Every Entrepreneur Should Heed These 3 Pieces Of Sage Wisdom Let these expert's hindsight guide you as you pursue success in your career.

By Matthew Toren

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

We always look up to those who took a chance and made it big and want to know how we can find similar success. Here are three pieces of advice from super-successful entrepreneurs and why you need to listen to them now.

1. "Always look for the fool in the deal. If you don't find one, it's you." -- Mark Cuban, owner of Dallas Mavericks

You know when you get the email about helping fund a deposed Nigerian prince that it's a scam, but do you know the less subtle art of bad deals? Before you go into business with anyone, you need to take some serious time to do your research. Know who you're going into business with and perhaps even more importantly, why. What are your motivations for this partnership? What are theirs? By knowing everyone at the table, you ensure that you aren't the fool in your dealings. Do your research and don't be afraid to ask questions or walk away from a bad deal in the making.

Related: 13 Big-Time Business Leaders Share the Best Advice They Ever Got

2. "Don't worry about failure. You only have to be right once." -- Drew Houston, CEO of Dropbox

Don't let failure hold you back, or worse yet, keep you from trying. You already know that failure is a part of the business of entrepreneurship, but it's easier said than done when you're picking yourself back up after a bad break. Remember that with a shift in your perspective you can transform the stumbles and falls into opportunities to improve yourself and your business offerings. What didn't work? What did? Keep at it -- you only have to get it right once.

Related: 2013 Recap: The 10 Best Pieces of Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

3. "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do." -- Steve Jobs, founder of Apple

You're going to work hard as an entrepreneur -- why not work hard at something you love? This is perhaps the greatest draw of entrepreneurialism. You have the ability to invest your time, money and work into doing something that you love. If you're going to pursue the entrepreneurial lifestyle, do yourself a favor and make sure it's in pursuit you are passionate about. You're going to need that enthusiasm and belief for the long road ahead and it will drive you to push harder and do more than others. Pick what you love and get to work.

Related: You've Built a Startup. Now, Build a Legacy.

Wavy Line
Matthew Toren

Serial Entrepreneur, Mentor and co-founder of YoungEntrepreneur.com

Matthew Toren is a serial entrepreneur, mentor, investor and co-founder of YoungEntrepreneur.com. He is co-author, with his brother Adam, of Kidpreneurs and Small Business, BIG Vision: Lessons on How to Dominate Your Market from Self-Made Entrepreneurs Who Did it Right (Wiley). He's based in Vancouver, B.C.

Editor's Pick

A Leader's Most Powerful Tool Is Executive Capital. Here's What It Is — and How to Earn It.
Lock
One Man's Casual Side Hustle Became an International Phenomenon — And It's on Track to See $15 Million in Revenue This Year
Lock
3 Reasons to Keep Posting on LinkedIn, Even If Nobody Is Engaging With You
Why a Strong Chief Financial Officer Is Crucial for Your Franchise — and What to Look for When Hiring One

Related Topics

Starting a Business

5 Tips For Launching a Business While Keeping Your Day Job

Launching a business while holding down a 9-to-5 is no small feat. It's a common path for aspiring entrepreneurs, but it's not without its challenges.

Side Hustle

A Simple Household Chore Turned Into a Side Hustle — Now She Earns Up to $24,000 Per Month

Christian Sanya, 44, was working as a medical laboratory technologist in 2019 when she discovered a side gig that would change her life.

Business News

The Virgin Islands Want to Serve Elon Musk a Subpoena, But They Can't Find Him

Government officials would like to talk to Tesla's owner as part of an investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Business News

Florida Burger King to Pay $8 Million to Customer Who Slipped and Fell in Restaurant Bathroom

The case marks one of the largest slip-and-fall verdicts in Florida's history.

Leadership

Why Time Management Doesn't Work — And How My Team Doubled Their Productivity Once I Started Doing This Instead

Time management is killing your productivity – here's why and what you need to do to increase your productivity instead.