In the previous article we said that, to become a successful businessperson or entrepreneur, the quality of the people you surround yourself with in business plays a part. In this second part we’ll talk about the importance of finding a mentor and of leadership.
- Find a mentor: a mentor is someone who has already done what you’re about to start doing. Don’t look for an adviser, because an adviser is someone who tells you how to do things but has never done them personally. Be careful about which advice you take, although you should always keep an open mind.
- Learn to lead people: being a manager is one thing; being a leader is another. Good businesspeople are leaders. Let us explain the difference.
A manager, as a rule, sees their workers as inferior subordinates. A manager tends to make quite a few mistakes when it comes to leading people.
A manager gives orders and rarely listens.
A leader is used to directing people who are often more intelligent than they are, something that would frighten a manager.
A leader will train people and bring out the best in each of them, to build a company of leaders rather than mediocre workers.
Remember that if you plan to become a business owner, you need to find a way for your business to run without you having to be there, so having well-prepared people in charge of the business is essential.
Further reading
- How to become a successful entrepreneur (part 1)
- Leadership mistakes to watch out for
- Common mistakes Hispanic business owners make
- Why new businesses fail
- The entrepreneur’s mindset
Featured image: Farsee50, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
