We Are Entrepreneurial Athletes!
We, as entrepreneurs, are athletes in our own right. We need to be disciplined in how we attack each day, just as football athletes, basketball athletes, tennis athletes and all other athletes are disciplined when they step onto their field or court. Entrepreneurs need to be disciplined throughout the entire day. Following are eight rules for Entrepreneurial Athletes.
1. Be physically fit. To deliver peak performance each day we need to be physically fit. We think much more clearly. We make better decisions with this clarity. We are more decisive. And the decisions are probably better.
2. Be financially fit. Being financially fit means you are balanced from a financial standpoint. You are not overly in debt. You manage your cash flow with relative ease. You dramatically reduce your stress.
When you are financially fit you will be able to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves, often as a result of others who are not able to take advantage of them.
3. Be prepared. Being prepared for a meeting or an important telephone call tells everyone you are dealing with that you value their time and you respect the opportunity to do business with them.
4. Protect your confidence. Confidence is the secret ingredient for business. People want to do business with people that are confident.
5. Follow the four rules of “refer-ability”. (a) Show up on time, (b) Do what you say you are going to do, (c) Finish what you start, (d) Say please and thank you.
6. Follow a good moral compass. Over our many years of life we constantly make decisions and do thousands of things that make ourselves successful and well respected in the community. It takes only one misstep to destroy all of that.
7. Don’t abuse alcohol or drugs. Over indulging in alcohol can be very destructive. Abusing legal drugs or using illegal drugs also is very destructive.
8. Manage to a high performance culture. A high performance culture is an environment where everyone in your organization is highly productive. A highly productive organization, if a business, will probably be much more profitable and much more effective. Employees remain engaged in their work leading to lower turnover and more job satisfaction.
