by Express Employment Professionals, Refresh Leadership Blog
For every business, there was an entrepreneur who looked toward the future with determination, motivation, and optimism to turn a dream into reality. Out of nothing, entrepreneurs put everything into building successful companies facing tremendous odds that statistically don’t give them much of a chance to make it past year one. And while many professionals aspire to start a business of their own, they have a day job that takes their focus and attention.
According to a study, 62% of people want to make the dream of owning their own business a reality. Just because a professional may not be able to be an owner right now, they can still embrace the qualities needed to be an entrepreneur in their current position, while working toward owning a business in the future. Check out these five strategies to take your work ownership to the next level!
Create Your Best Future in Your Job
Famed management consultant Peter Drucker once posited “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Regardless of your position and status, there is a certain level of autonomy you can control in your 8-to-5 and that is regarding what your job looks like in the near and distant future. By deciding what you want your future to look like, you can give yourself a leg up in making that reality. Take inventory of what responsibilities you have and those you would like to have and determine the steps needed to get there. Speak with your employer to make a plan together to help achieve these goals. If your dream doesn’t fit with where you are currently employed, then develop the skills that you’ll need in the future.
Stay Motivated by Embracing Challenges
The most successful entrepreneurs don’t avoid challenges; they embrace them. And moreover, they use the obstacles they face to help motivate them to achieve greater things. Richard Branson explained that his biggest motivation was in the challenges he faced. “My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long university education that I never had—everyday I’m learning something new.” And in the instances you fail, chalk it up as experience. Failure can be a catalyst for growth.
Be a Lifelong Learner
Professional and personal growth is at the center of organizational strategy as great leaders understand the importance of being a lifelong learner. According to a Pew Research study, 87% of individuals who focus on personal development and life-learning say it made them more capable and well-rounded. Moreover, 65% said a focus on learning expanded their professional network, while 47% said it helped them advance in their current workplace. Consider cross-training or shadowing others who have the skills you need. If you never stop learning, you’ll never stop growing.
Embrace Adaptability and Resiliency
One thing we’ve learned during the past year and a half is that to be successful in this everchanging business climate, you have to be adaptable. While businesses were negatively affected by government regulations and local shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, the companies that weathered the storm were those that remained adaptable and resilient. In your day job, you can embrace these qualities by getting out of your comfort zone, learning from others, and rolling with the punches the daily grind may throw at you.
Be a Self-Starter
One characteristic entrepreneurs have is they are great at working toward specific goals in an unrelenting manner. Self-motivation is a key trait of successful businesspeople, and being a self-starter is at the heart of this characteristic. To embrace this proven work style, work toward showing initiative, creating attainable goals, and avoiding procrastination. Not only will this help you meet deadlines and fulfill commitments, it will also help create lasting habits that will suit you down whatever path your career may take.
Embracing a Spirit of Entrepreneurialism in the Workplace
According to a study by Guidant Financial, 26% of those who want to become an entrepreneur say their “why” is to become their own boss. Regardless of whether you dream of owning your own business or simply want to become the CEO of your desk, embrace the tools and skills entrepreneurs use to help grow into a more well-rounded professional. Instead of waiting for the right time to become an entrepreneur, make these changes today and see where they take you.
Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” You don’t have to wait to own a business to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit.
