It seems like every day, there’s a new success story waiting to be told, and each time you scroll through your socials, one of your friends has finally reached a milestone in their career and journey. Of course, you are proud of the people that achieve success and cheer their name in support, but deep down, you end up asking yourself, “When’s my breakthrough story?”
It’s only natural to feel a mix of motivation and determination with a hint of jealousy and competitiveness, but it all boils down to this; are you willing to put in the time and effort? And, if the answer to that question is yes, then here’s what you need to start learning to break into the business world as a newbie.
Disclaimer: Entrepreneurship Is Not For Everyone
Before we identify the skills you need, we want to preface this by saying that entrepreneurship is not for everyone. Sure, the media would like you to believe that getting out of the rat race and achieving financial freedom is only done through business, but there’s nothing wrong with sticking to a career path you enjoy. In fact, with a sound financial plan and responsible investing practices, there’s no reason you won’t be able to build one solid portfolio over time. So, before you jump straight in, look into the mirror and ask yourself once again if you want to become an entrepreneur.
#1 Persuasiveness and Communication
Number one, you’ll need to start training your persuasiveness and general communication skills. Yes, action may speak louder than words, and you want your achievements to do the talking, but there will be many occasions when you want to speak for yourself, especially as a newbie. And, whether that’s proving your determination to a mentor or when in a negotiation, it helps to be good at business communication.
- Speak with Confidence: One of the fundamentals of a good speaking voice is speaking with confidence. You don’t want to sound like you’re unsure or come off as distrusting the other party. You want your voice to be authoritative and resonate with your objectives. In doing so, you will have a much easier time networking and building rapport with key individuals.
- Be Convincing: As we mentioned a while ago, working in the business landscape, regardless of the industry you choose to enter, negotiations and coming to agreements will never disappear. So, if you want to become successful in your field, just having a good voice won’t cut it. You will also need to be convincing, quick-witted, and light on your feet when speaking with other people. You may not be using these skills outright from the start, but they will come in handy in the long-term.
#2 Learn Your Way Around Sales
Number two, you need to learn your way around sales. If we recall the definition of a business, it is an entity that exists to provide goods and services to turn a profit. Therefore, no matter what business and industry you choose, chasing leads, making sales, and closing agreements is a universal truth. Of course, whether jumping straight into a sales department or learning about it is up to you. What matters most is you understand the essence.
- The Importance of Marketing: Marketing is somewhat synonymous with sales because it’s challenging to find one without the other. Both of them impact lead generation and maximizing your profit, so it’s no wonder that they’re equally important. Plus, marketing in itself is multi-faceted; from reputation marketing management to conducting market research, there’s a deep well of information waiting to be uncovered.
- Discipline and Persistence: Another vital lesson gained through a background in sales is how it hones your self-discipline and hammers down the concept of persistence. Yes, it is possible to learn these values on your own terms, but there’s nothing quite like pursuing a lead until they become a loyal customer.
#3 Managing Emotions and Expectations
Lastly, if you ever want a future in the business world, you’ll need to manage your emotions and expectations or suffer the consequences of burnout. When it comes to entrepreneurship, failure is a part of the process, and you’ll encounter it several times before you even see the slightest ounce of success. It humbles and trains you to recognize and pounce on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
So, don’t go in expecting you’ll be featured in magazines as one of the newest billionaires on the block. Find balance, grit your teeth, and understand that you need to keep going until you realize the success you so desperately want.
Reach And Grab Your Dreams
In conclusion, while the business world is a tough place to be, with the right mix of skills, decisiveness, and a bit of luck, everyone has a chance at becoming a successful entrepreneur. So, don’t let anyone bring you down, and reach and grab your dreams yourself!