Editor’s note: This article was first published in March 2015, and its statement that Howes advises people today describes his work in 2015.
If I didn’t warn you in advance about how simple and basic these tips for business success are, I suppose more than one reader would feel disappointed, since they’re very generic. But at the same time, this kind of advice is the key, and I’d say it’s the starting point from which we can then develop each concept.
At least that’s how clearly Lewis Howes sees it. He was an Olympic-level athlete in his college years, later fulfilled his dream of playing professional football, until in 2007 an injury forced him to give up the sport.
He moved into the business world, and in a very short time managed to sell his business for seven figures: an online company that helped people through webinars and e-books, among other products.
Today Howes advises people who make a living doing what they love, and these are the principles, as reported by Business Insider, that he believes every entrepreneur should be very clear about from the moment they start putting their business idea into practice.
See also: Four leading entrepreneurs share their advice for business success
1. Have a clear vision of your purpose
If you want to succeed, you need to be very clear about exactly what you want and why you want it.
2. Learn to overcome adversity
If you want to achieve great results, it won’t all be a bed of roses. If you give in under pressure and let adversity corner you and stop you from reacting properly, you’ll never succeed. There will be many moments of adversity, and you need to be mentally prepared to face them and keep going.
See also: A business idea and an example of how to achieve success
3. Develop a champion’s mindset
A champion’s mindset is a way of thinking about yourself that is so strong that nothing can break it.
4. Master your body
You need a healthy body and to learn to master it, because your body holds your mind, your soul and your heart.
5. Develop positive habits
If you have a vision and are chasing big dreams, you’ll need to develop all kinds of positive habits to see that vision through adversity.
6. Hustle
Some people call it perseverance. Howes calls it hustle, and for him it means being willing to make sacrifices and willing to do whatever it takes to get results. If you have skill and you have hustle, you have a deadly combination for business.
7. Build a powerful team
You need to understand relationships and learn to build a great team around you: partners, colleagues, coaches, mentors…
8. Live a life of service
If you’re consumed only by your own results and aren’t focused on helping others in some way, that isn’t success. In business, the more you help, the more you offer, the more you give… the more you receive, the more you earn and the more successful you are.
Featured image: ShashiBellamkonda, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.
