business owners know that being ready to take on the day ahead of them early in the morning will allow them to get more work done.

So, if you have been sitting up late at night working hard to get your tasks finished, consider planning them for the morning instead. Not only will this enable you to be more productive, you'll also feel healthier and more energized after a good nights' sleep.

Habit #3. They are Customer-Centric

As a business owner, you can often expect to have significantly more interaction with your customers and clients than you would if you were merely working for somebody else. After all, as an entrepreneur it is your responsibility to discover what your customers want to gain from your business. The best entrepreneurs understand that paying attention to customer feedback is significant; this information allows you to make more informed decisions regarding your business, brand, products and/or services going forward.

Habit #4. They Gain Exposure

The best entrepreneurs are constantly doing whatever they can to put their name out there and gain more exposure to a wider target audience. Whether it's setting up their own website, taking Q&A sessions on social media or participating in press interviews in local newspapers or on television, successful entrepreneurs strive to keep their face and name in the public eye. Thanks to the internet, there's no need for large amounts of money to achieve this – social media is an excellent method of advertising for free.

Habit #5. They Invest in Themselves

As an entrepreneur, you will fully understand the importance of making wise investments in your business. For example, this could come in the form of hiring new employees, improving your business office, or even spending money on a premium website.

However, it's not just their business that successful entrepreneurs will make the effort to invest in; they will also invest in themselves. Learning new skills, reading, and networking are all some of the best methods of self-investment as an entrepreneur. In addition, they also take the time to invest in their health and well-being.

Anybody can become an entrepreneur, but becoming successful requires additional work and dedication.

Jeff Broth, a business writer and advisor. Consulted for SMB owners and entrepreneurs for 7 years now. Mainly covering finance, stocks and emerging fintech trends.
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