Becoming a Successful Business

Are you a business owner who feels as if you're not making progress towards your professional goals? Or are you having trouble choosing goals for your business? While most entrepreneurs want to be successful, they may not know how to get from where they are to the next level. For those entrepreneurs who want to create a successful business, we'll give you a few tips for making your goals happen.

Focus on the customers you're serving.

An American Express survey states that almost 80 percent of customers have decided not to make a purchase due to bad customer service. Other studies have shown that it takes a few great customer interactions to make up for one negative experience. Look at your company's customer service, and do everything to make this part of your business superior to that of your competitors. Some of the ways that you can do this are by having your staff going through some new training, responding to all customer queries in a timely manner, or redoing your company's return policy.

Actually create things that people want.

R.L. Adams of Entrepreneur states that in order to succeed as an entrepreneur, a large part of your success will come from creating a product or service that people want or need. Adams even pointed out that some of the richest men and women in the world have created some of the biggest value in the world.

Adams said that it's important that entrepreneurs not put themselves before their customers. You could have the best product or service in the world, but it will mean nothing if you create or offer something that your customers don't want. Listen to your potential customers. Look into innovation consulting to see what you and your company can do to vault over your competition. Anything you can do to give your customers what they want will make your business more successful.

Save money for your business.

Eric T. Wagner of Forbes suggests that entrepreneurs of all stripes should have a large reserve of cash set aside for business expenses. Wagner interviewed Seth Goldman and Barry Nalebuff, the founders of Honest Tea. The two entrepreneurs turned their fledgling company into a $100 million juggernaut that became successful right into their sale to Coca-Cola.

Goldman and Nalebuff suggest that business owners should always run as lean as possible, for as long as possible. They also suggest that since new entrepreneurs will make a lot of mistakes at first, having cash reserves will help make those inevitable mistakes a lot less costly.

Trust your intuition.

Jules Schroeder of Forbes interviewed Kelly Roach, an entrepreneur, bestselling author, podcast host, and life coach. In the interview, Roach gave a few pointers to new and aspiring entrepreneurs about how to create a business (and life) that you're really passionate about pursuing.

One of the first tips that Kelly gives is to listen to your gut. She states the importance of listening to our inner voice in a corporate world where logic reigns. Even if you're not a brand new entrepreneur, listening to your gut will almost always serve you. From selecting business partners to deciding to sell your business, your intuition can be a great guide in these situations.

Finding the Right People to Work For You

Getting the right employees is one of the most important things you can do as an entrepreneur. The wrong person in a role can spell total disaster for your business. By taking the time now to recruit the very best people, you can give you, and your business, more than a fighting chance.

One of the most difficult decisions you can make is deciding to work for yourself instead of opting for a corporate gig. But this decision can also be one of the most rewarding in your life. By following your gut and finding the right people, these things can make the process more positive.